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). Vinny Van Bastad is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Rivera
vs
Van Bastad

183 cm
22
179 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

192 cm
22
168 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Fight Club Clothing
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Junior Rivera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vinny Van Bastad!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Bastad tries to clinch but Rivera moves out of range.
Rivera stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Van Bastad.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but Van Bastad shows good takedown defense.

Rivera looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rivera takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Rivera is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rivera trying to pass the guard but Van Bastad defending well.

Rivera stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Vinny Van Bastad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivera on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera tries to clinch up.
Van Bastad wants to clinch but Rivera slips to the side

and Rivera counters by clinching up.
Rivera missing with knees to the body.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rivera landing knees to the head.

It looks like Vinny Van Bastad has been cut.
Van Bastad is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad can't break the clinch.
Van Bastad tries to circle away but Rivera has him pinned against the cage.
Van Bastad managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad missing with knees to the body.
Van Bastad trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad managing to block the knees to the body from Rivera.
Van Bastad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivera takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Bastad has had enough of the clinch but Rivera keeps him there for the moment.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Bastad avoids it.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Van Bastad stalling the fight.
Van Bastad wants to stall.
Van Bastad is trying to force a seperation but Rivera has the dominant position.
Van Bastad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Rivera lands a good knee to the midsection. Van Bastad won't want to take too many of those.
Van Bastad looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Rivera misses with a knee strike.
Rivera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad is trying to maintain a safe position but Rivera gets an underhook and turns Van Bastad into the cage.
Van Bastad misses with a knee to the head.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Van Bastad's face.
Rivera with a knee to the head.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Bastad.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Bastad avoids it.
Van Bastad landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Van Bastad lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Van Bastad 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 throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rivera blocks it with crossed arms.
Van Bastad swings wildly with an uppercut but Rivera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rivera connects with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Van Bastad's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Bastad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Van Bastad.
Rivera landing knees to the body.
Van Bastad lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Van Bastad looking to throw knees to the head but Rivera is blocking nicely.
Van Bastad avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
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.
Rivera lands a knee to the body.
Van Bastad misses with a knee to the head.
Van Bastad is looking to control Rivera's arms but Rivera gets an underhook and turns him. Now Van Bastad has his back to the cage.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch.

Rivera rushes Van Bastad and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rivera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Van Bastad throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Bastad missing with knees to the body.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Rivera landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Van Bastad breaks the clinch.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but Van Bastad shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad tries to clinch

and Rivera counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Van Bastad's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Van Bastad is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rivera has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rivera cracks Van Bastad with a big right hand but Van Bastad just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Rivera tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Rivera misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
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 fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rivera closes the distance and pushes Van Bastad back into the cage.

Van Bastad manages to break the clinch.
Van Bastad lands a head kick. Rivera smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Van Bastad misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Van Bastad wants to clinch but Rivera slips to the side

and Rivera counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rivera.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Bastad.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad goes for a takedown attempt but Rivera pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Rivera has managed to clinch.
Rivera crunches a lovely knee into Van Bastad's ribcage.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivera avoids the damage to the body.
Rivera working Van Bastad over with knees to the body.
Van Bastad is breathing heavily.
Rivera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rivera landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rivera.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Bastad avoids the damage to the body.
Rivera working Van Bastad over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Rivera.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rivera avoids it.
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rivera is keeping busy.
A right hand to the body from Van Bastad.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Van Bastad obliges.
Rivera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rivera unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rivera tries a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks it.
Van Bastad taking a breather.
Van Bastad with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Rivera.
Rivera trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad trying to stall but Rivera improves his position.
Rivera lands a good knee to the midsection. Van Bastad won't want to take too many of those.
Van Bastad is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Rivera keeps control of Van Bastad as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera looking to throw knees to the head but Van Bastad is blocking nicely.
Rivera landing knees to the body.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Van Bastad misses with a knee strike.
Rivera is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rivera takes a knee right on the jaw!
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 trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rivera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Van Bastad.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Van Bastad landing knees to the body.
Rivera avoiding damage as Van Bastad throws knees to the body.
Rivera landing knees to the head.
Van Bastad is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rivera is keeping busy.
Van Bastad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Van Bastad lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rivera with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera takes a knee right on the jaw!
Knees in the clinch landing for Rivera.
Van Bastad with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rivera crunches a lovely knee into Van Bastad's ribcage.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Bastad avoids it.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rivera is defended easily by Van Bastad.
Horrible takedown by Rivera or perhaps it was just good defense by Van Bastad which made him look bad.
Van Bastad misses with a leg kick
and Rivera counters with a body kick.
Van Bastad is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rivera.
Van Bastad is looking to score with low kicks.
Van Bastad looks to throw the jab but Rivera is out of range.

Rivera moves into the clinch.
Van Bastad fails to pull guard.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera lands a knee to the head.
Rivera is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rivera landing knees to the head.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Bastad misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but Van Bastad blocks with his arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Van Bastad creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rivera obliges.
Van Bastad throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Bastad tries to land knees in the clinch but Rivera avoids the damage to the body.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Van Bastad avoids it.
Van Bastad working hard to break the clinch.
Rivera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rivera scores a nice knee to the body.
Van Bastad taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Van Bastad trying to land knees to the body.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Bastad avoids the damage to the body.
Van Bastad missing with knees to the body.
Rivera tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Bastad avoids the damage to the body.
Van Bastad drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Junior Rivera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vinny Van Bastad.
Knees to the body from Rivera.
Van Bastad tries a knee to the head but Rivera blocks it.
Rivera crunches a lovely knee into Van Bastad's ribcage.
Rivera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Bastad lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Junior Rivera dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vinny Van Bastad's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rivera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Van Bastad sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rivera somewhat.
Rivera fails in his attempt to clinch.
Junior Rivera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rivera changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Van Bastad tries to avoid it but Rivera manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Van Bastad to the ground. Van Bastad escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Van Bastad tries to clinch

and Rivera counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Van Bastad's guard now.
Rivera stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Van Bastad swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Van Bastad trying to control the position.
Van Bastad wants to get back to his feet but Rivera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Van Bastad is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rivera prevents Van Bastad from improving his position.

Rivera postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Van Bastad to stand up.

Rivera closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rivera lands in his opponent's guard.
Rivera missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Bastad wants to sweep but no luck.
Rivera scoring with some ground and pound.
Rivera sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Van Bastad's guard.
Rivera wants to pass to mount but Van Bastad is defending the position.
Rivera looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Van Bastad with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rivera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rivera lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Rivera is working for a kimura but Van Bastad is defending it quite comfortably.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rivera throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera trying to control the pace.
Rivera wants to control but Van Bastad is keeping him busy.
Van Bastad keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rivera with the ground and pound but Van Bastad uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Van Bastad utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rivera wants to pass the guard but Van Bastad is keeping the position.
Vinny Van Bastad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Van Bastad lands with a slapping head kick.
Van Bastad wants to clinch

and Rivera counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rivera.
Rivera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Van Bastad's face.
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 on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Bastad avoiding damage as Rivera throws knees to the body.
Van Bastad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rivera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
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.
Van Bastad throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Bastad tries to circle away but Rivera has him pinned against the cage.
Rivera lands a nice knee to the body.
Rivera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Bastad has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Bastad tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Bastad creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rivera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Van Bastad wants to get back to striking at distance but Rivera won't allow it.
Van Bastad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rivera avoiding damage as Van Bastad throws knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Junior Rivera showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivera, 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Junior Rivera!