PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Overeem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baba Ganoosh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baba Ganoosh told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Overeem
vs
Ganoosh

195 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

196 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid 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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alistair Overeem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Baba Ganoosh!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ganoosh ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ganoosh tries to land a front kick but Overeem steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ganoosh avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Overeem scores with a head kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Overeem.
Ganoosh is looking to reverse the position.

Overeem decides to stand back up.
Overeem tries to clinch but Ganoosh is having none of it.
Good shot there by Ganoosh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Overeem gets a takedown into half guard.

Overeem decides to stand and escape the position.

Overeem clinches up with Ganoosh and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem stalling against the cage.
Ganoosh is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ganoosh is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.
Ganoosh wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Overeem manages to pull guard.
Ganoosh missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Overeem tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Overeem pulls Ganoosh in close to his closed guard and prevents Ganoosh from doing any damage or advancing position.

Overeem is looking for a triangle but Ganoosh pushes his legs off easily.

Overeem had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Ganoosh is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Overeem Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Ganoosh's back instead.
Overeem is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Overeem is not going to allow Ganoosh to sit and survive in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Overeem controlling well, preventing Ganoosh from escaping the position.
Ganoosh is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Ganoosh is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Overeem fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ganoosh stuffs the takedown attempt from Overeem. Overeem gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganoosh wants to clinch
and Overeem counters with a one-two to the body.
Ganoosh scores with a body shot.

Ganoosh gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Overeem on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ganoosh is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ganoosh wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ganoosh wants to get back to striking at distance but Overeem won't allow it.
Ganoosh throws a punch but it's blocked by Overeem.
Ganoosh throws a head punch that misses.
Ganoosh is trying to break the clinch but Overeem has him pressed against the cage.
Ganoosh can't break the clinch.
Ganoosh gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Overeem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ganoosh is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Ganoosh fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ganoosh is trying to break free.
Ganoosh is trying to break free.
Ganoosh has had enough of the clinch but Overeem keeps him there for the moment.
Ganoosh lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ganoosh is trying to break free.
Ganoosh prevents the takedown attempt.
Ganoosh is looking to break free of the clinch but Overeem has double underhooks.
Overeem prevents Ganoosh from breaking the clinch.
Overeem keeps control of Ganoosh as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ganoosh is pressed up against the cage. Overeem has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ganoosh down to the mat. Ganoosh avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Overeem gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ganoosh throws a lazy head kick

and Overeem counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ganoosh won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ganoosh tries to escape but Overeem is in control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Overeem looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Overeem throwing strikes but Ganoosh manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Overeem dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ganoosh scores with a shot to the body.
Overeem misses with a takedown attempt - Ganoosh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ganoosh throws a sloppy head kick and Overeem moves out of range easily.
Ganoosh throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Overeem takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Overeem showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ganoosh.
Ganoosh tries to clinch but Overeem is having none of it.

Overeem closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Overeem lands in his opponent's guard.
Overeem preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Overeem won't allow Ganoosh to get back to his feet.
Ganoosh throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Ganoosh scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Overeem shoots in for a double leg but Ganoosh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ganoosh misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ganoosh wants to clinch.
A shot to the body from Overeem misses
and Ganoosh counters with a left to the body.
Overeem takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice shot by Ganoosh.
Overeem will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alistair Overeem. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Overeem keeps the fight on the outside.
Ganoosh cracks a nice hook into Overeem's ribs.
Alistair Overeem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ganoosh fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ganoosh clobbers Overeem with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Overeem blocks a leg kick.
Overeem blocks a head kick by Ganoosh.
Ganoosh connects with a jab.
Ganoosh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Overeem keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ganoosh scores with a one two! Overeem had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganoosh throws a good cross that connects.
Ganoosh throws a head kick but Overeem moves out of range.
Ganoosh wants to clinch up but Overeem keeps it at a distance.
Ganoosh misses with a body kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Overeem.
Overeem blocks a head kick by Ganoosh.

Overeem moves into the clinch.

Overeem breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Ganoosh.
Ganoosh attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Overeem clinches up against the cage.
Ganoosh is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Overeem will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ganoosh up against the cage.
Ganoosh wants to break free but Overeem has control.
A knee to the head by Overeem.
Ganoosh prevents a takedown attempt there.
Overeem is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ganoosh gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ganoosh has had enough of the clinch but Overeem keeps him there for the moment.
Ganoosh wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ganoosh tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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

Ganoosh has managed to clinch.
Ganoosh is trying to break the clinch but Overeem has him pressed against the cage.
Ganoosh wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Overeem tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ganoosh can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baba Ganoosh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from Ganoosh.
Overeem moves out of range as Ganoosh strikes.
Ganoosh throws a series of punches but Overeem moves out of range.
Ganoosh misses with a wild combination.
Overeem rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ganoosh moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ganoosh closes the distance but Overeem moves to the side

and Overeem counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ganoosh!
Ganoosh is looking to improve his position but Overeem isn't that keen on the idea.
Ganoosh is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Overeem stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganoosh falls off balance throwing a combination
and Overeem counters with a nice body kick.
Ganoosh wants to clinch

and Overeem counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ganoosh.
Overeem connects with a knee to the head.
Ganoosh lands a hook to the side of the head.
Overeem looking to stall.
Overeem prevents Ganoosh from breaking the clinch.
Overeem is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ganoosh is keeping busy.
Ganoosh can't break the clinch.
Ganoosh stalls.
Overeem is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Overeem jumps guard.
Ganoosh preventing the sweep.
Overeem has a closed guard, preventing Ganoosh from standing up.
Ganoosh showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Overeem keeping full guard, as Ganoosh tries to pass.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Overeem is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Alistair Overeem overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ganoosh decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Overeem, up you get!
Overeem takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Baba Ganoosh seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ganoosh throws a leg kick

and Overeem counters with a takedown into side control.
Ganoosh manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ganoosh wants to stand up but Overeem has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Ganoosh thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Overeem's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ganoosh stands up from half guard.
Ganoosh lands a really nice looking cross but Overeem seems unphased.

Overeem clinches.
Ganoosh wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ganoosh throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Overeems head.

Overeem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ganoosh throws a leg kick

and Overeem counters by moving into the clinch.
Ganoosh trying to stall but Overeem improves his position.
Overeem works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Overeem breaks the clinch.
Overeem fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alistair Overeem showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Overeem has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

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