PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Paul Bourque (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Test Ninja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ninja has chosen Super Bon Bon - Soul Coughing as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Bourque
vs
Ninja

192 cm
46
156 lbs
52 - 27 - 2

150 cm
31
145 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

Supreme Nutrition
GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 52 - 27 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Bourque!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Test Ninja!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ninja tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bourque swivels and escapes.
Bourque looks to score with a jab to the body but Ninja is just out of range.
Bourque lands a glancing blow to the side of Ninja's head.
Bourque swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ninja feints the counter takedown.
Ninja tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bourque defends well and Ninja ends up having to push Bourque into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bourque misses with a body shot.

Ninja shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ninja showed some decent athleticism there.
Ninja lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ninja trying to mount his opponent but Bourque defends it.
My spies in Animal House inform me that Ninja has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Bourque is defending against the submission attempts here by Ninja.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ninja is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Ninja is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've been hearing good reports from Bourque's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Bourque tries to get to full guard but Ninja has control of the leg.
Bourque trying to control but Ninja postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bourque avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ninja.
Ninja seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ninja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ninja is looking to pass Bourque's guard but actually Bourque recovers to full guard.
Bourque has his hands on Ninja's head, controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bourque getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ninja bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bourque wants to control but Ninja postures up.
Bourque stops Ninja from passing to mount.
Bourque wants to control but Ninja postures up.
Ninja working the ground and pound but Bourque is defending the strikes.
Ninja wants to take a breather but Bourque manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Ninja.
Ninja being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourque being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bourque preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bourque. Ninja does a little dance to reset his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Ninja misses.
Ninja walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ninja shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bourque sprawls well. Bourque wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ninja gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Test Ninja will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bourque throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bourque throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ninja takes one to the chin there.
Ninja's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bourque connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ninja scrambles back to his feet.
Bourque lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ninja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bourque cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ninja dives in for a single leg takedown but Bourque sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bourque lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ninja circles away quickly and effectively.
Ninja drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bourque defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bourque misses with a few strikes there.
Bourque lands a jab.
Bourque throws out a loose jab but Ninja uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourque scores with a nice right hand.
Paul Bourque seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bourque looks to score with a jab to the body but Ninja is just out of range.
Bourque swings for the body but Ninja moves out of range.
Bourque is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bourque bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ninja's head.
Bourque connects with a single shot there.
Ninja shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bourque counters with a one-two to the body.
Paul Bourque has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Test Ninja.
A shot to the body from Bourque misses

so Ninja counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bourque keeping moving, preventing Ninja from controlling successfully.
Bourque manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ninja manages to get himself to full guard.
Ninja throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ninja is on top in guard.
Ninja loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ninja wants to control from the top but Bourque keeps moving.
Bourque looking for a sweep. Not yet Bourque, not yet.
Ninja is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bourque scores with a decent looking hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bourque swings and misses with a hook to the body.
As Bourque backs off Ninja throws a huge counter combo but Bourque manages to avoid it all.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninja has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ninja there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bourque takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Ninja staying out of range there.
Ninja feints the counter takedown.
Bourque lands a really nice looking cross but Ninja seems unphased.
Ninja steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bourque.
Ninja is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bourque with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bourque is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Ninja walks into a left hand.
Bourque rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ninja decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bourque's guard.
Ninja pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bourque is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninja trying to control but Bourque is working from the bottom.
Ninja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bourque swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Test Ninja has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ninja trying to control but Bourque is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ninja pushes down on Bourque's leg and manages to get into half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Bourque dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab lands there for Bourque.
Bourque slaps away a takedown attempt from Ninja, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bourque lands with a shot to the body.

Bourque has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bourque is looking to break free of the clinch but Ninja has double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bourque breaks from the clinch.
Ninja is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Bourque.
Ninja moves forwards but Bourque connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bourque will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ninja slips a straight right by Bourque.
Bourque throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Ninja defending well as Bourque loads up on a big left hand.
Bourque is looking to clinch but Ninja is avoiding it.
Ninja doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ninja uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bourque.
A swing and a miss from Bourque.
Ninja is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bourque throws a body shot but no joy.
Ninja is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Bourque with a body shot.
Bourque connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ninja shoots for a double leg takedown but Bourque sprawls well. He's pushed Ninja's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice uppercut there from Bourque.
Paul Bourque is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bourque lands a head shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ninja blocks a jab.
Good exchange - Bourque coming out on top.
Bourque connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ninja's hands.
Bourque moves in looking to clinch but Ninja pushes him off.
Bourque throws a combination that misses

and Ninja counters with a single leg into guard. Bourque didn't expect that.
Bourque is pulling down on Ninja's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourque looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ninja slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ninja postures up.
Bourque pulls Ninja in to control the position.
Ninja trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bourque being controlled here, momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ninja looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ninja showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bourque is adopting a defensive guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ninja is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bourque is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bourque has escaped and now he's on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Bourque showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bourque has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Bourque!
An out of breath Paul Bourque thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.