Augusto Sakai tagged Alistair Overeem with some big shots tonight at UFC Vegas 9, and showed a ton of heart, but the latter’s comprehensive game delivered him yet another, win.

Round one

Both men came out with a lot of feints. Overeem blitzed in with a flurry but nothing scored. Sakai planted a hard front kick to the body and then scored with some knees from the clinch. The two continued to battle in the clinch and Sakai just missed with a big knee on the break.

Overeem tagged Sakai with a hard overhand right late in the round that pushed him back. Sakai fired in a nice uppercut not long after. Sakai flurried in in the final minute of the frame but Overeem’s defense held.

Round two

Sakai pressured in round two and came with some heavy shots. Overeem countered with a hard knee to the body. Overeem had some significant swelling by his left ear. Overeem blitzed in but Sakai countered with a series of punches. The two battled along the cage and Sakai received another warning for holding the fence. The clinch fight continued and both men scored with knees to the body and elbows to the head.

Sakai had a cut opened up above his left eye. Close round.

Round three

Overeem planted a hard leg kick not long in. Sakai came with a flurry and Overeem fired in a side kick to the leg. Sakai appeared to be the fresh fighter and was offering more offense. Sakai flurried in a couple of minutes in and threw numerous shots as Overeem covered up against the cage. Sakai planted a hard calf kick after Overeem missed with a kick of his own.

As they clinched up, Overeem swept Sakai to the floor with a beautiful trip. Sakai threatened with up kicks and kept Overeem at bay. Eventually Overeem settled into Sakai’s guard and landed some shots from above. Sakai was more bloodied up as a result.

Round four

Sakai flurried in the opening minute but the action slowed somewhat. Overeem fired in a hard kick to the body but Sakai ate it and responded with elbows. Sakai fired in more elbows that cut Overeem. The latter fired a spinning kick that hit Sakai low.

Sakai complained that he took another kick low moments later but referee Herb Dean said there was no foul. Moments later, Overeem took Sakai down and started working from the top. Overeem planted some nasty hammer fists from above and then a punishing elbow that hurt Sakai. Overeem pounded down more elbows on the bloodied Sakai. Wow.

Round five

Overeem changed levels immediately and took Sakai down. After the decorated heavyweight landed a couple of punishing elbows from above, the fight was called. Impressive adjustment and win for Overeem.

Here are the complete results for UFC Vegas 9, which took place at the Apex Facility.

Alistair Overeem def. Augusto Sakai via TKO (elbows) R5, 0:26
Ovince Saint Preux def. Alonzo Menifield via KO (punch) R2, 4:07
Michel Pereira def. Zelim Imadaev via submission (rear-naked-choke) R3, 4:39
Andre Muniz def. Bartosz Fabinski via submission (armbar) R1, 2:42
Brian Kelleher def. Ray Rodriguez via submission (guillotine choke) R1, 0:39
Viviane Araujo def. Montana De La Rosa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Hunter Azure def. Cole Smith via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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