PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dariusz Karlowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Overeem's entrance music is The Rush - Sensation. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Overeem
vs
Karlowski

197 cm
18
256 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

198 cm
18
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 St Petersburg, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dariusz Karlowski!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlowski fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Overeem with that takedown attempt.
Karlowski shoots in and drives through. Overeem sprawls well.

Karlowski pushes Overeem up against the cage in a clinch.
Karlowski scores with a nice hook to the head.
Karlowski throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Overeem has Karlowski pushed against the cage.
Karlowski connects with a nasty looking knee right to Overeem's face.
Karlowski with a knee to the head.
Karlowski stalling the fight.
Karlowski managing to block the knees to the body from Overeem.
Overeem jumps guard but Karlowski turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Karlowski tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters up against the cage, Karlowski throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlowski lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Karlowski taking a breather.
Karlowski throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Karlowski stalls.
Overeem changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Karlowski fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Overeem wants it to stay on the feet.
Karlowski fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Overeem avoids it really well and circles away.
Karlowski shoots for a takedown but Overeem saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlowski shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Overeem sprawls well. Overeem wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karlowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Karlowski looks gassed!
Karlowski changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Overeem tries to avoid it but Karlowski manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Overeem to the ground. Overeem escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Karlowski stuffs the takedown attempt from Overeem. Overeem gets slowly back to his feet.
Overeem shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Karlowski leaves Overeem with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Karlowski gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Overeem to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Overeem lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is stalling in the full guard.
Overeem working some strikes from top position.
Overeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Karlowski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Karlowski is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Overeem working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Overeem has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Overeem sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Karlowski's guard.
Karlowski tries to kick Overeem off but Overeem keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Karlowski on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Overeem there.
Karlowski is staying active underneath Overeem, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Overeem missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Overeem throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Overeem lands a nice short elbow.
Overeem working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Overeem connects with a nice short shot to Karlowski's temple.
Karlowski has hold of Overeem's hands but Overeem slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Overeem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Karlowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Karlowski makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Overeem.
Overeem just content to control the position.
Overeem creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem looks up at the clock and then as Karlowski takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Overeem smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Karlowski is pushing Overeem's head away, looking to escape. Overeem manages to hold on to the position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Overeem is trying hard to land a takedown here. Karlowski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Karlowski defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Overeem.
Karlowski shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Overeem but Overeem pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Karlowski fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Overeem, pushing him back against the cage.
Overeem takes an elbow to the temple.
Overeem is trying to pull guard but Karlowski has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karlowski misses with an elbow strike.

Overeem breaks from the clinch.
Karlowski fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Karlowski looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Karlowski is breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlowski doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Karlowski has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Karlowski breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Overeem stuffs the takedown attempt from Karlowski. Karlowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Karlowski with a lazy takedown attempt
and Karlowski takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Karlowski gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Overeem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karlowski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Overeem trying to control but Karlowski is working from the bottom.
Overeem is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Overeem with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem wants to control from the top but Karlowski keeps moving.
Overeem cracks Karlowski with a solid left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karlowski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Overeem scoring with some ground and pound.
Karlowski wants to get back to his feet but Overeem is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Overeem keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Karlowski's head.
Karlowski wants to stand up but Overeem is controlling him.

Overeem drops back looking for a leg! Karlowski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karlowski manages to kick Overeem off! Overeem jumps back into Karlowski's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem won't allow Karlowski to get back to his feet.
Karlowski keeping moving, preventing Overeem from controlling successfully.
Overeem lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Overeem thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Overeem throwing strikes from guard but Karlowski blocks nicely.
Overeem distracts Karlowski with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Karlowski wants to stand but Overeem is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Overeem drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Overeem jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Overeem cracks Karlowski with a solid left hand.
Karlowski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Overeem.
Overeem trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Karlowski keeping full guard, as Overeem tries to pass.
Karlowski wants to stand but Overeem is controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem distracts Karlowski with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Overeem trying to control but Karlowski is working from the bottom.
Overeem makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Overeem keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Overeem stuffs the takedown attempt from Karlowski. Karlowski gets slowly back to his feet.
Overeem shoots in for a double leg but Karlowski sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Karlowski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Alistair Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dariusz Karlowski.
Overeem dives in and grabs Karlowski's left leg, looking for a takedown. Karlowski pushes down on Overeem's head and hops out.
Overeem doesn't manage to clinch there - Karlowski circles away.

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

Overeem pushes Karlowski off and scrambles back to his feet.
Karlowski slaps away a takedown attempt from Overeem, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Karlowski.

Overeem throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Karlowski was covering up waiting for the punch and Overeem finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Overeem trying to control but Karlowski is working from the bottom.
Karlowski wants to stand up but Overeem is controlling him.
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.
Alistair Overeem overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Overeem works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Karlowski is looking to escape.

Overeem is trying to work for a kimura but Karlowski is defending well.
Overeem lands strikes from half guard.
Overeem wants to take a breather but Karlowski is having none of it.

Overeem is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Overeem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Karlowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Karlowski wants to get back to his feet.

Overeem is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Karlowski pushes Overeem off looking to stand but Overeem dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karlowski is defending against the submission attempts here by Overeem.
Overeem thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Overeem is trying to control the action in half guard but Karlowski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Overeem is nestled in close to Karlowski, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Overeem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Karlowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Karlowski tries to kick Overeem off but Overeem keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
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 lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Overeem wants to take a breather but Karlowski is having none of it.

Karlowski kicks Overeem off and gets back to his feet.
Overeem fails with the takedown
and Karlowski connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Alistair Overeem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlowski is looking to clinch but Overeem is avoiding it.
Karlowski tries to clinch there but Overeem circles away.
Overeem shoots in looking for a takedown. Karlowski tries to sprawl out of it but Overeem keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Karlowski manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Alistair Overeem is winning the standup battle so far.
Karlowski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Overeem swivels and escapes.

Overeem throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Karlowski tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Overeem is in Karlowski's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Overeem stops Karlowski from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Overeem pushing down on Karlowski's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

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