PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aristarx Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Em (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Overeem
vs
Em

180 cm
24
256 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

211 cm
25
261 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aristarx Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Em!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Em moves to clinch but Overeem breaks away

and Overeem counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Em working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Overeem.
Overeem throws a big right hand that misses.
Overeem preventing the sweep.
Overeem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Overeem throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Em is trying to control the position but Overeem postures up.
Overeem postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Overeem trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Overeem won't allow Em to sweep him here.
Overeem postures up and lands a big shot to Em's brow.
Overeem is looking to work some ground and pound but Em has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Em utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Em wants to sweep but no luck.
Overeem throws a big right hand that misses.
Em wants to get back to his feet but Overeem is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Em utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Overeem has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Em is proving hard to escape from.
Overeem trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Em avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Em is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Em thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Overeem's head.
Em not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Em is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Em tries to stand and escape but Overeem actually recovers to full guard.
Overeem might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Overeem wants to stand up but Em is controlling him.
Overeem avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Em controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Em is looking to stand up but Overeem won't let him.
Em trying to control but Overeem is working from the bottom.
Em trying to stand up but can't free himself from Overeem's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ivan Em has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Overeem looks to score with a jab to the body but Em is just out of range.
A slapping body kick lands there for Overeem.
Em shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Overeem defends it nicely.
Em tries to score a power double leg takedown but Overeem sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Em somewhat.
Overeem fakes the leg kick and cracks Em in the body.
Overeem pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Overeem throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Ivan Em has been cut.
Overeem lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Em circles away quickly and effectively.
No luck for Em with that takedown attempt.
Aristarx Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Em.
Em tries for a takedown but Overeem sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Em looks gassed!
Overeem tries to land a front kick but Em steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristarx Overeem dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Em's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Overeem misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Overeem, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Em avoids the head kick by Overeem.
Nice defenses there by Em.
Em looks for the body kick but Overeem saw that one coming.
Em pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Overeem tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A nice combination there by Overeem.
Overeem misses with a series of wild punches.
Overeem tries to land a front kick but Em steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Em blocks a head kick by Overeem.
Em is trying hard to land a takedown here. Overeem sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Overeem throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Em's head.
Overeem misses with a body kick.
Overeem misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Em drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem is trying to get back to his feet.
Em wants to take a breather but Overeem manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Em.
Em trying to stand up but can't free himself from Overeem's guard.

That's two 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.
Em's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Em won't allow Overeem to get back to his feet.
Em is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Em drops back, looking for a kneebar! Overeem looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Overeem looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Overeem!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Em is looking for a sweep.
Overeem working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Em is trying to improve his position.
Overeem throws a strike aimed at the side of Em's head but Em avoids it well.
Em 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 in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
An elbow from Overeem crashes against the mat.
Overeem looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Em is avoiding damage well.
Overeem throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Em struggling a bit here.

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 working the ground and pound but Em is defending the strikes.
Em wants to get back to his feet but Overeem drags him back down.
Em is trying to control Overeem's posture but Overeem avoids it.
Overeem in side control, throwing shots but Em defends.
Em is trying to get back to half guard.
Overeem in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Em is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Em is trying to control Overeem's posture but Overeem avoids it.
Overeem throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Em on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aristarx Overeem dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivan Em's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Overeem will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Overeem lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Em fails with a takedown attempt.
Em tries to score a power double leg takedown but Overeem sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Em somewhat.
Em shoots in looking for a takedown. Overeem tries to sprawl out of it but Em keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Overeem manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Aristarx Overeem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Em.
Em blocks a head kick by Overeem.
Overeem pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Overeem throws a series of punches but Em avoids them all with ease.
Aristarx Overeem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Em is trying hard to land a takedown here. Overeem sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Overeem misses with a head kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Overeem.
Em takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem misses with a head kick.
Em blocks a head kick by Overeem.
Overeem misses with a series of wild punches.
Em fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Overeem throws a series of punches but Em moves out of range.
Overeem connects with a high kick.
Em thows a body shot but no joy.
Aristarx Overeem is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Overeem is looking to land body kicks.
Overeem throws a head kick but Em moves out of range.
Em will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Overeem misses with a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Overeem.
Overeem is looking to slow Em down with leg kicks.
Nice body kick there by Overeem.
Aristarx Overeem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem lands a head kick!
Em fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Em avoids the head kick by Overeem.
Em takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Overeem thuds his shin into the meat of Em's side.
Overeem lands a nice looking body kick.
Overeem pushes Em away with a front kick.
Nice sprawl there from Overeem as Em shoots in.
A head kick misses from Overeem.
Overeem pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Em takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Overeem throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Em.
Overeem misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Overeem lands a nice looking body kick.
Overeem throws a series of punches but Em moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Overeem.
Overeem throws a nice head kick!
Overeem bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Overeem throws a push kick but Em slaps the foot to one side.
Overeem throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Overeem.
Em closes the distance and clinches up with Overeem, looking for a takedown. Em pushes Overeem against the cage but Overeem circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Overeem throws a right and a left that Em avoids nicely.
Overeem throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Em.
Overeem misses with a body kick.
Overeem throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Em has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Overeem.
A head kick misses from Em.
Overeem scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem misses with a jab, cross combination.
Overeem delivers a nice body kick.
Em blocks a head kick by Overeem.
Aristarx Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Overeem scores with a head kick.
Em takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Overeem tries a head kick but it misses.
Overeem tries a head kick but it misses.
Overeem looks to land a body kick but Em moved away.
Em avoids the body shot from Overeem.
Overeem throws a head kick that misses.
Em takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Em shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Overeem makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Em really felt that one!
Overeem throws a body kick that misses.
Ivan Em has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Overeem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aristarx Overeem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Overeem has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:26

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