PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcin Szajda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Overeem
vs
Szajda

195 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marcin Szajda!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Overeem moves into the clinch successfully.
Szajda unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Szajda misses with a knee strike.
Szajda tries to score a body lock takedown but Overeem shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Szajda misses with a knee to the head.
Szajda drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Overeem gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Szajda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Szajda misses with a knee to the head.
Szajda content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Overeem is trying to drag Szajda to the mat but Szajda just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Szajda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Overeem in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szajda scores with a knee to the head.
Szajda is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Szajda trying to control the position but instead, Overeem has worked for underhooks and has pushed Szajda into the cage.
Knees to the body from Szajda.
Overeem is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A knee to the head by Szajda.
Szajda stalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Marcin Szajda.
Overeem cracks Szajda with an open hand slap.
Szajda fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Alistair Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcin Szajda.
Szajda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Szajda misses with a head kick.
Szajda looks gassed!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Overeem has managed to clinch.
Overeem prevents a takedown attempt there.
Overeem tries to score a body lock takedown but Szajda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem wants a takedown but no success here.
Szajda tries to land a knee to the head but Overeem blocks with his arms.
Szajda trying to land knees to the body.
Overeem is trying to drag Szajda to the mat but Szajda just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Overeem goes for a takedown in the clinch but Szajda prevents it.
Overeem prevents the takedown attempt.
Szajda is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Overeem has Szajda pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Szajda manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szajda content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Overeem drops down looking for an ankle pick but Szajda pulls his leg out and moves away.

Szajda rushes Overeem and presses him up against the cage.
Overeem is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Szajda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Szajda decides to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Overeem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szajda keeping moving, preventing Overeem from controlling successfully.
Szajda doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Szajda dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Overeem closes the distance and clinches.
Szajda wants a takedown but no success here.
Overeem takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Szajda obliges.
Overeem tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Szajda just stands there and leans against the cage.
Szajda lands a nice knee to the body.
Szajda scores a nice knee to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Szajda.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Szajda landing knees to the head.

It looks like Alistair Overeem has been cut.
Szajda putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Overeem in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Overeem has Szajda pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Szajda manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Szajda working Overeem over with knees to the body.
Szajda stalling the fight.
Overeem is pressed up against the cage. Szajda 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.

Overeem clinches up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Szajda.
Szajda landing knees to the head.

Szajda manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Szajda uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szajda shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Overeem sprawls well. Overeem wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Szajda gets slowly back to his feet.
Alistair Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcin Szajda.
Overeem scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Overeem moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Szajda landing knees to the body.
Szajda tries to stall but Overeem uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Szajda gets underhooks to prevent Overeem's takedown attempt.
Marcin Szajda seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Overeem tries to score a body lock takedown but Szajda shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem wants a takedown but no success here.
Overeem tries for a takedown but Szajda manages to get underhooks.
Szajda taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Szajda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Szajda gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Overeem.
Szajda looking for a takedown.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szajda tries to pull guard but Overeem won't allow it.
Szajda stalling in the clinch but Overeem improves position.
Overeem tries for a takedown. No joy.
Overeem is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Szajda gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Overeem wants a takedown.
Szajda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Szajda holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Szajda wants a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Szajda gets underhooks to prevent Overeem's takedown attempt.

Szajda pulls guard effortlessly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcin Szajda showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alistair Overeem's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Szajda rushes Overeem and presses him up against the cage.
Szajda misses with a knee to the head.

Szajda gets control of Overeem's arms and successfully pulls guard. Szajda will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Overeem makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Overeem throwing strikes but missing.
Overeem thows a big elbow that misses.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Szajda holds on and takes a little breather.
Overeem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Szajda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Overeem preventing the sweep.
Szajda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem throws and elbow that misses. Szajda uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Overeem's guard. Nice move by Szajda!
Szajda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Szajda won't allow Overeem to get back to his feet.
Szajda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Szajda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Overeem trying to keep a closed guard but Szajda is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Szajda accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Szajda trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Szajda postures up in Overeem's guard and throws a big left but Overeem blocks it.
Overeem keeping moving, preventing Szajda from controlling successfully.
Szajda throwing strikes from guard but Overeem blocks nicely.
Szajda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Overeem works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Szajda has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Szajda throwing strikes from guard but Overeem blocks nicely.
Szajda throwing strikes but missing.
Szajda postures up in Overeem's guard and throws a big left but Overeem blocks it.
Szajda slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is trying to get back to his feet.
Szajda creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Overeem sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The ground and pound from Szajda seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Overeem is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Szajda advances to mount.
Szajda throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Szajda looking to finish with strikes here!
Szajda throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Szajda unloads with some shots from mount but Overeem bucks and avoids them well.
Szajda throws some wild stikes that Overeem manages to avoid easily.
Szajda trying to control but Overeem is having none of it.
Szajda unloads with some shots from mount but Overeem bucks and avoids them well.
Szajda thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Szajda throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Overeem because Szajda loaded up on that one.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Szajda looking to control but Overeem is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Alistair Overeem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcin Szajda is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Szajda putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcin Szajda comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Szajda winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcin Szajda!