PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Walter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Overeem has chosen Bangarang as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Walter
vs
Claude Overeem

173 cm
34
185 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

184 cm
25
183 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Stephan Walter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Jean Claude Overeem!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Overeem rushes Walter and presses him up against the cage.
Overeem connects with a nasty looking knee right to Walter's face.

It looks like Stephan Walter has been cut.
Stalling in the clinch from Overeem.
Overeem lands a right hand that snaps the head of Walter backwards.
Walter looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Walter is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Walter is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Overeem to keep the fight standing.
Walter is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.
Walter is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Overeem is defending well.
A frustrated look appears on Walter's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Overeem.
Overeem unloads a knee to the mid-section. Walter lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Walter is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Walter is trying to pull guard but Overeem turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephan Walter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walter jumps guard but Overeem turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Walter ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Walter no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Overeem looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Walter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Overeem is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem controlling from the top position.
Overeem passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Overeem working away.
Overeem controls the position from side control.
You can see the frustration on Walter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Overeem stands up.
Walter shoots for a double leg takedown but Overeem sprawls well. He's pushed Walter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Overeem darts in trying to clinch

so Walter counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Walter trying to control but Overeem is working from the bottom.
Overeem is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Overeem utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Overeem is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Walter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walter postures up in Overeem's guard and throws a big left but Overeem blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem pulls Walter in close to prevent any damage.
Walter throws a big right hand that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jean Claude Overeem.

Overeem closes the distance and clinches.
Walter jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Overeem walks away with a smile on his face. Walter gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jean Claude Overeem is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Overeem tries to clinch but Walter moves out of range.
Overeem tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Walter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Walter back to the cage. Overeem follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walter shoots in but Overeem avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Overeem has closed the distance and engaged Walter in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Claude Overeem dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stephan Walter's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Overeem slips under a jab from Walter.
Overeem lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.

Overeem moves into range and clinches up with Walter.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Overeem.
Overeem scores a nice knee to the body.
Overeem with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Overeem gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Walter.
Overeem lands with a light punch inside.
Walter has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Overeem avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jean Claude Overeem seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Overeem tries a knee to the head but Walter blocks it.
Walter tries to pull guard but Overeem holds him up against the cage and eventually Walter drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephan Walter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Walter is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Overeem unloads a knee to the mid-section. Walter lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right handed body shot lands from Overeem.
Overeem working Walter over with knees to the body.
Overeem tries a knee to the head but Walter blocks it.
Overeem tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Overeem lands an uppercut.
A knee to the head by Overeem.
Overeem throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Walter blocks it with crossed arms.
Overeem softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Overeem trying to land knees to the body.
Walter tries to pull guard but Overeem forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Walter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Walter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Overeem is fending him off so far but Walter persists. Nope, Overeem circles away and we're back to standing.
Overeem throws a head kick but Walter moves out of range.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Walter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Walter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Overeem scores with a crisp jab that stopped Walter in his tracks.

Overeem has managed to clinch.
Walter goes for a takedown attempt but Overeem pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch but Walter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Walter slips a jab from Overeem.
Overeem slips a jab and a cross from Walter.

Overeem closes the distance and clinches.
Overeem tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walter is trying to drag Overeem to the mat but Overeem just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Overeem using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Walter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Overeem using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Overeem looking to throw knees to the head but Walter is blocking nicely.
Overeem is working Walter over against the cage.
Overeem lands a good knee to the midsection. Walter won't want to take too many of those.
Overeem lands a right hand.
Overeem working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Walter takes a knee right on the jaw!

Stephan Walter's cut is getting worse.
Overeem lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Overeem has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head and Walter goes down! Overeem dives on top of him - Walter manages to get guard.

Walter is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Overeem stands up from Walter's guard - Overeem perhaps looking for a knockout.
Oh Walter is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Overeem misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Walter.
Overeem wants to clinch.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Overeem and Walter goes tumbling to the canvas! Overeem follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.
Overeem works his way into side control.

Overeem decides to stand back up. Overeem steps back and let's Walter get back to his feet.
Walter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Overeem drives through and clinches with Walter against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Walter is trying to pull guard but Overeem has him pressed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Overeem.
Walter seems to have got his legs back now.
Overeem works on Walter's body with a couple of short punches.
Walter takes a knee to the side of the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Claude Overeem showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Stephan Walter's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Overeem gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Walter wants to take the fight to the mat but Overeem manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Walter jumps guard but Overeem stands there with Walter around his waist. Walter gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Overeem lands a knee to the body.
Overeem struggles to land a body shot inside as Walter controls his hands.
Overeem landing knees to the head.
Overeem has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A shot in the inside from Overeem.
Overeem crunches a lovely knee into Walter's ribcage.
Walter takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Overeem digs a right hand into Walter's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Walter's gas tank.
Overeem is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Overeem has the Thai plumb, controlling the head nicely. He loads up with a big knee to the head and Walter goes down! Overeem pounces into side control - this one could be over soon!

Stephan Walter's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem wants to lay and pray for a moment but Walter keeps working.
Jean Claude Overeem has got the better of the ground game so far.

Overeem decides to stand back up.
Walter takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Walter shoots in and gets a takedown into Overeem's guard.
Overeem is looking to stand up but Walter isn't so interested in that idea.
Walter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Overeem is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Walter is controlling him.
Walter might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Walter throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walter trying to control but Overeem is working from the bottom.
Overeem working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Walter.
Walter loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Overeem preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Walter postures up in Overeem's guard and throws a big left but Overeem blocks it.
Jean Claude Overeem is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Walter throws a big elbow that misses.
Overeem is pulling down on Walter's head. It's preventing any offense from Walter, at least for the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jean Claude Overeem.
Overeem tries to clinch but Walter moves out of range.
Overeem pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Overeem misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Walter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem throws a jab when Walter was well out of range.
Walter looks for a takedown but Overeem sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephan Walter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Overeem instigates a clinch.
Overeem tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Walter tries to pull guard but Overeem won't allow it.
Overeem misses with a knee to the head.
Walter is trying to pull guard but Overeem turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Overeem scores with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Stephan Walter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A right handed body shot lands from Overeem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Claude Overeem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Overeem 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Claude Overeem!
A relieved looking Jean Claude Overeem thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.