The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its way to Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, South Holland, The Netherlands tonight for UFC Fight Night 87: “Overeem vs Arlovski.” The event was headlined by a heavyweight bout between Alistair Overeem and former champ Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski.
In tonight’s heavyweight co-main event, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva took on Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve. Albert “Einstein” Tumenov battled Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson, and Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie faced Anna “Panda” Elmose. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the main card.
Alistair Overeem vs Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski
Round 1:
Arlovski swarmed on Overeem with punches and knees to the head and body early on, but Overeem weathered the storm and he replied with knees of his own. He countered a combination from Arlovski by landing another knee and a vicious liver kick. Overeem kicked at Arlovski’s lead leg and tripped him to the mat. He postured up with right hands until Arlovski kicked him off. 10-9 Overeem.
Round 2:
Overeem connected with a step-in one-two and a liver kick in round two, but Arlovski was unfazed and he rushed forward with punches and a head kick. Overeem blocked the kick and he dropped Arlovski with a flying switch kick. Overeem dove on Arlovski and landed punches until the fight was waved off.
Winner: Alistair Overeem by TKO (Flying Switch Kick & Punches) at 1:12 of round two. He improves to 41-14-0, 1 NC.
Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve vs Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
Round 1:
Struve stunned Silva immediately with a right hook and two uppercuts. He dropped him with a knee to the body and unloaded with hammerfists as Silva tried in vain to drag him down to the mat. Struve landed a series of elbows to the temple of an immobile Silva and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Stefan Struve by KO (Elbows) at 0:16 of round one. He improves to 27-8-0.
Gunnar “Gunni” Nelson vs Albert “Einstein” Tumenov
Round 1:
Power punches were exchanged in the opening minute and both men landed hard right hands. Nelson mixed in side kicks to the body and Tumenov answered with a counter hook to the liver. Nelson took him down and moved straight to mount. He dropped elbows to Tumenov’s jaw and forehead. Tumenov eventually scrambled up to his feet and Nelson landed lunging hooks. The fighters traded punches at the bell. 10-9 Nelson.
Round 2:
Tumenov opened round two with another left hook to the liver and Nelson clinched in search of a takedown. Tumenov broke free and he landed stiff jabs and right hands. Nelson answered back with left hooks and he took Tumenov down into side control. Tumenov gave up his back and Nelson trapped him in a body triangle. He locked on a neck crank and Tumenov was forced to submit.
Winner: Gunnar Nelson by Submission (Neck Crank) at 3:15 of round two. He improves to 15-2-1.
Germaine “The Iron Lady” de Randamie vs Anna “Panda” Elmose
Round 1:
De Randamie landed an early combination and Elmose countered by clinching with her against the cage. She got de Randamie down to one knee, but de Randamie returned to her feet and landed knees. She blasted Elmose with right hooks and uppercuts and easily shrugged off a takedown attempt. Elmose clinched again and de Randamie threw short knees to the body. She landed one more devastating knee and Elmose collapsed to the mat. Big win for de Randamie in her home country.
Winner: Germaine de Randamie by KO (Knee To The Body) at 3:46 of round one. She improves to 6-3-0.
Nikita “The Miner” Krylov vs Francimar “Bodão” Barroso
Round 1:
Krylov stuffed a takedown and landed a head kick early on that led to a big exchange of power punches. Both men landed huge shots and Barroso threw knees to the body. More hard punches were exchanged and Barroso landed a lunging uppercut. Krylov defended against another takedown attempt and he landed three right hooks. In the clinch, both men landed uppercuts and Krylov unloaded with punches before the bell. Close round. 10-9 Krylov.
Round 2:
Krylov rushed at Barroso and scored with punches right away in round two. Barroso took him down, but Krylov immediately reversed into top position. He landed punches and stood up, but Barroso drilled him with a upkick. Krylov settled back into Barroso’s guard and was warned for an illegal headbutt to the chest. The fight continued and Barroso looked for an omoplata. Krylov put himself in a triangle choke but managed to escape. He took Barroso’s back and locked on a neck crank. Barroso could not escape and tapped out.
Winner: Nikita Krylov by Submission (Neck Crank) at 3:11 of round two. He improves to 20-4-0.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs “Hurricane” Heather Clark
Round 1:
Clark opened the action with an overhand right and she followed with a lunging left hand. Kowalkiewicz threw kicks to the lead leg and body, but Clark quickly countered with two- and three-punch flurries. She clinched with Kowalkiewicz against the cage after landing two punches over the top. Kowalkiewicz broke away and Clark landed more right hands. She kept Kowalkiewicz pinned against the cage and threw short punches and knees. Kowalkiewicz created enough space to land a spinning back kick, and the fighters traded punches late in the round. 10-9 Clark.
Round 2:
Kowalkiewicz was more aggressive with her punches in the second round, but Clark countered with a brief takedown from a clinch. Kowalkiewicz stood and she landed knees while holding Clark against the fence. Hard right hands were exchanged after a break and Kowalkiewicz landed a nice combination. Clark attempted a takedown, but Kowalkiewicz punished her with knees and standing elbows. She backed Clark up with more elbows and punches, then followed with knees to the body. Kowalkiewicz reversed a throw attempt and took Clark’s back. She tried for an armbar before the bell. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz.
Round 3:
Clark landed a head kick in the opening seconds of round three and Kowalkiewicz answered back with leg kicks and combinations. The fighters traded knees to the body in a clinch and Kowalkiewicz landed a spinning backfist. She followed with a quick one-two and Clark responded with a head kick. Kowalkiewicz took her back, but Clark turned into the clinch. Kowalkiewicz unloaded with elbows and punches as Clark slowed down. One-twos, knees and head kicks all landed for Kowalkiewicz in the final minute. She blasted Clark with huge shots just before time expired. 10-9 Kowalkiewicz.
Winner: Karolina Kowalkiewicz by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. She improves to 9-0-0.
Undercard Fights:
– Rustam “Tiger” Khabilov defeated Chris Wade by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 19-3-0 with the win.
– Magnus “Jycken” Cedenblad defeated Garreth “Soldier Boy” McLellan by TKO (Head Kick & Punches) at 0:47 of round two. He improves to 14-4-0 with the win.
– Josh Emmett defeated Jon “Super Saiyan” Tuck by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) after three rounds. He improves to 10-0-0 with the win.
– Reza “Mad Dog” Madadi defeated Yan Cabral by TKO (Punches) at 1:56 of round three. He improves to 14-4-0 with the win.
– Kyoji Horiguchi defeated Neil “2Tap” Seery by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 17-2-0 with the win.
– Leon “Rocky” Edwards defeated Dominic “Shonuff” Waters by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) after three rounds. He improves to 11-3-0 with the win.
– Yuta “Ulka” Sasaki defeated Willie “Whoop Ass” Gates by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:30 of round two. He improves to 19-3-2 with the win.