PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalid Abdullah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Alistair Overeem has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Overeem
vs
Abdullah

185 cm
23
185 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Khalid Abdullah!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Abdullah fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Overeem, pushing him back against the ropes.
Abdullah lands a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Abdullah obliges.
Abdullah connects with a nasty looking knee right to Overeem's face.
Overeem tries to break the clinch but Abdullah is controlling the position.
Abdullah keeps control of Overeem as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Overeem has had enough of the clinch but Abdullah keeps him there for the moment.
Overeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Abdullah prevents Overeem from breaking the clinch.
Abdullah misses with a knee to the head.
Overeem wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice elbow from Abdullah.
Overeem is trying to break the clinch but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Abdullah with a knee to the head.
Abdullah tries a knee to the head but Overeem blocks it.
Abdullah connects with a knee to the head.
Overeem wants to break free but Abdullah has control.
Overeem wants to break the clinch but can't.
Abdullah crunches a lovely knee into Overeem's ribcage.
Overeem is trying to break the clinch but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Overeem is trying to break free.
Overeem is trying to force a seperation but Abdullah has the dominant position.
Abdullah looking to throw knees to the head but Overeem is blocking nicely.
Abdullah lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Overeem takes an elbow to the temple.
Abdullah gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Overeem working hard to break the clinch.
Abdullah landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Overeem is breathing heavily.
Abdullah unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abdullah landing knees to the head.
Overeem wants to get back to striking at distance but Abdullah won't allow it.
Abdullah connects with a nasty looking knee right to Overeem's face.
Abdullah scores with a knee to the head.

Overeem is rocked!
Abdullah lands a damaging elbow.
Oh Overeem is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Abdullah with a knee to the head.
Overeem is trying to break free.
Abdullah is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Abdullah is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Overeem seems to have got his legs back now.
Abdullah with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Abdullah unloads a knee to the mid-section. Overeem lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Abdullah with a knee to the head.
Overeem takes a knee to the side of the body.
Abdullah lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Abdullah lands an elbow just above Overeem 's eye.

Abdullah pulls Overeem into guard.

Overeem postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Abdullah is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Overeem, into his guard.
Overeem has momentary wrist control but Abdullah slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah throws a big right hand that misses.
Abdullah pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Overeem is keeping the position for now.
Overeem tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Abdullah avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Abdullah got a little sloppy there for a moment and Overeem has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Abdullah has managed to get both his arms back between Overeem's legs - danger averted.
Abdullah thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Abdullah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Abdullah fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Overeem, pushing him back against the ropes.
Overeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Abdullah tries a knee to the head but Overeem blocks it.
Abdullah has Overeem pressed against the ropes, preventing Overeem from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Knees in the clinch landing for Abdullah.
Overeem is looking to break free of the clinch but Abdullah has double underhooks.
Overeem takes a knee right on the jaw!
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Abdullah's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Overeem is trying to force a seperation but Abdullah has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Overeem's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Abdullah utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Abdullah misses with a knee strike.
Abdullah gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Overeem takes a knee to the side of the body.
Abdullah lands an elbow that stopped Overeem in his tracks for a moment.
Overeem is looking to break free of the clinch but Abdullah has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is trying to break the clinch but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Abdullah prevents Overeem from breaking the clinch.
Overeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Abdullah connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Abdullah.
Overeem tries to circle away but Abdullah has him pinned against the ropes.
Overeem looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Abdullah keeps control of Overeem as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Abdullah utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Abdullah tries a knee to the head but Overeem blocks it.
Abdullah with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Abdullah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Overeem's efforts to push away.
Abdullah using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah lands a knee to the head.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Overeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Overeem tries to break free but Abdullah pushes him back against the ropes.
Overeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Overeem wants to break the clinch but can't.
Abdullah lands a knee to the head.
Abdullah misses with an elbow over the top.
Abdullah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Overeem's efforts to push away.
Abdullah landing knees to the head.

Overeem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abdullah moves in looking to clinch but Overeem pushes him off.
Overeem closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Overeem swats away the attempt to clinch by Abdullah.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.
Overeem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Abdullah.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Overeem throws a series of strikes that have Abdullah backpedaling.
Abdullah slips a jab and a cross from Overeem.
Overeem misses with the combination.
Overeem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.
Overeem misses with a series of wild punches.
Overeem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Abdullah circles away quickly and effectively.
Overeem rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abdullah moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Abdullah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Abdullah gets a clinch.
Overeem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Abdullah looking to throw knees to the head but Overeem is blocking nicely.
Abdullah looking to throw knees to the head but Overeem is blocking nicely.
Overeem wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Overeem has had enough of the clinch but Abdullah keeps him there for the moment.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Overeem avoids it.
Overeem is looking to break free of the clinch but Abdullah has double underhooks.
Overeem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Abdullah lands a knee to the body.
Abdullah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Abdullah unloads a knee to the mid-section. Overeem lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Abdullah crunches a lovely knee into Overeem's ribcage.
Abdullah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Overeem blocks it with crossed arms.
Abdullah missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Abdullah.
Overeem has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Overeem working hard to break the clinch.
Abdullah prevents Overeem from breaking the clinch.
Overeem managing to block the knees to the body from Abdullah.
Abdullah has Overeem pressed against the ropes, preventing Overeem from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Overeem tries to break free but Abdullah pushes him back against the ropes.
Overeem wants to get back to striking at distance but Abdullah won't allow it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Overeem managing to block the knees to the body from Abdullah.
Abdullah prevents Overeem from breaking the clinch.
Abdullah with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Abdullah with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Abdullah misses with an elbow over the top.
Overeem is trying to break free.
Overeem has had enough of the clinch but Abdullah keeps him there for the moment.
Abdullah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Overeem blocks it with crossed arms.

Overeem manages to break the clinch.
Overeem swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Overeem throws a series of punches but Abdullah moves out of range.
Abdullah slips a jab and a cross from Overeem.
Overeem tries to bum rush Abdullah with a series of wild strikes but Abdullah uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alistair Overeem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abdullah dodges the punch combination from Overeem.
Abdullah is looking to clinch but Overeem is avoiding it.
Overeem tries to bum rush Abdullah with a series of wild strikes but Abdullah uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Abdullah clinches up against the ropes.
Abdullah misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Overeem.
Abdullah keeps control of Overeem as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Overeem is trying to break free.
Abdullah working Overeem over with knees to the body.
Abdullah working Overeem over with knees to the body.

Abdullah has Overeem pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Abdullah pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Overeem tumbling to the mat - Abdullah dives into Overeem's guard.

Overeem working for a triangle but Abdullah defends it easily.
Abdullah must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Abdullah gets to his feet - Overeem follows without any prompting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Khalid Abdullah dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Abdullah forces Overeem back against the ropes and clinches.
Overeem blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Overeem wants to get back to striking at distance but Abdullah won't allow it.
Abdullah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Overeem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Overeem is trying to break free.
Abdullah comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Abdullah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Overeem has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Overeem working hard to break the clinch.
Overeem takes an elbow to the temple.

Overeem escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch but Overeem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch combination from Overeem misses.
Overeem misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Abdullah closes the distance and pushes Overeem back into the ropes.
Abdullah lands an elbow that stopped Overeem in his tracks for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Overeem tries to circle away but Abdullah has him pinned against the ropes.

Overeem manages to break the clinch.
Overeem misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Abdullah looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some wild striking there from Overeem.
Some wild striking there from Overeem.
Overeem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Abdullah staying out of range there.
Overeem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Overeem waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Abdullah.
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Overeem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Overeem connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Overeem with a nice cross.
Overeem throws a right and a left that both miss.
Overeem misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Abdullah.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Abdullah tries to clinch up.
Overeem misses with a body shot.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.
Overeem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Overeem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Overeem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Abdullah doesn't manage to clinch there - Overeem circles away.
Abdullah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Overeem avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Overeem changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Overeem is looking to land body kicks.
Overeem fails to land with a series of punches.
Abdullah fails with an attempt to clinch.
Overeem scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abdullah tries to clinch but Overeem is having none of it.
Overeem misses with a two punch combination.
Overeem digs a good hook to Abdullah's body.
Overeem does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Overeem swinging wildly here.
Overeem throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abdullah tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Overeem throws a nice looking combination but Abdullah bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Overeem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No joy there for Overeem, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Overeem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A punch combination from Overeem misses.
Overeem throws a body punch but Abdullah moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Abdullah tries to clinch up but Overeem circles away and keeps his distance.

Abdullah pushes Overeem up against the ropes in a clinch.
Abdullah landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Overeem has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Abdullah tries a knee to the head but Overeem blocks it.
Abdullah prevents Overeem from breaking the clinch.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Overeem has had enough of the clinch but Abdullah keeps him there for the moment.
Abdullah landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Overeem tries to break free but Abdullah pushes him back against the ropes.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Abdullah obliges.
Abdullah connects with a nasty looking knee right to Overeem's face.
Abdullah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Overeem has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Overeem tries to break free but Abdullah pushes him back against the ropes.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Overeem wants to break free but Abdullah has control.
Abdullah lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Abdullah landing knees to the head.
Khalid Abdullah seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Overeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Overeem is trying to break the clinch but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Abdullah tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Abdullah misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Overeem.
Overeem wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Overeem is trying to break the clinch but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Overeem has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Abdullah keeps control of Overeem as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Overeem is trying to break the clinch but Abdullah is controlling him.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Overeem tries to circle away but Abdullah has him pinned against the ropes.
Overeem tries to break the clinch but Abdullah is controlling the position.
Abdullah misses with a knee strike.
Abdullah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Overeem has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Abdullah misses with a knee strike.
Overeem wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Abdullah tries a knee to the head but Overeem blocks it.
Abdullah taking a breather.
Abdullah is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Overeem is defending well for now.

That's six 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.
Overeem is trying to break the clinch but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Abdullah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Overeem has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Overeem takes a knee right on the jaw!
Overeem is trying to break free.
Overeem tries to break the clinch but Abdullah is controlling the position.
Abdullah throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Overeem blocks it with crossed arms.
Overeem is looking to break free of the clinch but Abdullah has double underhooks.
Abdullah with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Abdullah keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Overeem's efforts to push away.
Abdullah putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Overeem in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Abdullah lands a knee to the head.
Abdullah keeps control of Overeem as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Abdullah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Overeem has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A frustrated look appears on Overeem's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Abdullah has Overeem pressed against the ropes, preventing Overeem from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Abdullah lands a knee to the head.
Abdullah throws a knee to the head but misses.
Abdullah with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Abdullah lands a nice elbow.
Overeem tries to break free but Abdullah pushes him back against the ropes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Abdullah using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Overeem has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Abdullah unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Overeem wants to break free but Abdullah has control.
Abdullah tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Overeem wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abdullah has him pressed against the ropes.
Overeem is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Abdullah lands an elbow inside.
Abdullah slowing the pace effectively.
Abdullah looking to throw knees to the head but Overeem is blocking nicely.
Abdullah is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Overeem is keeping busy.
Overeem tries to break the clinch but Abdullah is controlling the position.

Overeem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Overeem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch but Overeem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Overeem swinging wildly here.
Abdullah wants to clinch.

That's eight 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.
Overeem lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Abdullah at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Abdullah looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Overeem scores with a nice strike.
Overeem swinging wildly here.
Overeem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Abdullah slips a jab from Overeem.
Overeem lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Abdullah slips a jab and a cross from Overeem.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Overeem looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Overeem fails to land with a series of punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Overeem!
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch but Overeem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Abdullah is looking to clinch.
Overeem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Abdullah is looking to clinch.
Abdullah tries to close the distance and clinch up but Overeem swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Overeem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Overeem swats away the attempt to clinch by Abdullah.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Abdullah fails with an attempt to clinch.
Abdullah is looking to clinch.
Abdullah tries to clinch there but Overeem circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alistair Overeem.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Khalid Abdullah!
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight for Khalid Abdullah!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Khalid Abdullah!

Khalid Abdullah wins by unanimous decision!