PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyoto Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Overeem comes into the arena with Anthem blaring out of the sound system. Rua has chosen AVANTASIA-Seven Angels as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Overeem
vs
Rua

196 cm
36
265 lbs
30 - 10 - 0

187 cm
36
274 lbs
31 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Heisenberg
Cynical Truth (steel penn)

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 30 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lyoto Rua!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A bone on bone clash there as Rua blocks the leg kick.
Rua has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Overeem scores with a leg kick.
Overeem has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Johny Fighting Temple in the buildup to the fight.
Rua lands a jab.
Overeem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rua attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rua keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rua.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Overeem.
Rua with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua misses with a looping right.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Overeem is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rua.
Rua jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rua takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Good exchange - Overeem coming out on top.
Rua moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Alistair Overeem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rua drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Overeem wants to control but Rua postures up.
Rua working the ground and pound but Overeem is defending the strikes.
An elbow from Rua crashes against the mat.
Overeem tries to bench press Rua off him but Rua keeps the position.
Rua in side control, throwing shots but Overeem defends.
Overeem tries to buck Rua off but Rua is having none of it.
Overeem on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Overeem keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua prevents Overeem from escaping the position.
Rua trying to control the action but Overeem is working from the bottom.
Overeem is trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Overeem keeps working.
Overeem wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sloppy strikes there by Rua.
Overeem manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Rua tries to get to full guard but Overeem has control of the leg.
Rua is not content to let Overeem control the position.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Overeem has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Overeem keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Alistair Overeem.
Rua throws a leg kick which misses Overeem's front leg but catches the back leg as Overeem tries to avoid it.
Overeem scoring well with a low kick there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Overeem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head kick from Overeem lands but Rua takes it in his stride.

It looks like Lyoto Rua has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Overeem has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rua finds it's way round the side to connect with Overeem's head.
Overeem throws a right and a left that Rua avoids nicely.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rua.
A low kick from Overeem is predictable there

and Rua counters with a single leg into guard. Overeem didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Rua dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Rua's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rua misses with a hook. Overeem ducked under it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Overeem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Overeem slips under a jab.
Overeem blocks the body kick.
Rua buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rua throws a jab when Overeem was well out of range.
Overeem looks to throw the jab but Rua is out of range.
Overeem misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rua cracks Overeem with an open hand slap.
Rua scores with a decent looking hook.
Rua connects with a right hand. Overeem shakes it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rua shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rua showed some decent athleticism there.
Rua throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rua is working away from the top position though.
Rua thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rua trying to mount his opponent but Overeem defends it.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Overeem is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rua wants to free his trapped foot but Overeem is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Overeem wants to improve his position but Rua is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Rua is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Overeem looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rua wants to pass to mount but Overeem is defending the position.
Overeem is controlling Rua's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Rua throws a strike but Overeem avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Rua working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control but Overeem is working from the bottom.
Rua showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
Rua postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rua advances to half guard.
Overeem is staying active underneath Rua, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Overeem is trying to stand back up but Rua is controlling him
Rua looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua is looking to take a break and control but Overeem is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rua trying to mount his opponent but Overeem defends it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rua lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rua 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 has his hands clasped together around Rua's back. He's all about the action.
Rua trying to control from Overeem's half guard. Overeem has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rua is looking to work some ground and pound but Overeem has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyoto Rua showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lyoto Rua's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rua circles away from the clinch attempt.
Overeem jabs at Rua's body.

Rua catches Overeem napping and connects with a big right hand that sends Overeem to the canvas!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rua throws a strike but Overeem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Overeem postures up.
Rua keeping moving, preventing Overeem from controlling successfully.
Overeem has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rua is proving hard to escape from.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem wants to stand and escape but instead Rua has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Rua forces his way into half guard.
Overeem won't allow Rua to pass to mount.
Rua not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Overeem won't allow Rua to pass to mount.
Rua missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Overeem wants to get back to his feet.
Overeem keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to pass to mount but Overeem is defending the position.
Overeem avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rua.
Rua tries to pass to full mount but Overeem defends it.
Rua with the ground and pound but Overeem uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Rua throws a big right hand that misses.
Rua throws a strike but Overeem rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Rua is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Alistair Overeem has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lyoto Rua is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rua looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Overeem is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Overeem postures up.
Overeem pushes down on Rua's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Overeem wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua tries to get to full guard but Overeem has control of the leg.
Rua is positioning himself well to prevent Overeem advancing to mount.

Overeem seems to be looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem prevents Rua from improving his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyoto Rua comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rua has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyoto Rua!
Lyoto Rua thanked the fans post fight for their support.