PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Junior Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vinny Van Bastad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera comes to the cage accompanied by Tupac - Hell Razor (remix). Junior Rivera is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Rivera
vs
Van Bastad

183 cm
22
179 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Fight Club Clothing

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Junior Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vinny Van Bastad!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivera throws a body kick that misses.

Rivera instigates a clinch.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch.
Van Bastad tries to clinch but Rivera moves away
and Rivera finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.

Van Bastad drives through and clinches with Rivera against the cage.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Van Bastad jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rivera walks away with a smile on his face. Van Bastad gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rivera scores with a kick to the midsection.
Junior Rivera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Bastad closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rivera counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rivera.
Van Bastad lands a knee to the head.
Van Bastad avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Van Bastad's face.

It looks like Vinny Van Bastad has been cut.
Van Bastad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rivera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Bastad blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Bastad unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rivera lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Van Bastad pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Van Bastad tries to clinch up.

Rivera gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera prevents Van Bastad from breaking the clinch.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera is breathing heavily.
Van Bastad fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Bastad avoids it.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Van Bastad is defending well for now.

Van Bastad's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Van Bastad fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Bastad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rivera gets a clinch.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Van Bastad lands a knee to the body.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera managing to block the knees to the body from Van Bastad.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Van Bastad is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A left hand lands to the body for Van Bastad.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Van Bastad with a knee to the head.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but Rivera blocks it.
Van Bastad is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Van Bastad tries to break free but Rivera pushes him back against the cage.
Van Bastad working hard to break the clinch.
Van Bastad misses with an elbow over the top.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rivera just stands there and leans against the cage.
Junior Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinny Van Bastad.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Van Bastad successfully pulls guard.
Van Bastad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rivera manages to get himself to full guard.
Rivera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Van Bastad is controlling him.
Van Bastad stopping the sweep attempt from Rivera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Rivera is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Van Bastad has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Rivera working Van Bastad over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rivera prevents a body shot from Van Bastad.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Van Bastad connects with a knee to the head.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the head but Rivera blocks with his arms.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Van Bastad's face.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Van Bastad lands a left hand.
Rivera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Van Bastad's efforts to push away.
Rivera connects with a knee to the head.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Van Bastad lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch.
Van Bastad is looking to clinch but Rivera is avoiding it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Rivera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vinny Van Bastad's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Bastad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Bastad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Van Bastad keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Bastad wants to clinch up but Rivera keeps it at a distance.

Rivera has closed the distance and engaged Van Bastad in a clinch.
Rivera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Bastad blocks it with crossed arms.
Rivera connects with a knee to the head.
Van Bastad works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch.

Van Bastad has taken the fight to the clinch.
Van Bastad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Van Bastad trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A right handed body shot lands from Van Bastad.
Van Bastad connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rivera's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Van Bastad lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.
Van Bastad stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Van Bastad is trying to break the clinch but Rivera is controlling him.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Van Bastad tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Bastad obliges.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.

Van Bastad breaks from the clinch.

Rivera has Van Bastad up against the cage in a clinch.
Van Bastad is trying to break free.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stalling in the clinch from Van Bastad.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Van Bastad has Rivera pressed against the cage.
Rivera is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Van Bastad lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rivera backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad taking a breather.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Van Bastad lands a knee to the head.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera keeps control of Van Bastad as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Van Bastad lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Van Bastad is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rivera is defending well for now.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera avoiding damage as Van Bastad throws knees to the body.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Rivera scores with a knee to the head.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Van Bastad escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Bastad tries to clinch up.
Rivera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Bastad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Bastad. Van Bastad obviously looking to wear him down.
Crunch! Rivera slams his shin into Van Bastad's torso.
Rivera throws a right hand that Van Bastad ducks under and follows up with a left that Van Bastad also avoids with ease.
Van Bastad keeps the fight on the outside.
Van Bastad throws a body kick the misses
and Rivera counters with a body kick that stops Van Bastad in his tracks momentarily.
Van Bastad circles away from the clinch attempt
and Van Bastad finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rivera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Bastad is looking to clinch.

Rivera clinches up with Van Bastad and pushes him back against the cage.
Van Bastad drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Rivera landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad slowing the pace effectively.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
A right handed body shot lands from Van Bastad.
Vinny Van Bastad seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Van Bastad is working for takedown but Rivera is calmly controlling the position for now.
Junior Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinny Van Bastad.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Van Bastad breaks from the clinch.
A jab from Van Bastad misses.
Rivera throws a nice head kick!
Van Bastad wants to clinch but Rivera slips to the side

and Rivera counters by moving into the clinch.

Van Bastad pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rivera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Van Bastad, pushing him back against the cage.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Van Bastad with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vinny Van Bastad will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Vinny Van Bastad's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Rivera closes the distance but Van Bastad moves to the side

and Van Bastad moves into the clinch.
Rivera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Bastad blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Bastad with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Van Bastad is defending well for now.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad landing knees to the head.
Van Bastad throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Bastad throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivera blocks it with crossed arms.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Bastad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad with a knee to the head.
Rivera on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rivera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Bastad blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Bastad tries to stall but Rivera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Van Bastad lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Junior Rivera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Van Bastad dodges the punch combination from Rivera.
Rivera tries to clinch up but Van Bastad circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Bastad tries to clinch but Rivera is having none of it.
Van Bastad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Bastad circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rivera clinches with his opponent.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Bastad.

Van Bastad breaks from the clinch.
Rivera doesn't manage to clinch there - Van Bastad circles away.

Van Bastad takes the fight into the clinch.
Van Bastad landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Van Bastad avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Van Bastad gets through Rivera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rivera lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Van Bastad misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rivera.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera keeps control of Van Bastad as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad scores with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Rivera.
Van Bastad tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivera avoids the damage to the body.
Van Bastad with a knee to the head.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Bastad blocks it with crossed arms.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Van Bastad avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Van Bastad working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Van Bastad is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Van Bastad scores a nice knee to the body.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivera avoiding damage as Van Bastad throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rivera trying to stall but Van Bastad improves his position.
Rivera is pressed up against the cage. Van Bastad has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rivera down to the mat. Rivera avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rivera tries to clinch but Van Bastad moves away

and Van Bastad counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Van Bastad.
Van Bastad takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Bastad with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Van Bastad utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Van Bastad working Rivera over with knees to the body.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Rivera rushes Van Bastad and presses him up against the cage.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Van Bastad blocks it with crossed arms.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad tries to break free but Rivera pushes him back against the cage.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera misses with a knee to the head.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera letting Van Bastad take a breather here.

Van Bastad manages to break the clinch.
Rivera tries to clinch up

and Van Bastad moves into the clinch.
Rivera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Bastad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad misses with a knee strike.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Van Bastad breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vinny Van Bastad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Bastad has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Vinny Van Bastad!