PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Triston Baal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Baal
vs
Overeem

190 cm
28
270 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

195 cm
22
260 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

MFS Voodoo Labs - 159 Energy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Triston Baal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mauricio Overeem!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Overeem displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baal throws out the jab.
Baal pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Baal lands with an overhand left.

It looks like Mauricio Overeem has been cut.
Baal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Overeem.
Baal lands an overhand right.
Baal looks to land a right hand but Overeem moved out of range.
Overeem throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Overeem throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Baal misses with an uppercut.
Baal throws the left hand but Overeem avoids the punch easily.
Baal waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Overeem.
Baal throws a jab but it's blocked by Overeem.
Overeem throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Overeem lands a nice shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Overeem misses with a looping right.
Triston Baal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baal looks to land a left hand but Overeem moved out of range nicely.
Overeem rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Baal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Overeem tries to clinch there but Baal circles away.

Overeem closes the distance and clinches.
Baal wants a takedown.
Baal trying to control the position but instead, Overeem has worked for underhooks and has pushed Baal into the cage.
Overeem pushes Baal back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Overeem scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Baal working aggressively here.
Overeem lands with a short shot to the head.
Baal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Overeem is pressed up against the cage. Baal has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Overeem down to the mat. Overeem avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Baal jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Overeem takes a swing at Baal's ribcage but misses.
Overeem throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Baal stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Baal is breathing heavily.
Baal moves out of range as Overeem strikes.
Baal throws an overhand right that lands on Overeem's shoulder, as Overeem tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Overeem throws a front kick that sends Baal stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Crunch! Overeem slams his shin into Baal's torso.
Overeem connects with a single shot there.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Baal doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Baal looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Triston Baal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem gets through Baal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Overeem lands an elbow that stopped Baal in his tracks for a moment.
Overeem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Baal takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Triston Baal has been cut.
Overeem scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Overeem throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Baals head.
Overeem comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Overeem connects with a nasty looking knee right to Baal's face.
Overeem has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Baal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Overeem.
Overeem stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Overeem lands a body shot.
Overeem lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Baal backwards.
Still in the clinch, Overeem scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Overeem scores with a nice hook to the head.

Baal is rocked!
Overeem lands a hook that snaps the head of Baal backwards.
Oh Baal is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Overeem digs a right hand underneath Baal's ribcage. Baal let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Overeem lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Overeem.
Overeem scores with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Overeem scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Overeem.
A short right from Overeem on the inside.
Baal takes a knee right on the jaw!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Overeem.
Overeem lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Baal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Baal seems to have got his legs back now.
Overeem scores with a nice hook to the head.
Overeem is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Nice elbow from Overeem.
Overeem with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Overeem lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Baal or not.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Overeem.
Overeem landing knees to the head.
Baal drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baal gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Overeem.
Overeem putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Baal in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Overeem lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Overeem lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Overeem lands an elbow just above Baal 's eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Overeem works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Overeem lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Overeem.
Overeem lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Overeem lands a body shot in the clinch.
Overeem lands an elbow inside.
Overeem lands a body punch in the clinch.
Baal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Overeem lands a damaging elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Overeem with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Overeem scores a nice knee to the body.

Overeem tightens his grip and picks Baal up, before dumping him to the ground. Baal manages to land in guard.
Overeem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Overeem showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mauricio Overeem dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Baal's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Overeem fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Baal is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Overeem looks to land a body kick but Baal moved away.
Baal keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Overeem.
Baal shoots for a takedown but Overeem saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Baal crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Overeem - the referee stops the clock and Baal gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Overeem. Baal manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Overeem defending well as Baal loads up on a big left hand.
Overeem uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Baal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baal looks to throw the jab but Overeem is out of range.
Overeem throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Baal sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Baal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Baal keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baal looks to land a right hand but Overeem moved out of range.
Jab by Baal.
Overeem misses with a head kick.
Baal ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Overeem moves away.
Overeem tries a head kick but it misses.
Baal loads up on a big right hand but Overeem slips the punch.
Baal punishes Overeem's body with a nice straight punch.
Mauricio Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Baal fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Overeem sprawls well initially but Baal persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Overeem has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Baal in particular looking to stall.
Overeem blocking the ground and pound attempt from Baal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baal sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Overeem defending well though.
Baal is trying to control. Overeem wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Overeem wants to sweep but Baal has passed to side control!
Baal creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Overeem sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Baal throws an elbow but Overeem slips to the side and avoids it well.
Baal working the ground and pound from side control.
Overeem defending against the ground and pound.
Baal misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baal is looking to take a break and control but Overeem is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Overeem is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Baal wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Overeem, who protects the arm well.
Overeem tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Baal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Overeem can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Baal trying to control the position but Overeem is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Overeem avoids a punch combination nicely.
Baal steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Overeem.
Baal fails to land with a series of punches.
Overeem throws a nice looking combination but Baal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Baal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Baal missing with a left hand there. Overeem was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Baal takes one to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Triston Baal dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Baal throws a combination that misses
and Overeem counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Baal slips a jab and a cross from Overeem.
Overeem lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Overeem throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Overeem throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Overeem - that will leave a mark!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Overeem with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Overeem throws a quick inside leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Overeem.

Overeem clinches up against the cage.
Overeem misses with the head strike.
Overeem lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Overeem lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baal drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Overeem gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Overeem gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Overeem.
A bit of stalling here from Overeem.
Overeem throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Baal blocks it with crossed arms.
Overeem lands with a right to the head.
Overeem misses with a knee strike.
Overeem prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Triston Baal. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee is keeping an eye on Overeem - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Overeem cracks Baal with a nice body shot.
Overeem tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice elbow from Overeem.
A body shot lands from Overeem.
Overeem lands with a left to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Overeem.

Overeem breaks the clinch.

Overeem moves into the clinch.
Overeem tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Baal gets underhooks to prevent Overeem's takedown attempt.
Baal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Overeem stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Baal wants a takedown.
Mauricio Overeem seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baal can't find room to land a body shot as Overeem controls the action.
Baal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Overeem looking to throw knees to the head but Baal is blocking nicely.
Overeem stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Overeem scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Overeem makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Overeem is leaning against Baal and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Overeem on the inside.
Overeem lands an elbow inside that Baal shrugs off.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Overeem as Baal tries to tie him up.
Overeem lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Overeem - that landed with a thud.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Overeem lands a hook to the side of the head.
Overeem lands a hook that snaps the head of Baal backwards.
Overeem gets through Baal's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Overeem slows down the pace here.
Overeem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Overeem lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem lands a good knee to the midsection. Baal won't want to take too many of those.
Overeem throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Baal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Overeem digs a right hand into Baal's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Baal's gas tank.
Overeem is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Overeem holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Overeem scores with a nice hook to the head.
Overeem lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Overeem is trying to maintain a safe position but Baal gets an underhook and turns Overeem into the cage.
Baal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Overeem lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Overeem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Overeem lands a body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Overeem.

Overeem breaks the clinch.
Overeem misses with a series of wild punches.
Overeem thuds a left hand into Baal's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem wants to clinch.
Overeem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Baal looks to score with a jab to the body but Overeem is just out of range.
Overeem fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Overeem throws a predictable looking body shot
and Baal counters with a nice uppercut.
Baal misses with a straight left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Overeem scores with the left hand. Baal knows he should have avoided that one.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Baal paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Baal throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Overeem was covering up waiting for the punch and Baal finishes the takedown easily into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Overeem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Overeem has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mauricio Overeem!