Highlights! Overeem Hands Sakai First Knockout Loss

Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Alistair Overeem pulled out a huge stoppage win last night (Sat., Sept. 5, 2020) at UFC Vegas 9 live on ESPN+ from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion ended surging contender Augusto Sakai via fifth-round TKO (elbow and punches).

The heavyweight main event opened up with some brutal knees in the clinch by both fighters. Overeem was able to find a home for the first big punch halfway through the first round, but Sakai returned favored a minute later to even the score. Sakai went back to knees in the clinch along the cage to begin the second round, but Overeem started to open up with punches on the feet. Sakai would regain control with heavy combinations to the head and body on the inside. “The Reem” fought back to land good punches of his own along the cage that started to bloody Sakai.

In Round 3, Sakai kept the pressure up and landed punches in bunches along the fence. Overeem would respond by reversing his position and landing heavy shots of his own. That didn’t stop Sakai, however, as the young contender pushed forward and landed a brutal low leg kick that buckled Overeem. “The Reem” would return the favor later in the round by securing his first takedown of the fight and scoring heavy ground-and-pound. The shots really started to bloody Sakai.

The fourth frame saw Overeem start pushing forward against Sakai, who seemed to tire quite a bit. Maybe it was the body kicks from Overeem earlier in the fight. Sakai eventually regained his composure and would land good elbows and punches along the cage which eventually cut Overeem on his hairline. Sakai began to take advantage with heavy leg kicks, but Overeem scored another timely takedown to regain control. From there, Overeem landed hard hammer fists and punches to Sakai’s head that nearly ended the fight.

In Round 5, Overeem immediately went back to the takedown and put Sakai in trouble. Heavy elbows landed at will followed by punches to the head that forced referee Herb Dean to finally step in.

Check out the complete highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:

For complete UFC Vegas 9 results and coverage click here.