PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kazushi Sakuraba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Overeem
vs
Sakuraba

189 cm
18
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

OVERDOSE Factory: Q159.2 Energy and more!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kazushi Sakuraba!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Radbod Blank and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Overeem tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba scores with a jab.
Overeem tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A big left from Sakuraba misses.
Overeem tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Overeem is looking to clinch.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Overeem defending well as Sakuraba loads up on a big left hand.
Sakuraba throws an overhand right that lands on Overeem's shoulder, as Overeem tries to avoid the shot.
Overeem misses with a head kick.
Sakuraba looks to land a right hand but Overeem moved out of range.

Overeem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Overeem throws an elbow but it misses.
Overeem lands a nice elbow.
Sakuraba holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Overeem throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sakuraba lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sakuraba can't find room to land a body shot as Overeem controls the action.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Overeem throws an elbow but misses.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Overeem lands an elbow that stopped Sakuraba in his tracks for a moment.
Sakuraba avoids a wild elbow strike from Overeem.
Overeem throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Sakuraba drags the fight down to the ground.
Sakuraba looking to hit a scissor sweep but Overeem is one step ahead there.
Sakuraba looking to control.

Sakuraba working for submissions but it's allowed Overeem to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sakuraba can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Overeem wants to control but Sakuraba is keeping him busy.
Sakuraba wants to control but Overeem is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sakuraba is looking to improve his position.
Overeem is looking to take a break and control but Sakuraba is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sakuraba scores with a nice strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem blocks a jab.
A slow jab from Sakuraba misses its intended target.
Overeem throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Overeem tries to clinch up.
Sakuraba swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A swing and a miss from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Overeem uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuraba.
Overeem tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Sakuraba manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sakuraba throws a lazy right hand but Overeem sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Overeem tries a head kick but it misses.
Sakuraba throws a shot from downtown. Overeem moves away and avoids it.
A big right from Sakuraba misses.
Sakuraba misses the jab.
Sakuraba swats away the attempt to clinch by Overeem.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Overeem ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba loads up on a big right hand but Overeem slips the punch.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sakuraba slips a straight right by Overeem.
A telegraphed right hand from Sakuraba misses the target.
A swing and a miss from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba misses the jab.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Overeem blocks it.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Overeem ducked under it nicely.
Overeem tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Overeem throws a sloppy head kick and Sakuraba moves out of range easily.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Overeem throws a head kick but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sakuraba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sakuraba misses with a hook. Overeem ducked under it nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sakuraba swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Overeem steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Overeem.
Sakuraba misses with a looping right.
Overeem uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sakuraba.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kazushi Sakuraba dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Overeem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Overeem tries to clinch but Sakuraba moves out of range.
Overeem avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Overeem wants to clinch.
Overeem throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a jab but it's blocked by Overeem.
Sakuraba scores with a punch to the head.
Overeem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Overeem is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Overeem tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Overeem tries to clinch there but Sakuraba circles away.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakuraba throws a shot from downtown. Overeem moves away and avoids it.
Overeem moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.
Overeem ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.

Overeem closes the distance and pushes Sakuraba back into the ropes.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Overeem throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuraba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Sakuraba drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Overeem gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Overeem lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sakuraba wants to break free but Overeem has control.
Overeem throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sakuraba blocks the elbow strike.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Overeem shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Overeem lands an elbow just above Sakuraba 's eye.
Overeem pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuraba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Sakuraba wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Overeem creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sakuraba's defenses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Overeem just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sakuraba's brow.
Overeem creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sakuraba's defenses.
Overeem pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuraba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem throws an elbow but it misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Overeem just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sakuraba's brow.
Overeem pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuraba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Overeem pushes off an throws an elbow but Sakuraba leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Sakuraba blocks the elbow strike.
Sakuraba is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Overeem throws an elbow but it misses.
Overeem blocks an elbow strike from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba avoids a wild elbow strike from Overeem.
Sakuraba looking for a takedown.
Alistair Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kazushi Sakuraba.
Sakuraba working hard to break the clinch.
Sakuraba tries to score a body lock takedown but Overeem shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Overeem misses with an elbow strike.
Overeem creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sakuraba dodges an elbow strike from Overeem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba can't break the clinch.
Overeem misses with an elbow strike.
Overeem creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Sakuraba dodges an elbow strike from Overeem.
Overeem pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Overeem misses with an elbow over the top.
Overeem throws an elbow but it misses.
Overeem pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Sakuraba tries to break the clinch but Overeem is controlling the position.
Overeem throws an elbow but it misses.

Sakuraba has Overeem pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sakuraba pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Overeem tumbling to the mat - Sakuraba dives into Overeem's guard.
Overeem is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba is stalling in the full guard.
Sakuraba's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sakuraba keeps the fight on the outside.
Sakuraba throws the left hand but Overeem avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Overeem doesn't manage to clinch there - Sakuraba circles away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba lands with a right hand.
Overeem keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sakuraba.
Overeem throws a push kick but Sakuraba slaps the foot to one side.
Sakuraba throws a jab but it's blocked by Overeem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alistair Overeem will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Overeem slips under a jab.
Sakuraba listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Overeem plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Overeem bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Overeem slips a jab from Sakuraba.
Overeem ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Overeem wants to clinch up but Sakuraba keeps it at a distance.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Overeem slips under a jab from Sakuraba.
Overeem looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sakuraba connects with a crisp jab.
Overeem throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Sakuraba's head.
Sakuraba dips to his left and cracks Overeem with an uppercut!
Kazushi Sakuraba seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Overeem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Sakuraba is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Overeem gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sakuraba has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Overeem uses from the top position.
Overeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Sakuraba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Overeem stands and steps away. Sakuraba gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Sakuraba misses with a hook.
Sakuraba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Overeem.
Sakuraba misses with a straight left.
Sakuraba works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Overeem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fighters circling - Sakuraba throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Overeem ducks under a wild hook from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Nice uppercut there from Sakuraba.
Sakuraba throws a looping overhand right but Overeem ducks down to avoid it.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch but Sakuraba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem blocks a jab.
A head kick from Overeem lands but Sakuraba takes it in his stride.
Overeem moves out of range as Sakuraba strikes.

Sakuraba gets tackled into the ropes by Overeem. Overeem maintains the clinch.
Overeem lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Sakuraba pulls Overeem into guard.
Sakuraba is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Sakuraba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sakuraba throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Sakuraba managing to control the position.
Sakuraba wants to sweep here but Overeem controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Overeem trying to control but Sakuraba is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alistair Overeem wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Overeem slips under a jab.
Sakuraba throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Overeem tries to clinch up but Sakuraba circles away and keeps his distance.
Sakuraba throws a shot from downtown. Overeem moves away and avoids it.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice defenses there by Overeem.
Sakuraba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Overeem wants to clinch up but Sakuraba keeps it at a distance.
Overeem ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Overeem thows a body kick. Sakuraba tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sakuraba throws a hook but Overeem blocks it.
Overeem tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakuraba circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sakuraba works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Overeem wants to clinch.

Overeem gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sakuraba blocks an elbow strike.
Sakuraba has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sakuraba blocks an elbow strike.
Sakuraba blocks the elbow strike.
Sakuraba blocks an elbow strike.
Overeem prevents Sakuraba from breaking the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sakuraba jumps guard but Overeem turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Sakuraba lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Overeem pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Sakuraba is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kazushi Sakuraba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sakuraba has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Kazushi Sakuraba!

Kazushi Sakuraba wins by majority decision!