PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Hari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Overeem kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Alistair´s Entrance. 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
Hari

195 cm
20
257 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

197 cm
22
230 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Badr Hari!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Overeem lands a big head kick that sends Hari tumbling to the mat! Overeem takes a step backwards and waves Hari back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Badr Hari has been cut.
Overeem shoots in looking for a takedown. Hari tries to sprawl out of it but Overeem keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hari manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hari leaves Overeem with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Hari clinches up against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hari creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Overeem tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hari gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Alistair Overeem has been cut.
Overeem jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hari walks away with a smile on his face. Overeem gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hari tries to score a power double leg takedown but Overeem sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hari somewhat.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Overeem.
Hari tries to clinch but Overeem moves away
and Overeem counters with an inside leg kick.
Hari keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hari throws a lazy head kick
and Overeem counters with a left to the body.
Hari looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem fails to land the takedown.
Hari is looking to clinch.
Hari clinches but Overeem breaks the clinch
and Overeem counters with a one-two to the body.
Overeem with a poor takedown

and Hari counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Overeem working aggressively here.
Overeem fails to pull guard.
Overeem wants a takedown.
Overeem fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hari jumps guard.
Overeem stopping the sweep attempt from Hari.
Hari is trying to control the position but Overeem postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Overeem drops back looking for a leg! Hari is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hari manages to kick Overeem off! Overeem jumps back into Hari's guard.
Hari wants to sweep but no luck.

Overeem is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hari trying to control the position here.

Overeem drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Overeem jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem stops Hari from standing up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Overeem misses with a takedown

and Hari moves into the clinch.
Overeem tries to break free but Hari pushes him back against the cage.
Overeem tries to pull guard but Hari holds him up against the cage and eventually Overeem drops back down to his feet.

Hari breaks from the clinch.
Overeem fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hari avoids it really well and circles away.
Hari throws a sloppy head kick
and Overeem connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Overeem doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hari counters with a nice double leg into side control. Overeem won't be happy with that.
Overeem regains half guard.
Overeem tries to get to full guard but Hari has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Overeem looking for submissions off his back.
Overeem is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Overeem flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Overeem looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Overeem looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hari tries to clinch up
and Overeem counters with a right hand to the body.

Hari closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Overeem manages to get to full guard.

Overeem throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Overeem escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hari gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hari content to stall in guard here.

Overeem throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Overeem throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hari uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Overeem is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Overeem's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Overeem is trying to improve his position.

Hari stands up and beckons Overeem to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem circles away from the clinch attempt.
Overeem shoots for a takedown but Hari saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hari fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hari moves into the clinch successfully.

Hari jumps guard.

Hari has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Overeem off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hari leaves Overeem with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Overeem misses with a double jab.
Overeem fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hari tries to clinch but Overeem moves away
and Overeem counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hari tries to clinch but Overeem moves out of range.

Hari shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Overeem manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Overeem looking for subs off his back but Hari has passed one foot through into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Overeem trying to control from the bottom.
Overeem is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hari is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Hari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Overeem shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hari defends it nicely.
Hari throws a sloppy head kick and Overeem moves out of range easily.
Hari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Overeem doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hari counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Overeem!
Overeem is in all sorts of trouble here.
Overeem wants to control but Hari is having none of it.
Hari prevents Overeem from getting the reversal.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hari sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hari trying to control but Overeem is having none of it.
Overeem tries to hold on but Hari postures up.
Hari looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Overeem looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Overeem is in bad spot here.
Hari has good solid back control here.
Overeem just trying to survive but Hari is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is trying to break free.
Overeem is working hard here to advance position.
Hari is trying to stick to Overeem's back but Overeem is turning into Hari. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hari's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Overeem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Overeem's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Overeem throwing strikes but missing.
Hari can't keep his opponent in guard - Overeem advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
It looks like Overeem is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Overeem passes the guard and advances to mount!
Hari is looking to get to half guard.
Overeem working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The referee warns Hari that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hari working to try and regain half guard.
Hari really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Overeem. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Overeem landing punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Badr Hari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hari 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 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Badr Hari!