PBP Commentary

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

Overeem
vs
Fernandes

192 cm
19
240 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Travis Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pipa Fernandes!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Overeem ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Overeem seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Overeem bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Overeem uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Fernandes.
Fernandes misses with a wild body shot.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fernandes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Fernandes looks to score with a jab to the body but Overeem is just out of range.
Overeem tries to clinch but Fernandes is having none of it.
Overeem throws a hook but Fernandes blocks it.
Sloppy strikes from Overeem. Those never looked like landing.
Overeem checks a leg kick nicely.
Travis Overeem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Overeem looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Overeem fails with an attempt to clinch.
Overeem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fernandes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Overeem rushes Fernandes and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Overeem is pushing Fernandes up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Fernandes avoiding damage as Overeem throws knees to the body.
Overeem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fernandes tries to break free but Overeem pushes him back against the cage.
Fernandes blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Overeem.
Fernandes looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Fernandes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fernandes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Overeem trying to land knees to the body.
Overeem misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fernandes.
Fernandes missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Fernandes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Overeem keeps him there for the moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Overeem.
Overeem misses with a hook to the ribs.
Fernandes tries to break the clinch but Overeem is controlling the position.
Fernandes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Fernandes blocking some punches.
Overeem looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Overeem throws a knee to the head but misses.
Overeem swings wildly with an uppercut but Fernandes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fernandes stalling in the clinch but Overeem improves position.
Overeem has Fernandes pressed against the cage, preventing Fernandes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Overeem leaning against his opponent.
Overeem misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Overeem keeps him there for the moment.
Fernandes leaning against his opponent.
Overeem keeps control of Fernandes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Overeem prevents Fernandes from breaking the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Overeem.
Overeem throws a knee to the head but misses.
Overeem trying to stall but Fernandes improves his position.
Fernandes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Overeem connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Pipa Fernandes has been cut.
Fernandes is trying to break the clinch but Overeem is controlling him.
Fernandes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fernandes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Overeem prevents Fernandes from breaking the clinch.
Overeem lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem swings wildly with an uppercut but Fernandes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Overeem is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fernandes is defending well for now.
Overeem managing to block the knees to the body from Fernandes.
Fernandes is trying to force a seperation but Overeem has the dominant position.
Fernandes pushes off an throws an elbow but Overeem leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Fernandes tries to break the clinch but Overeem is controlling the position.
Overeem stalling in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fernandes.
Overeem is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Overeem.
Overeem trying to land knees to the body.
The referee calls for Overeem to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Fernandes throws a body shot but no joy.

Overeem has closed the distance and engaged Fernandes in a clinch.
Fernandes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Overeem jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Fernandes walks away with a smile on his face. Overeem gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Overeem wants to clinch up but Fernandes keeps it at a distance.
Fernandes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Overeem stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Fernandes attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Fernandes throws a body shot but no joy.
Overeem avoids the body shot from Fernandes.
Fernandes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Overeem manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fernandes tries to keep at a distance but Overeem has taken the fight into the clinch.
Fernandes is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Overeem misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fernandes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Overeem keeps him there for the moment.
Overeem swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Overeem keeps him there for the moment.
Overeem stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Fernandes avoiding damage as Overeem throws knees to the body.
Overeem tries to pull guard but Fernandes won't allow it.
Overeem tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fernandes avoids it.
Fernandes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Overeem tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fernandes avoids it.
Overeem with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Fernandes is trying to break the clinch but Overeem is controlling him.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Overeem here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Fernandes is pushing Overeem up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes wants to break free but Overeem has control.
Fernandes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fernandes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Overeem has Fernandes pressed against the cage, preventing Fernandes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Overeem content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Fernandes is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.
Fernandes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Fernandes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Overeem has him pressed against the cage.
Overeem misses with a knee strike.
Fernandes working hard to break the clinch.
Overeem jumps guard but Fernandes stands there with Overeem around his waist. Overeem gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernandes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Overeem has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem effectively controlling the action here.
Fernandes is trying to push Overeem away but Overeem has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Overeem goes for a takedown attempt but Fernandes pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fernandes throws the left hand but Overeem avoids the punch easily.
Travis Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Overeem blocks a jab.
Overeem moves out of range of the strikes.
Fernandes misses with an uppercut. Overeem saw that one coming.
Overeem swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Overeem wants to clinch up but Fernandes keeps it at a distance.
Overeem is looking to clinch.
A combination from Fernandes does no damage.
Fernandes throws out a leg kick but Overeem moves out of range and Fernandes only half commits.
Fernandes swats away the attempt to clinch by Overeem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes misses with a hook.
Fernandes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Overeem.
Overeem tries to clinch but Fernandes is having none of it.

Overeem fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Fernandes, pushing him back against the cage.
Overeem using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fernandes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Overeem misses with a short punch on the inside.
Overeem misses with a hook from the clinch.
Overeem with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Fernandes stalls.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fernandes has had enough of the clinch but Overeem keeps him there for the moment.
Fernandes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Fernandes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Travis Overeem will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pipa Fernandes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A nice combination there by Overeem.
Overeem misses with a two punch combination.
Overeem tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Overeem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fernandes appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Overeem wants to clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Fernandes misses the target.
Fernandes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Overeem tries to clinch but Fernandes is having none of it.
Fernandes misses with a straight right.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fernandes wants to break free but Overeem has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem has a couple of punches blocked by Fernandes.
Overeem tries to stall but Fernandes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Overeem lands with a short shot to the head.
Fernandes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Overeem has him pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Overeem - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Overeem tries to stall but Fernandes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Overeem tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short left from Overeem.

Overeem gets control of Fernandes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Overeem will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fernandes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Overeem working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fernandes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fernandes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Overeem will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Overeem has a closed guard, preventing Fernandes from standing up.
Overeem looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Fernandes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Overeem buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Overeem closes the distance and clinches.
Fernandes tries to break free but Overeem pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Overeem fails to land.
Fernandes is trying to force a seperation but Overeem has the dominant position.
Overeem wants a takedown.
Fernandes is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Overeem keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Fernandes's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandes tries to circle away but Overeem has him pinned against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Fernandes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fernandes.
Overeem using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fernandes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Fernandes is trying to break free.
Fernandes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Fernandes tries to break free but Overeem pushes him back against the cage.
Fernandes is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.
Overeem tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A frustrated look appears on Fernandes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Overeem is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pipa Fernandes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Travis Overeem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Overeem tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fernandes's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Overeem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Overeem, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Overeem!
Our winner, Travis Overeem, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.