PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kane
vs
Overeem

186 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
200 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

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 Amsterdam, Xavier Kane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alistair Overeem!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Overeem gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Overeem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kane throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Overeem's waist but Overeem gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kane off to one side.

Overeem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kane is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Overeem gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Overeem with a knee to the head.
Overeem lands a good knee to the midsection. Kane won't want to take too many of those.
Kane is trying to drag Overeem to the mat but Overeem just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Kane. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Overeem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Overeem throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kane tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Overeem is in Kane's guard.
Overeem must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kane keeping full guard, as Overeem tries to pass.
Kane looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kane keeping full guard, as Overeem tries to pass.
Kane is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kane has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Overeem can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Overeem throwing strikes but missing.
Overeem stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kane swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Kane had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Overeem defends it easily.
Kane trying to control the position.
Overeem wants to pass the guard but Kane is keeping the position.

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.
Overeem is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Overeem content to stall in guard here.
Kane keeping full guard, as Overeem tries to pass.
Kane throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Kane managing to control the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kane looks to clinch

and Overeem moves into the clinch.
Overeem lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kane tries to score a body lock takedown but Overeem shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Overeem pulls guard successfully.
Overeem looking for a sweep. Not yet Overeem, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Overeem pulls Kane in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane stopping the sweep attempt from Overeem.
Kane trying to control the position from guard on top but Overeem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Overeem throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Overeem can do anything to dispel that myth.
Overeem is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kaneis looking to pass into half guard but Overeem pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Overeem is in guard.

Overeem avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kane is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Kane looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Overeem passes into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kane tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Overeem to counter with a crisp jab.
Xavier Kane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kane misses with a takedown

and Overeem counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kane looks like he's trying to stand up.
Overeem wants to stand up but Kane is controlling the position.
Kane won't allow Overeem to pass to mount.
Kane is pressing down on Overeem's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Overeem trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Overeem is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Overeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Overeem is breathing heavily.

Overeem decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kane, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane with a poor takedown

and Overeem moves into the clinch.

Kane's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Overeem shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Overeem showed some decent athleticism there.
Overeem really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kane. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kane gets back to full guard.

Kane throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Overeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kane is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Overeem's guard.
Overeem is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kane pushes down on Overeem's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kane looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Still in half guard, Kane seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Kane decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A head kick by Kane misses
and Overeem counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Overeem fakes the leg kick and cracks Kane in the body.
Overeem bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Overeem fails with a takedown attempt.
Kane goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kane fails with the takedown

and Overeem counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Kane. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kane is trying to stand back up but Overeem is controlling him

Kane is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Overeem pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Overeem is thwarting Kane's attempts to control the position.
Overeem content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kane is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Overeem content to control rather than advance.
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.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Overeem wants to clinch.
Overeem moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kane fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Overeem avoids it really well and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Overeem.

Kane scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Overeem struggling a bit here.
Kane trying to control the position but Overeem is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kane wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Overeem's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Overeem avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kane.
Overeem is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kane stands up and beckons Overeem to his feet.
Overeem fails with a takedown attempt.
Kane circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kane swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Overeem counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kane controls Overeem momentarily but Overeem frees himself.
Kane is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Overeem throws a big right hand that misses.
Kane is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Overeem is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kane looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Alistair Overeem has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kane makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane chips away with some ground and pound.
Overeem tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kane is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Overeem avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kane throwing strikes from guard but Overeem blocks nicely.
Overeem can't keep his opponent in guard - Kane advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kane gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kane scores with a leg kick.
Kane fails with the takedown

and Overeem counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kane's guard now.
Overeem working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kane is trying to keep Overeem in close.
Overeem wanted to stand there but Kane had control of the position.

Kane working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Overeem doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Overeem manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Overeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Xavier Kane.
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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

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