PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Colin Mac Mathuna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alistair Overeem has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Overeem
vs
Mac Mathuna

195 cm
22
242 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 London, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Colin Mac Mathuna!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mac Mathuna blocks a head kick by Overeem.

Overeem gets the takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Mac Mathuna's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Overeem wants to control but Mac Mathuna is keeping him busy.
Mac Mathuna is looking for a sweep.
Overeem avoids the strikes from the bottom by Mac Mathuna.
Mac Mathuna sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Mac Mathuna regains full guard. Nicely done.
Overeem stopping the sweep attempt from Mac Mathuna.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mac Mathuna is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mac Mathuna trying to control but Overeem is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem looking to control.
Overeem wants to hit a switch here but Mac Mathuna passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Overeem there!

Mac Mathuna is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Mac Mathuna misses with a takedown attempt
and Overeem counters with a three punch combo that has Mac Mathuna backing up. Mac Mathuna nods at Overeem to acknowledge the strikes.

Overeem looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Mac Mathuna has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Overeem is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mac Mathuna.
Mac Mathuna looks gassed!
Overeem trying to control the position but Mac Mathuna is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem working the head with strikes.

Overeem has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Mac Mathuna avoids the head kick by Overeem.
Overeem fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mac Mathuna looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Overeem doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Mac Mathuna decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Overeem's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Overeem trying to control the position.
Mac Mathuna stays in close to Overeem's body and controls the position.
Mac Mathuna's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac Mathuna distracts Overeem with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Overeem working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Mac Mathuna has passed into half guard!

Mac Mathuna is trying to work for a kimura but Overeem is defending well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Mac Mathuna is looking for a kimura but Overeem is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mac Mathuna to get the leverage.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mac Mathuna lands a nice short elbow.
Overeem wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mac Mathuna missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mac Mathuna winds up and cracks Overeem with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Overeem is trying to maintain the position but Mac Mathuna is very close to passing his half guard.
Mac Mathuna wants to lay and pray for a moment but Overeem keeps working.
Overeem makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Overeem.
Overeem is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Overeem pulls Mac Mathuna in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Colin Mac Mathuna will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mac Mathuna swings for the body but Overeem moves out of range.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Overeem moves into the clinch.
Overeem tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mac Mathuna smiles and moves away.
Some wild striking there from Overeem.
Mac Mathuna doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Overeem counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mac Mathuna looking to stall.

Overeem drags the fight down to the ground.

Mac Mathuna stands and steps away. Overeem gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Mac Mathuna decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Overeem is controlling Mac Mathuna's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Mac Mathuna is breathing heavily.
Overeem trying to control from the bottom.
Overeem is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Overeem kicks Mac Mathuna off and gets back to his feet.

Overeem clinches.
Overeem tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mac Mathuna smiles and moves away.
Overeem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Overeem misses with a body shot.

Overeem darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mac Mathuna trying to control from the bottom.
Mac Mathuna looks like he's trying to stand up.
Overeem wants to control but Mac Mathuna is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac Mathuna tries to roll over but Overeem keeps him under control.
Overeem is trying to control the action in half guard but Mac Mathuna is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mac Mathuna wants to get back to full guard.
Mac Mathuna is holding on to half guard well.
Mac Mathuna flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mac Mathuna shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Mac Mathuna tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Mac Mathuna trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is in trouble now - Mac Mathuna has advanced to mount!
Mac Mathuna content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Mac Mathuna has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Colin Mac Mathuna has got the better of the ground game so far.
Overeem tries to hold on but Mac Mathuna pushes him away.
Mac Mathuna blocks Overeem's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Overeem sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mac Mathuna with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Overeem trying to hold on to Mac Mathuna's head to control him but Mac Mathuna postures up.
Mac Mathuna wants to take a breather but Overeem is having none of it.
Overeem trying to control here.
Overeem wants to get back to full guard.
Mac Mathuna wants to pass to mount but Overeem is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Colin Mac Mathuna will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Overeem shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Overeem was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Overeem scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mac Mathuna?
Mac Mathuna working to try and regain half guard.
Overeem trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Overeem landing strikes from the mount.
Overeem landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Colin Mac Mathuna has been cut.
Mac Mathuna takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mac Mathuna keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mac Mathuna is squirming around, avoiding Overeem's attempts to control the action.
Overeem controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Overeem looking to secure an arm triangle but Mac Mathuna defends it well.
Overeem lands a heavy elbow.
Overeem pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Mac Mathuna tries to hold on but Overeem postures up.
Overeem lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Overeem scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Overeem cracks Mac Mathuna with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mac Mathuna wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Overeem.
Mac Mathuna regains half guard.
Mac Mathuna is looking to improve his position.
Overeem is thwarting Mac Mathuna's attempts to control the position.
Overeem wants to control but Mac Mathuna is keeping him busy.
Mac Mathuna is looking to get back to full guard here but Overeem has managed to pass to side control instead.
Overeem can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mac Mathuna is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mac Mathuna tries to hold on but Overeem postures up.
Overeem tries to control but Mac Mathuna wriggling away.
Mac Mathuna is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mac Mathuna is trying to escape the mount.
Mac Mathuna wants to control but Overeem is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Overeem is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Mac Mathuna can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The referee warns Mac Mathuna that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Overeem gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Overeem has his takedown stuffed

and Mac Mathuna counters with a single leg into guard. Overeem didn't expect that.

Overeem looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Overeem wants to stand up but Mac Mathuna is controlling him.
Mac Mathuna wants to stand and escape but instead Overeem has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alistair Overeem showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mac Mathuna 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Colin Mac Mathuna!