PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tori Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Overeem
vs
Black

195 cm
25
265 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
273 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Gilop®
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tori Black!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Overeem closes this distance looking for a takedown but Black circles away.
Black tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Overeem manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sloppy strikes from Overeem. Those never looked like landing.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.
Black dodges the punch combination from Overeem.
Nice takedown defense from Black. No joy for Overeem on that attempt.
Black looks to clinch
and Overeem counters with a two punch combo.
Black stuffs the takedown attempt from Overeem. Overeem gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem fails to land the takedown.
Black showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Overeem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem shoots in but Black avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Black closes the distance but Overeem moves to the side
and Overeem counters with a left and a right that stings Black.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.
Black tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Overeem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Black showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Overeem.
Black tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Overeem counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Black but Black pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Overeem circles away from the clinch attempt

and Overeem counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Overeem throws a strike but Black rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Black pushing down on Overeem's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Still in half guard, Black seems content to control.

Overeem kicks Black off and gets back to his feet.
Overeem misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Black tries to clinch
and Overeem counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem shoots in and drives through. Black sprawls well.
Alistair Overeem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Overeem is breathing heavily.
Black wants to clinch but Overeem slips to the side

so Overeem counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Black is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Overeem will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Overeem trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Overeem is looking to work some ground and pound but Black has wrist control.
Overeem throwing strikes from guard but Black blocks nicely.
Overeem with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem throws and elbow that misses. Black uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Overeem's guard. Nice move by Black!
Black loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Black postures up in Overeem's guard and throws a big left but Overeem blocks it.

Black is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Overeem is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Overeem has escaped and now he's on top!
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 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.
Overeem postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Black tries to clinch up
and Overeem counters with a stiff right hand.
Overeem lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Overeem lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Black backs up against the cage.
Overeem looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black tries to close the distance and clinch but Overeem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Overeem closes this distance looking for a takedown but Black circles away.
Black should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Overeem is trying hard to land a takedown here. Black sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Overeem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Overeem.

Black gets caught napping as Overeem dives in and scores a takedown. Black manages to retain guard.
Overeem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Overeem loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Overeem 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.
Black is trying to control the position but Overeem postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Overeem scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black has Overeem pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Overeem in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Overeem accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Overeem is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Black is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Black has escaped and now he's on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Black stands and steps away. Overeem gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Overeem misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black looks to clinch
and Overeem counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Black tries to clinch up
and Overeem counters with a three punch combo that has Black backing up. Black nods at Overeem to acknowledge the strikes.
Overeem fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Black has eaten all the pies!
Black tries to clinch up but Overeem circles away and keeps his distance.
Overeem circles away from the clinch attempt.

Black has managed to clinch.
Overeem blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem wants a takedown but no success here.
Black misses with an elbow strike.
Overeem blocks an elbow strike.
Overeem tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Black smiles and moves away.
Overeem misses with the combination.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown but Black shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Overeem misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Black tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Overeem counters with a three punch combo that has Black backing up. Black nods at Overeem to acknowledge the strikes.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Overeem.
Overeem swings for the body but Black moves out of range.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch but Overeem swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Black looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Black tries to clinch there but Overeem circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Overeem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Black looks to clinch

and Overeem decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Black's guard.
Black being controlled here, momentarily.
Black keeping moving, preventing Overeem from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Overeem throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Black working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Overeem.
Black pulls Overeem in close to prevent any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Black can do anything to dispel that myth.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Overeem tries to score a power double leg takedown but Black sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Overeem somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Overeem paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Black is looking to clinch but Overeem is avoiding it.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Black but Black pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Overeem looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Black is fending him off so far but Overeem persists. Nope, Black circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Black stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Overeem.
Overeem throws a right hand that Black ducks under and follows up with a left that Black also avoids with ease.
Black tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Overeem paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Black is looking to clinch.
No luck for Overeem with that takedown attempt.
Overeem circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Black looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Black moves to clinch but Overeem breaks away
and Overeem counters with a two punch combo.
Tori Black has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alistair Overeem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Black tries to clinch
and Overeem counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alistair Overeem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Overeem, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27

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