PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ippo Makonouchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Makonouchi
vs
Overeem

225 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ippo Makonouchi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Alistair Overeem!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makonouchi misses with a takedown attempt - Overeem sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Makonouchi closes the distance and pushes Overeem back into the cage.

Overeem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Overeem clinches up with Makonouchi and pushes him back against the cage.
Overeem scores with a shot to the side of Makonouchi's head.

It looks like Ippo Makonouchi has been cut.
Makonouchi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Overeem.
Makonouchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Overeem avoids the damage to the body.
Overeem gets underhooks to prevent Makonouchi's takedown attempt.
Makonouchi stops a takedown attempt from Overeem.
Stalling in the clinch from Overeem.
Overeem changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Makonouchi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ippo Makonouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alistair Overeem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makonouchi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Makonouchi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Overeem checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Overeem takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Makonouchi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Makonouchi tries to keep at a distance but Overeem has taken the fight into the clinch.
Makonouchi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Overeem.
Makonouchi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Makonouchi is working for takedown but Overeem is calmly controlling the position for now.

Overeem pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Overeem tries to clinch up.
Makonouchi shoots in looking for a takedown. Overeem tries to sprawl out of it but Makonouchi 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makonouchi throws a head kick but Overeem moves out of range.
Makonouchi keeps the fight on the outside.

Makonouchi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Makonouchi jumps guard but Overeem turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Overeem pulls guard effortlessly.
Makonouchi looking to pass the guard.
Makonouchi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Overeem manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Overeem controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Overeem is working for a guillotine from mount but Makonouchi frees his head quite easily.
Overeem controlling his opponent.

Overeem is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Overeem has closed the distance and engaged Makonouchi in a clinch.
Makonouchi stalling in the clinch but Overeem improves position.
Makonouchi wants to break free but Overeem has control.
Makonouchi tries to land knees in the clinch but Overeem avoids the damage to the body.
Makonouchi misses with an elbow over the top.
Makonouchi has Overeem pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Overeem manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Overeem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Overeem slips a jab and a cross from Makonouchi.
Makonouchi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Overeem keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Makonouchi's efforts to push away.
Makonouchi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Overeem smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ippo Makonouchi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Overeem moves into range and clinches up with Makonouchi.
Makonouchi looking to slow down the pace here.
Makonouchi is trying to push Overeem away but Overeem has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Overeem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Overeem throws a head kick that misses.
Alistair Overeem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Overeem tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Makonouchi swivels and escapes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Makonouchi.

Makonouchi gets tackled into the cage by Overeem. Overeem maintains the clinch.
Overeem is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makonouchi gets a clinch.

Overeem breaks from the clinch.
Overeem fails to land with a series of punches.

Overeem clinches with his opponent.
Overeem keeps control of Makonouchi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Overeem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makonouchi shoots for a double leg takedown but Overeem sprawls well. He's pushed Makonouchi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Makonouchi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ippo Makonouchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Overeem tries to score a power double leg takedown but Makonouchi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Overeem somewhat.
A shot to the liver by Makonouchi. Beautiful body shot.
Makonouchi blocks a head kick by Overeem.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Makonouchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Overeem has closed the distance and engaged Makonouchi in a clinch.
Makonouchi looking to slow down the pace here.

Overeem pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Makonouchi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Overeem manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Overeem pulls Makonouchi in close to prevent any damage.

Overeem has his feet on Makonouchi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makonouchi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Overeem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Overeem tries to clinch there but Makonouchi circles away.
Overeem throws a sloppy head kick and Makonouchi moves out of range easily.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Makonouchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Overeem throws a head kick but Makonouchi moves out of range.

Makonouchi clinches up with Overeem and pushes him back against the cage.
Makonouchi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Overeem lands an elbow inside.

Overeem breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ippo Makonouchi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makonouchi looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Come on Overeem - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Makonouchi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Overeem has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Makonouchi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Alistair Overeem seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Overeem lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Overeem has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Makonouchi uses from the top position.
Overeem looking for a sweep. Not yet Overeem, not yet.
Overeem is breathing heavily.
Makonouchi trying to control but Overeem is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Overeem has his hands on Makonouchi's head, controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Makonouchi 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 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 cut man is working on Ippo Makonouchi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Overeem shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Makonouchi as he jumps to the side.

Overeem has closed the distance and engaged Makonouchi in a clinch.
Overeem wants a takedown but no success here.

Overeem manages to pull guard.
Makonouchi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Overeem is looking to sweep but instead, Makonouchi has passed into half guard.
Makonouchi wants to free his trapped foot but Overeem is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Makonouchi stands up out of the half guard.
Nice sprawl there from Overeem as Makonouchi shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makonouchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Overeem.
Overeem throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Makonouchi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Overeem has managed to clinch.
Makonouchi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Overeem walks away with a smile on his face. Makonouchi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Overeem has closed the distance and engaged Makonouchi in a clinch.
Overeem goes for a takedown in the clinch but Makonouchi prevents it.
Ippo Makonouchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alistair Overeem.
Makonouchi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Makonouchi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Overeem stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Makonouchi is trying to push Overeem away but Overeem has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Makonouchi's defenses.

Overeem gets control of Makonouchi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Overeem will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Makonouchi trying to control the position from guard on top but Overeem is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Overeem lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Makonouchi!
Overeem looking to ground and pound but Makonouchi is blocking nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Overeem controlling the pace for now.
Makonouchi is looking to improve his position but Overeem isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Makonouchi because Overeem loaded up on that one.
Makonouchi flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Overeem thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poor strikes thrown by Overeem there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Makonouchi tries to hold on but Overeem pushes him away.
Overeem throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Overeem jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Makonouchi manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Overeem has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Makonouchi throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Makonouchi.
Makonouchi shoots in for a takedown but Overeem shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Makonouchi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Overeem moves away.

Overeem pushes Makonouchi up against the cage in a clinch.
Makonouchi is trying to break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Overeem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Makonouchi throws a low kick, looking for Overeem's leg but Overeem calmly moves out of range.
Ippo Makonouchi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alistair Overeem is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Makonouchi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Overeem is fending him off so far but Makonouchi persists. Nope, Overeem circles away and we're back to standing.

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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alistair Overeem!
Alistair Overeem thanked the fans post fight for their support.