PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Osama Akharraz (ranked 1790 p4p, 2967 weight class) and Bertel Haardt (ranked 37 p4p, 103 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Akharraz
vs
Haardt

225 cm
43
215
35 - 42 - 0

186 cm
32
279
12 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Warrior Fight Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 42 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Osama Akharraz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bertel Haardt!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haardt takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Haardt takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Bertel Haardt has been cut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Haardt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Akharraz swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A little feinted left hand from Akharraz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Akharraz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Haardt momentarily.

Akharraz clinches up against the cage.
Akharraz pushes Haardt back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Haardt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Akharraz lands with a thumping leg kick.
Haardt tries to move into range but Akharraz moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Akharraz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Haardt.
Akharraz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Haardt moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haardt tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Akharraz counters with a left and a right that stings Haardt.
Osama Akharraz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haardt moves in looking to clinch but Akharraz pushes him off.
Haardt takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Akharraz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Akharraz.
Haardt tries a body shot but Akharraz blocks it.
Akharraz misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Haardt.
Nice body punch from Akharraz - that landed with a thud.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Haardt on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haardt looking to slow down the pace here.
Akharraz scores with a shoulder strike.
Good body shot from Akharraz.
Akharraz slows down the pace here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Akharraz.
Haardt looks winded!
Akharraz lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Haardt looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Haardt has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Akharraz seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Haardt can turn it around.
Akharraz lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Haardt or not.
Akharraz lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Haardt backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Akharraz.
Akharraz lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akharraz cracks Haardt with a nice body shot.
A hook to the body from Akharraz.
Akharraz is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Haardt is defending well for now.
Akharraz pressing his opponent against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Akharraz effectively controlling the action here.
Akharraz is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Akharraz.
A nice left hand lands by Akharraz.
Akharraz presses Haardt against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Akharraz presses Haardt against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Akharraz lands with a right to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Akharraz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A hook to the body from Akharraz.
Akharraz is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Akharraz lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A hook to the body from Akharraz.
Akharraz manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Nice body punch from Akharraz.
Akharraz scores with a hook to the body.
Akharraz working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A left hand lands to the body for Akharraz.
Akharraz has Haardt pressed against the cage.
Akharraz pushes Haardt back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A short right from Akharraz on the inside.
Akharraz lands a hook that snaps the head of Haardt backwards.
Akharraz lands a right hand that snaps the head of Haardt backwards.
Akharraz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A short body shot lands from Akharraz as the two fighters clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Akharraz lands a right hand that snaps the head of Haardt backwards.
Haardt misses with some punches.
Akharraz lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haardt's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Akharraz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Akharraz working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Akharraz will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Haardt up against the cage.
Akharraz lands a nice uppercut.
Akharraz softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short right from Akharraz.
Akharraz lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Haardt is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haardt is trying to maintain a safe position but Akharraz gets an underhook and turns Haardt into the cage.
Akharraz dips a shoulder and cracks Haardt with a mighty uppercut! Haardt falls back against the cage and Akharraz unloads with a barrage of strikes! Haardt is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Akharraz screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Osama Akharraz!
Osama Akharraz retains his super heavyweight title!
Osama Akharraz very nearly forgot to thank Altitude Clothing amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.