PBP Commentary

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

Askal
vs
Overeem

190 cm
20
256 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pedro Askal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alistair Overeem!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Askal defending well as Overeem loads up on a big left hand.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!
Overeem fails to land the takedown.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Overeem crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Askal - the referee stops the clock and Overeem gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Askal. Overeem manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Askal blocks a head kick by Overeem.
Overeem attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Askal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Overeem looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Askal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Overeem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Overeem walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Askal circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Askal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Askal scores with a head kick.
Overeem dives in and grabs Askal's left leg, looking for a takedown. Askal pushes down on Overeem's head and hops out.
Overeem looks for a takedown but Askal sprawls well.
Pedro Askal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alistair Overeem.
Askal scores with a leg kick.
Pedro Askal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Askal throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Askal scoring well with a low kick there.
Overeem tries to score a power double leg takedown but Askal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Overeem somewhat.
Askal comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem wants to clinch.
Askal throws a head kick that half lands.
Askal looks to land a body kick but Overeem moved away.
Overeem fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Askal throws a right and a left that Overeem avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem misses with a looping right.
Overeem tries to score a power double leg takedown but Askal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Overeem somewhat.
Askal slaps away a takedown attempt from Overeem, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Overeem throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Askal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Overeem with a poor takedown
and Overeem takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Askal paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Overeem tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Askal was well out of range. Poor timing from Overeem.
Overeem looks to clinch
and Askal counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Overeem tries for a takedown but Askal circles away easily
and Askal counters with a nice body shot.
Overeem shoots and misses

and Askal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Overeem working for submissions but it's allowed Askal to get to half guard.
Askal could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Askal decides to return to a standing position.
Overeem shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Askal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Overeem thinking.
Overeem misses with a takedown
and Askal counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Overeem swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Askal goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Askal moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Askal digs a good body shot into Overeem's ribs.
Overeem wants to clinch but Askal slips to the side
and Askal counters with a head kick.
Overeem gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Askal counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Overeem thinking.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Askal throws a head kick that misses

and Overeem counters with a single leg into guard. Askal didn't expect that.
Overeem with a flurry of punches that miss.
Overeem tries to stand but Askal is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem trying to control the position from guard on top but Askal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Overeem looking to sit in guard and control but Askal gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Askal scoring with punches to the head and body.

Askal stands up from Overeem's guard - Askal perhaps looking for a knockout.
Overeem misses with a takedown attempt
and Askal counters with a series of strikes. Overeem will be more careful next time no doubt.
Overeem misses with a takedown
and Askal counters with a good low kick that Overeem was not able to check.
Pedro Askal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alistair Overeem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Askal turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Overeem misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Askal.
Overeem clinches but Askal breaks the clinch
and Askal counters with a stiff right hand.
Overeem tries for a takedown but Askal circles away easily
and Askal counters with a thumping low kick.
Overeem takes a kick to the side of the head.
Overeem misses with a hook to the body
and Askal counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's four 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 tries for a takedown but Askal circles away easily
and Askal counters with a nice uppercut.
Overeem closes the distance but Askal moves to the side
and Askal counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Overeem shoots and misses
and Askal counters with a left and a right that stings Overeem.
Overeem throws a lazy body kick
and Askal counters with a straight right hand.
Askal connects with a body shot.
Overeem with a lazy takedown attempt
and Askal counters with a big head kick but Overeem shrugs it off.
Overeem has his takedown stuffed
and Askal counters with a thumping low kick.
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 Pedro Askal will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Overeem fails with the takedown
and Askal counters with a good low kick that Overeem was not able to check.
Askal clobbers Overeem with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Overeem doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Askal counters with a big head kick but Overeem shrugs it off.
Alistair Overeem seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Overeem has his takedown stuffed
and Askal counters with a big head kick but Overeem shrugs it off.
Pedro Askal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alistair Overeem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Overeem tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Askal counters with a slapping leg kick.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Askal counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Overeem is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Overeem with a lazy takedown attempt
and Askal counters with a low kick, right behind Overeem 's knee.
Overeem misses with a takedown
and Askal counters with a body kick.
Overeem throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Overeem wants to clinch but Askal slips to the side
and Askal counters with an inside leg kick.
Overeem shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Askal counters with a head kick. That will keep Overeem thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Overeem fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's two 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 fails with the takedown
and Askal counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Overeem tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Askal counters with a right hand to the body.
Overeem shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Askal counters with a two punch combo.
Askal connects with a high kick.
Overeem darts in trying to clinch
and Askal counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem misses with a takedown
and Askal counters with a head kick. That will keep Overeem thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Askal connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Pedro Askal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Overeem has his takedown stuffed
and Askal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Askal throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Overeem stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Overeem fails with the takedown
and Askal counters with a nice uppercut.
Overeem doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Askal counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Overeem misses with a takedown attempt
and Askal counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Overeem shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Overeem takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Overeem chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Askal can pounce on him.
Askal lands a slapping body shot.
Overeem shoots and misses

and Askal counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Askal decides to stand back up.
Overeem tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Askal counters with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pedro Askal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Askal 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pedro Askal!