PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Hari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Badr Hari told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Overeem
vs
Hari

191 cm
18
234 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

197 cm
25
231 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valentin Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Badr Hari!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hari lands a jab-cross combination.
Hari throws a lazy head kick
and Overeem counters with a leg kick.
Overeem throws a head kick but Hari moves out of range.
Overeem misses with a takedown
and Overeem takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Overeem has his takedown stuffed
and Hari counters with a series of strikes. Overeem will be more careful next time no doubt.
Overeem tries for a takedown but Hari circles away easily
and Hari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valentin Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hari's sensitive parts.
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!
Hari pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Overeem back to the cage. Hari follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Overeem misses with a takedown attempt
and Hari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hari fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Overeem fails with the takedown
and Hari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hari circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hari counters with a three punch combo that has Overeem backing up. Overeem nods at Hari to acknowledge the strikes.
Overeem is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari digs a good body shot into Overeem's ribs.
Overeem avoids the head kick by Hari.
Hari throws a series of strikes that have Overeem backpedaling.
Hari lands with a nice combination. Overeem backs away looking to recover.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Overeem. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Hari moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hari tries to land a leg kick but Overeem saw it coming and moves away.
Overeem doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hari counters with a stiff right hand.
Hari goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hari ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hari displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hari lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hari.
Hari scores with a punch to the head.
Overeem avoids the head kick by Hari.
Hari looks to land a combination. Overeem sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Nice cross by Hari.
Hari throws a sloppy head kick and Overeem moves out of range easily.
Hari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Overeem tries to clinch but Hari moves away
and Hari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hari is working the combinations to good effect here.
Hari bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Overeem's head.
Overeem checks a leg kick.
Hari stalks Overeem and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Overeem's face. Overeem staggers backwards, shaken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hari.
Overeem slaps away a takedown attempt from Hari, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hari misses with a head kick.
Overeem swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hari counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hari misses with a head kick.

Hari drives through and clinches with Overeem against the cage.
Overeem drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hari gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hari lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Overeem.
Hari lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Hari.
A nice left hand lands by Hari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Hari's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hari wants a takedown but no success here.
Hari is trying to push Overeem away but Overeem has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hari scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hari has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Overeem avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Overeem keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hari's efforts to push away.

Hari has clasped his hands together around Overeem's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hari in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The ground and pound from Hari seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hari lands a nice forearm strike.
Hari is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Overeem's shoulder. That is not cool.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Hari dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Overeem takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hari lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Overeem fails with the takedown
and Hari counters with a nice uppercut.
A head kick misses from Hari.
Hari throws a head kick that misses.
Hari connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Overeem moves out of range of the body kick.
Overeem misses with a takedown
and Hari counters with a three punch combo that has Overeem backing up. Overeem nods at Hari to acknowledge the strikes.
Hari throws a one two combo.
Hari pivots, looking for a leg kick but Overeem is out of range and Hari settles back down.
Hari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Badr Hari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hari has managed to clinch.
Overeem creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hari.
Overeem trying to control the position but instead, Hari has worked for underhooks and has pushed Overeem into the cage.
Hari goes for a takedown attempt but Overeem pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Hari closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hari perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hari stops Overeem from getting back to his feet.

Hari is looking for a kimura here.
Overeem taking some punishment here, with Hari in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hari is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hari tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Overeem.
Hari scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hari prevents Overeem from standing back up.
Overeem wants to improve his position but Hari is controlling well.
Hari is looking to advance position but Overeem won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hari really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Overeem. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hari tries to stand and escape but Overeem is controlling the position.
Overeem avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hari.
Hari is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hari wants to get back to his feet.
Overeem is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hari is taking a breather. Overeem says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hari lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hari is taking a breather. Overeem says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Badr Hari was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Valentin Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Overeem avoids the head kick by Hari.
Overeem avoids the head kick by Hari.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hari!
Hari keeps Overeem at a distance using the push kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Hari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hari looking to score a takedown here. Overeem is defending well but Hari drives through and ends up in Overeem's guard.

Overeem is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hari defends well.
Hari postures up in Overeem's guard and throws a big left but Overeem blocks it.
Hari tries to free his leg and advance position but Overeem is retaining full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hari's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hari stands and steps away. Overeem gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hari wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hari stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hari stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Hari.
Hari scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hari.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hari.
Overeem is pressed up against the cage. Hari 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.
Hari lands with a right hand.
Hari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Hari.
Danga de danga de dang - Hari scores with a four punch combination!
Hari shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Overeem pinned against the cage. Overeem gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hari lands with a nice combination. Overeem backs away looking to recover.
A low kick from Hari is predictable there
and Overeem counters with a good low kick that Hari was not able to check.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hari lands with an overhand left.
Hari closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A left and a right from Hari both land. Nice combination.
Hari lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hari throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Overeem has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Overeem gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hari counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Hari scores with a four punch combination!
Overeem on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Overeem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hari throws a sloppy head kick and Overeem moves out of range easily.
Hari lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Overeem looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A punch combination from Hari misses.
Overeem tries to clinch but Hari moves away
and Hari counters with a left and a right that stings Overeem.
Hari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hari misses with a head kick.
A nice combination there by Hari.
Hari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Overeem fails with the takedown
and Overeem takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valentin Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hari closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Overeem to the mat! Overeem manages to get full guard.
Hari looking to pass the guard.
Overeem is trying to control the position but Hari postures up.
Hari won't allow Overeem to get back to his feet.
Hari not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Badr Hari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hari has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Badr Hari!