PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Pump (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
Pump

195 cm
25
265 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
28
265 lbs
7 - 12 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 5 - 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 7 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vinny Pump!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Overeem showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pump.
Overeem fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pump as he jumps to the side.
Overeem shoots in looking for a takedown but Pump manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Overeem's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pump throws a combination. Overeem tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Alistair Overeem has been cut.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pump sprawls well. Pump wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Overeem gets slowly back to his feet.
Overeem dodges the punch combination from Pump.
Overeem bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
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!
Pump rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Overeem moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pump misses with the combination.
Pump lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pump slaps away a takedown attempt from Overeem, before circling back to the center of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pump enables Overeem to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pump manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Overeem throws a big elbow that misses.

Overeem avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Overeem scoring with punches to the head and body.
Overeem throws a strike but Pump rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Overeem wants to stand and escape but Pump is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Pump gets to his feet - Overeem follows without any prompting.
Pump keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Overeem shoots for a double leg takedown but Pump sprawls well. He's pushed Overeem's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Pump misses with a few strikes there.
Pump tests Overeem's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pump throws a right and a left that Overeem avoids nicely.
Pump fails to land with a series of punches.
Pump looks gassed!
Pump throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Overeem counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Overeem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pump preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Overeem got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pump has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Overeem has managed to get both his arms back between Pump's legs - danger averted.
Overeem is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Overeem wants to control from the top but Pump keeps moving.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Overeem is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Overeem lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Overeem is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Overeem seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pump for as long as he can get away with.
Overeem trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem stands up over Pump, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Overeem throwing strikes but missing.
Overeem wants to control from the top but Pump keeps moving.
Overeem postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Overeem works over Pump with some ground and pound from guard.
Overeem scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Overeem got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pump has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Overeem has managed to get both his arms back between Pump's legs - danger averted.
Overeem working some strikes from top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Overeem tries to free his leg and advance position but Pump is retaining full guard.

Pump is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vinny Pump will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alistair Overeem's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Overeem lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Vinny Pump has been cut.
Overeem slips a jab and a cross from Pump.
Pump throws a series of punches but Overeem moves out of range.
Pump pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Overeem shoots in for a double leg but Pump sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pump slaps away a takedown attempt from Overeem, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Overeem is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pump 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 throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pump's waist but Pump gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Overeem off to one side.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pump.
Pump is breathing heavily.
Pump lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Overeem circles away quickly and effectively.

Overeem scores with a takedown into Pump's guard.

Pump has his foot on Overeem's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Overeem works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pump is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Overeem sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pump's guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Overeem lands a nice short elbow.
Pump has hold of Overeem's hands but Overeem slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Alistair Overeem overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pump looking for submissions off his back.
Overeem landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Overeem lands with a punch from half guard.
Pump taking some punishment here, with Overeem in his half guard.
Overeem scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Overeem is working for a submission of some sort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Overeem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pump with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Overeem is trying to control the action in half guard but Pump is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Overeem there.
Overeem lands strikes from half guard.
Overeem scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Overeem looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Overeem seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pump does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Overeem is looking for a kimura but Pump is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Overeem to get the leverage.
Overeem lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem trying to pass the guard but Pump defending well.
Overeem trying to control the action but Pump is working from the bottom.

Pump looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Overeem is nestled in close to Pump, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Overeem lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Overeem lands a nice short elbow.
Overeem working over Pump with some ground and pound. Pump looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Overeem seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pump does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Overeem tries to pass to full mount but Pump defends it.
Overeem is trying to control. Pump wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Overeem stops Pump from getting back to his feet.
Overeem scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Overeem tries to pass to full mount but Pump defends it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Overeem is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Overeem looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Overeem wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pump keeps working.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Overeem takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Overeem tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pump knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Overeem shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pump as he avoids it easily.
Overeem shoots in and drives through. Pump sprawls well.
Overeem shoots in but Pump avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Overeem.
Pump misses with a double jab

and Overeem counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pump!

Pump bucks up and throws Overeem to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Overeem fails with a takedown attempt.
Pump lands a slapping body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A punch combination from Pump misses.
Pump throws a series of punches but Overeem moves out of range.
Vinny Pump is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pump jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Overeem looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pump lands with a cross.
Pump swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Overeem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pump.
Overeem dives in and grabs Pump's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pump pushes down on Overeem's head and hops out.
Pump falls off balance throwing a combination

and Overeem counters with a nice double leg into side control. Pump won't be happy with that.
Pump is not content to let Overeem control the position.

Overeem tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pump wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Pump takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Overeem cracks Pump with a big elbow.
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 creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Overeem is putting a hurting on Pump here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pump wants to get back to his feet.
Pump is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Overeem wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pump, who protects the arm well.
Pump tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pump is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Overeem tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Overeem landing a few strikes.
Overeem working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Pump is looking for a sweep.
Overeem cracks Pump with a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem lands a nice forearm strike.
Overeem works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Overeem grinds an elbow into Pump's temple.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Overeem works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Overeem is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pump is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Overeem is staying tight to Pump's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Pump is trying to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem working the ground and pound from side control.
Overeem controlling the position from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alistair Overeem showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Overeem has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

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