PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Schaefer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Van Bastad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Schaefer
vs
Van Bastad

178 cm
20
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Schaefer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vinny Van Bastad!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Bastad lands a body shot.
Van Bastad turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Van Bastad wants to clinch.
Van Bastad goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Ben Schaefer has been cut.

Van Bastad clinches up with Schaefer and pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Van Bastad.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Schaefer jumps guard but Van Bastad stands there with Schaefer around his waist. Schaefer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Van Bastad's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schaefer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Bastad is looking to clinch but Schaefer is avoiding it.
Van Bastad throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Van Bastad rushes Schaefer and presses him up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Bastad is pressed up against the cage. Schaefer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Van Bastad down to the mat. Van Bastad avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Bastad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Bastad blocks a jab.
Van Bastad throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Bastad is looking to clinch.
Schaefer looks for a takedown but Van Bastad sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Schaefer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Bastad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schaefer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Schaefer keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Bastad wants to clinch.
Van Bastad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schaefer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Schaefer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Schaefer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Bastad paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Van Bastad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Schaefer moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Van Bastad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Bastad misses with a straight left.
Van Bastad tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Schaefer counters with a single leg into guard. Van Bastad didn't expect that.
Schaefer trying to control but Van Bastad is working from the bottom.
Schaefer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Schaefer works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Schaefer is trying to work for a kimura but Van Bastad is defending well.
Schaefer is breathing heavily.
Van Bastad controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad is trying to stand up here but Schaefer is controlling him well.
Schaefer trying to mount his opponent but Van Bastad defends it.

Schaefer is working for a kimura but Van Bastad is defending it quite comfortably.
Van Bastad tries to roll over but Schaefer keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Van Bastad controlling the position for now.
Schaefer is looking to advance position but Van Bastad won't allow it.

Schaefer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Van Bastad defends it well.

Schaefer seems to be looking for submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van Bastad shoots in but Schaefer avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Van Bastad darts in trying to clinch

and Schaefer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Van Bastad's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ben Schaefer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ben Schaefer's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Van Bastad misses with a double jab
and Schaefer counters with a series of strikes. Van Bastad will be more careful next time no doubt.
Van Bastad tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Bastad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Van Bastad fails with the takedown.
Schaefer swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Bastad.
Vinny Van Bastad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Bastad walks into a jab.

It looks like Vinny Van Bastad has been cut.
Van Bastad tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Schaefer swivels and escapes.
Schaefer fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Bastad tries to clinch up but Schaefer circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schaefer avoids the head kick by Van Bastad.

Schaefer has closed the distance and engaged Van Bastad in a clinch.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Schaefer wants a takedown.
Schaefer tries to stall but Van Bastad uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Schaefer avoiding damage as Van Bastad throws knees to the body.
Van Bastad is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Schaefer jumps guard but Van Bastad stands there with Schaefer around his waist. Schaefer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Schaefer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Bastad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Schaefer just stands there and leans against the cage.
Schaefer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the head but Schaefer blocks with his arms.
Van Bastad is working for takedown but Schaefer is calmly controlling the position for now.

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.
Schaefer fails to pull guard.
Van Bastad looking to slow down the pace here.
Van Bastad tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Schaefer smiles and moves away.
Schaefer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Van Bastad as he jumps to the side.
Van Bastad tries to clinch but Schaefer moves away
and Schaefer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Van Bastad tries to clinch up

and Schaefer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Van Bastad is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Schaefer kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Schaefer is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Van Bastad pulls Schaefer in close to his closed guard and prevents Schaefer from doing any damage or advancing position.
Van Bastad is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Schaefer is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Van Bastad has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Schaefer has passed into side control.
Schaefer trying to control the position but Van Bastad is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Van Bastad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Van Bastad clinches but Schaefer breaks the clinch

and Schaefer counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Schaefer looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ben Schaefer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Van Bastad wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Schaefer dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Van Bastad throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Schaefer's head.

Schaefer tries to keep at a distance but Van Bastad has taken the fight into the clinch.
Schaefer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the head but Schaefer blocks with his arms.
Van Bastad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Schaefer has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Schaefer jumps guard but Van Bastad stands there with Schaefer around his waist. Schaefer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Schaefer is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Van Bastad pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schaefer goes for a takedown attempt but Van Bastad pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Schaefer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Van Bastad wants to clinch up but Schaefer keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Bastad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Bastad tries to clinch there but Schaefer circles away.
Van Bastad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Bastad shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Schaefer as he jumps to the side.
Van Bastad is looking to clinch.
Vinny Van Bastad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Bastad misses with a straight right.
Schaefer misses with an uppercut.
Schaefer shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Van Bastad pinned against the cage. Van Bastad gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Van Bastad throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Schaefer swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Bastad.
Schaefer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Van Bastad as he avoids it easily.
Van Bastad tries to clinch up.
Van Bastad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schaefer paws at him with a jab and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Schaefer is blocking nicely.
Schaefer tries to pull guard but Van Bastad holds him up against the cage and eventually Schaefer drops back down to his feet.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Van Bastad is looking to clinch but Schaefer is avoiding it.
Schaefer circles away from the clinch attempt
and Schaefer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schaefer moves into the clinch.
Schaefer tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Van Bastad smiles and moves away.
Van Bastad darts in trying to clinch
and Schaefer counters with an inside leg kick.

Schaefer bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Schaefer is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Van Bastad is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Schaefer is chipping away with strikes.
Vinny Van Bastad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schaefer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Schaefer tries to move to mount but Van Bastad blocks the move with his legs.
Schaefer throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Schaefer wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Van Bastad, who protects the arm well.
Ben Schaefer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Schaefer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Schaefer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Schaefer, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Schaefer!