Sherdog
Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
Round 1
There’s an intense staredown between Overeem and Werdum as ref Leon Roberts gives final instructions, and no touch of gloves once the bout starts. Overeem ducks an early head kick and stuffs a long shot from Werdum. He catches a kick from the Brazilian and throws him onto his back. Overeem stuffs another shot and Werdum rolls through, trying to lure the Strikeforce champ into his guard. Overeem won’t play, though, and motions Werdum back up. Every time Werdum shoots or tries to clinch, the hulking Dutchman just shucks him off. Both men very tentative on the feet through two minutes. Werdum steps up with a knee and puts a right on Overeem’s cheek, then pulls guard, but Overeem stands right back up. Werdum pulls guard again and Overeem backs out, raising his arms in the air. Outside leg kick from Werdum and the heavyweights appear to clash heads as they both lean in. Another pair of takedown attempts are blocked by Overeem. He clips Werdum with a left hook and “Vai Cavalo” falls to his back, wagging his finger. Werdum stands and flops to guard again; this time, he puts his hands together, mock-pleading for Overeem to follow him to the floor. Werdum pulls guard with 10 seconds left and finishes the round with Overeem in his guard.
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Overeem
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Overeem
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Overeem
MMAJunkie
Round 1 - Leon Roberts calls the second quarterfinal heavyweight grand prix bout of the night. Both fighters change levels. Werdum leads with a high kick, but it's shrugged off by Overeem, who closes the distance. Werdum tags Overeem coming in, and then lands to the body. Werdum shoots from the open with a takedown and gets nothing. He follows with a kick and gets tripped. Another takedown attempt fails miserably. Then another. Werdum butt-scooting to the great dismay of the audience. Werdum with an inside leg kick. Then another shot fails. Werdum asks Overeem to come and get him, Overeem says no way. Overeem lands to the body then follows with a knee. Werdum chases after him with swinging punches getting nothing. Werdum closes then pulls guard, but Overeem stands out of it. Werdum chases with punches and gets nothing. Another charge and guard-pull, and another nothing for Werdum. But he is throwing off Overeem's rhythm. Werdum clinches and throws a knee, and Overeem trips him to the mat, standing overhead with his arms outstretched. A body shot from Overeem drops Werdum, but Werdum waves no-no. Werdum is now begging Overeem to follow him to the mat after a failed shot. Predictably, Overeem is saying no. Overeem lands a huge knee to the advancing Werdum and peels off. Werdum again charges and manages to lock in his first guard position of the night, but time is up. MMAjunkie.com scores the round 10-9 for Overeem.
MMAWeekly
Round 1: Werdum doesn’t back away from Overeem, comes out with a knee to the face. Werdum then shoots, but Overeem sprawls it out, then catches a Werdum kick and tosses him to the mat. Werdum is butt scooting, trying to get Overeem to come down, but the Strikeforce champ will have none of it. Werdum keeps shooting, but Overeem keeps shutting him down. Overeem drives a knee to the midsection.Werdum moves in firing punches, then pulls Overeem to the mat, but Overeem stands right back up… and again. Werdum lands a few punches and moves in with a knee strike, but can’t find a home for it. They clinch up and Overeem just tosses him off again. Overeem lands a hard left hook, follows with a knee to the body, and then tosses Werdum down again. Werdum begs Overeem to come down to the mat, but he won’t go. Werdum goes for the takedown and eats a knee from Overeem. Werdum pulls Overeem to the mat late in the round, but Overeem just stays on top of him and drops a couple shots before the horn. MMAWeekly.com scores round one 10-9 for Overeem
