PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Masahiro Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Masahiro Yamamoto is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Overeem
vs
Yamamoto

201 cm
18
287 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

210 cm
23
265 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Masahiro Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto closes the distance and clinches up with Overeem, looking for a takedown. Yamamoto pushes Overeem against the cage but Overeem circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Masahiro Yamamoto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yamamoto looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Yamamoto fails in his attempt to clinch.

Overeem moves into the clinch successfully.
Overeem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Overeem gets underhooks to prevent Yamamoto's takedown attempt.
Overeem landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Yamamoto has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Overeem regains guard immediately.
Yamamoto won't allow Overeem to get back to his feet.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Overeem knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Yamamoto on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Yamamoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Overeem.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yamamoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Yamamoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.

Yamamoto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Overeem is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Yamamoto has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Yamamoto is trying to get an arm triangle but Overeem is defending well.
Overeem avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Yamamoto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is trying to get back to his feet.

Yamamoto is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Overeem knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yamamoto prevents Overeem from escaping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Overeem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Overeem slaps away a takedown attempt from Yamamoto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alistair Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masahiro Yamamoto.
Overeem tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Overeem clinches up against the cage.
Overeem putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Yamamoto in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Overeem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Overeem using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Overeem unloads a knee to the mid-section. Yamamoto lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Yamamoto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Overeem prevents it.
Yamamoto takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Overeem obliges.
Overeem lands a knee to the body.
Overeem lands a nice knee to the body.
Overeem landing knees to the body.
Overeem lands a good knee to the midsection. Yamamoto won't want to take too many of those.
Overeem scores a nice knee to the body.
Overeem scores a nice knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Yamamoto has Overeem pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Overeem manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Overeem landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Overeem obliges.
Overeem crunches a lovely knee into Yamamoto's ribcage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Overeem.
Overeem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Overeem.
Overeem working Yamamoto over with knees to the body.
Overeem crunches a lovely knee into Yamamoto's ribcage.
Overeem lands a knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Overeem.
Knees in the clinch landing for Overeem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Overeem lands a nice knee to the body.
Overeem landing knees to the body.
Overeem scores a nice knee to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Overeem.
Overeem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alistair Overeem will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Overeem wants to clinch.
Overeem moves in looking to clinch but Yamamoto pushes him off.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Overeem. No joy for Yamamoto on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Overeem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamamoto swats away the attempt to clinch by Overeem.
Overeem tries to clinch up.
Yamamoto is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem wants to clinch.
Overeem doesn't manage to clinch there - Yamamoto circles away.
Overeem is looking to clinch but Yamamoto is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Overeem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yamamoto fails with the takedown.
Overeem tries to clinch up.
Overeem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Overeem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Overeem tries to clinch but Yamamoto is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Overeem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yamamoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Overeem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Overeem drives through and clinches with Yamamoto against the cage.
Overeem misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Yamamoto.
Overeem gets underhooks to prevent Yamamoto's takedown attempt.
Alistair Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masahiro Yamamoto.
Overeem lands a good knee to the midsection. Yamamoto won't want to take too many of those.
Overeem is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem crunches a lovely knee into Yamamoto's ribcage.
Overeem landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Overeem unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Overeem lands a nice knee to the body.
Overeem using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Overeem landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Overeem using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Overeem scores a nice knee to the body.
Yamamoto takes a knee to the side of the body.
Overeem unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Overeem landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Overeem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Overeem crunches a lovely knee into Yamamoto's ribcage.
Overeem lands a knee to the body.
Overeem putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Yamamoto in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Overeem.
Overeem lands a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Overeem landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Overeem is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Yamamoto is working for takedown but Overeem is calmly controlling the position for now.
Overeem landing knees to the body.
Overeem is pressed up against the cage. Yamamoto has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Overeem down to the mat. Overeem avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Overeem is looking to clinch.
Overeem wants to clinch.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Overeem tries to clinch up.
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Yamamoto is looking to clinch but Overeem is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Overeem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yamamoto shoots in but Overeem avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yamamoto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Overeem but Overeem pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Overeem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Yamamoto tries to keep at a distance but Overeem has taken the fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yamamoto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Overeem just stands there and leans against the cage.
Alistair Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Masahiro Yamamoto.
Yamamoto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Overeem working Yamamoto over with knees to the body.
Overeem is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem working Yamamoto over with knees to the body.
Overeem landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Overeem landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Overeem lands a nice knee to the body.
Overeem lands a knee to the body.
Overeem putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Yamamoto in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Overeem gets underhooks to prevent Yamamoto's takedown attempt.
Overeem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Overeem lands a good knee to the midsection. Yamamoto won't want to take too many of those.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Overeem obliges.
Knees to the body from Overeem.
Overeem lands a knee to the body.
Overeem landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Overeem lands a good knee to the midsection. Yamamoto won't want to take too many of those.
Yamamoto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Yamamoto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Overeem smiles and moves away.
Overeem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Alistair Overeem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Overeem tries to avoid it but Yamamoto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Overeem to the ground. Overeem escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Overeem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Overeem moves in looking to clinch but Yamamoto pushes him off.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Yamamoto keeps the fight on the outside.
Yamamoto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Overeem tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Overeem wants to clinch.
Overeem tries to clinch but Yamamoto is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem tries to clinch but Yamamoto moves out of range.
Overeem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Overeem tries to clinch up.
Overeem tries to clinch up.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Yamamoto swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Overeem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Yamamoto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Overeem pulls his leg out and moves away.
Overeem tries to clinch 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 is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Overeem moves in looking to clinch but Yamamoto pushes him off.
Alistair Overeem is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Overeem wants to clinch.
Yamamoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Overeem is looking to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Overeem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Overeem doesn't manage to clinch there - Yamamoto circles away.
Masahiro Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamamoto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Overeem swivels and escapes.

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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

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