PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alonzo Castello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Castello
vs
Overeem

177 cm
18
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alonzo Castello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Alistair Overeem!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Castello has closed the distance and engaged Overeem in a clinch.

Castello pulls guard effortlessly.
Overeem postures up.
Castello tries to strike from the bottom.

Castello has his foot on Overeem's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Overeem works his way back into a safe position though.
Castello keeping full guard, as Overeem tries to pass.

Overeem avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Castello keeping full guard, as Overeem tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Overeem controls from within his opponent's guard.
Castello might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Castello doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Overeem pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Castello is keeping the position for now.
Castello is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Overeem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Castello is looking to clinch but Overeem is avoiding it.

Castello gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Overeem to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Overeem wanted to stand there but Castello had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Overeem decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Castello gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Overeem decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Castello's guard.

Castello looking for subs off his back but Overeem has passed one foot through into half guard.
Castello is breathing heavily.
Overeem working over Castello with some ground and pound. Castello looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is thwarting Castello's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Overeem is controlling the pace.
It looks like Overeem is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Overeem perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Overeem lands strikes from half guard.
Castello gets full guard.
Overeem seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Castello could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Castello gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Overeem counters with a three punch combo that has Castello backing up. Castello nods at Overeem to acknowledge the strikes.

Overeem looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Overeem advances to half guard.
Nice strikes from Overeem there.
Castello wants to control but Overeem is keeping busy.
Overeem is controlling the pace.
Castello tries to get to full guard but Overeem has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem stalling.
Overeem trying to pass the guard but Castello defending well.

Overeem stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Castello to get to his feet.

Overeem scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem controlling the action here.
Castello won't allow Overeem to pass to mount.
Castello trying to hold on to Overeem's head to control him but Overeem postures up.
Castello has a hand on Overeem's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Overeem takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Castello tries to lock up and control but Overeem gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Overeem sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Overeem.
Overeem lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Overeem connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Overeem landing strikes from the mount.
Overeem landing shots from mount.
Overeem controlling the position easily from mount.
Overeem looking to finish Castello with some ground and pound. This is bad for Castello!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem looking to control and managing it successfully.
Castello can't escape the position.
Alistair Overeem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Overeem sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Overeem lands a two punch combo.
Castello takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Castello fails with the takedown

and Overeem counters by clinching up.
Castello fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Overeem lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Overeem gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Overeem seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Castello trying to control here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem slows the pace down in half guard.
Overeem looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Castello with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Castello moves into full guard.
Castello tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Overeem makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Overeem not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem scoring with punches to the head and body.
Overeem slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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

Overeem shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Overeem chips away with some ground and pound.

Overeem gets to his feet - Castello follows without any prompting.
Castello closes the distance looking to clinch

and Overeem counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Castello is trying to stand up here but Overeem is controlling him well.
Overeem slows the pace down in half guard.
Overeem is nestled in close to Castello, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Overeem is looking for a kimura but Castello is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Overeem to get the leverage.
Castello tries to kick Overeem off but Overeem keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Overeem is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Castello!
Castello tries to reverse the position but Overeem maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Overeem tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Castello tries to hold on but Overeem postures up.

Overeem working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Overeem is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Castello can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alistair Overeem comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Overeem 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 25:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 25:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 26:30

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