PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Sten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gavin Rippa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gavin Rippa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sten
vs
Rippa

187 cm
27
201 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
197 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vlad Sten!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gavin Rippa!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sten lands a head kick. Rippa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Sten slips under a jab from Rippa.
Rippa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rippa takes a swing at Sten's ribcage but misses.
Sten throws a combination. Rippa tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rippa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sten was well out of range. Poor timing from Rippa.
Sten lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Rippa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sten lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rippa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sten wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sten dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rippa. That did some damage!
Sten chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Both fighters circling a little - Sten finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Sten lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Crunch! Sten slams his shin into Rippa's torso.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sten scores with a nice strike.
Rippa misses with a combination
and Sten cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rippa misses with a leg kick.
Sten darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sten moves away from the strike by Rippa.
Sten steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rippa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sten digs a good body shot into Rippa's ribs.
Gavin Rippa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rippa looks to land a right hand but Sten moved out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Sten.
Sten lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rippa stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Sten connects with a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sten.
Sten lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sten misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sten scores with a body shot.
Rippa shoots and misses
and Sten counters with a left to the body.
Rippa looks gassed!
Sten throws a series of strikes that have Rippa backpedaling.
Sten throws a leg kick which misses Rippa's front leg but catches the back leg as Rippa tries to avoid it.
Rippa throws a jab but it's blocked by Sten.
Rippa missing with a left hand there. Sten was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Both fighters circling a little - Sten finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Rippa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sten.
Rippa takes a kick to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sten scores with a spinning back kick!
Sten with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A jab lands there for Sten.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sten closes the distance and clinches.

Sten breaks from the clinch.
Sten works the jab nicely.
Sten lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Sten lands a slapping body shot.
Sten cracks a nice hook into Rippa's ribs.
Sten lands a right hook to the body.
Sten is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sten lands a right hook to the body.
Rippa takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Rippa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rippa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sten. Sten obviously looking to wear him down.

Sten clinches with his opponent.

Sten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sten lands with a cross.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sten. That's going to slow Rippa down.
Sten turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sten connects with a solid leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sten.

Sten has closed the distance and engaged Rippa in a clinch.

Sten escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rippa is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sten throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Sten throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rippa's head.

Sten rushes Rippa and presses him up against the cage.
Rippa has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sten.
Rippa stalling in the clinch but Sten improves position.

Sten breaks from the clinch.
Sten connects with the punch.
Sten connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sten is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Sten moves into the clinch.

Sten manages to break the clinch.

Sten gets a clinch.

Sten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sten thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rippa if he has to take too many more of those.
Sten lands a nice looking body kick.
Rippa misses with a hook. Sten ducked under it nicely.
Sten lands a nice looking body kick.
Sten throws a head kick that half lands.
Sten throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rippa.
Sten throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sten instigates a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sten manages to break the clinch.
Sten lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rippa's sensitive parts.
Rippa throws a hook but Sten blocks it.
Sten stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sten wants it to stay on the feet.
Sten lands a head kick!
Sten connects with a solid leg kick.
Sten feints and then cracks Rippa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Rippa down.
Sten feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rippa's calf.

Sten closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice body kick from Sten.
Sten thuds his shin into the meat of Rippa's side.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rippa takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sten throws a nice inside leg kick.
Vlad Sten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sten lands with a good body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sten, right into the meat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sten.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Sten dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sten goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rippa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Sten throws a shot to the body.
Sten throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rippa.
Rippa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sten throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Rippa's head.
Sten uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sten slips a jab and a cross from Rippa.
Gavin Rippa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rippa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sten's head backwards.
An inside leg kick lands from Sten.
Rippa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Sten gets a clinch.

Sten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sten.
Donk. Sten catches Rippa right on the button with a cross.
Rippa is breathing heavily.
Sten changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Sten gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sten wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Sten as Rippa tries to tie him up.
Sten stalling in the clinch.
Sten tries to break free but Rippa pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Sten's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sten breaks the clinch.
Rippa throws a leg kick
and Sten counters with a nice low kick that buckles Rippa's knee momentarily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sten.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sten. That's going to slow Rippa down.
Sten scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rippa in his tracks.
Sten lands with a good body shot.
Sten fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sten works the jab nicely.

Rippa drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Sten looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rippa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sten is controlling Rippa's posture.
Sten working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rippa.

Sten kicks Rippa off and gets to his feet.
Rippa throws a right and a left that both miss.
A jab from Rippa misses.
Vlad Sten is winning the standup battle so far.
Sten listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sten.
Good leg kick by Sten there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Rippa misses with the combination.
Sten scores with a nice head shot.
Rippa looks to throw the jab but Sten is out of range.
Rippa misses with a straight right.
Rippa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Sten.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sten gets a clinch.

Sten breaks the clinch.
Sten throws a nice outside leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sten.
Sten scores with a nice body kick.

Sten moves into the clinch.
Rippa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sten dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sten working hard to break the clinch.
Rippa looking to slow down the pace here.
Sten wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rippa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Rippa is looking to break free of the clinch but Sten has double underhooks.

Sten breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sten lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rippa at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sten lands with a kick to the temple. Rippa shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Rippa connects with a nice looking jab.
Sten needs to keep his hands up - Rippa had a free shot at his head there.
Rippa misses with an uppercut.
The fighters circling - Rippa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rippa throws the left hand but Sten avoids the punch easily.
Rippa misses with a wild combination.
Sten is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rippa can do to turn this around?
Sten changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sten ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Sten has managed to clinch.

Sten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sten plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rippa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big left from Rippa misses.
Rippa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sten takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Sten dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sten throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Rippa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rippa throws a lazy body kick
and Sten counters with a nice leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sten.
Rippa shoots in and drives through. Sten sprawls well.
Sten scoring well with a low kick there.
Sten turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rippa takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Sten drives through and clinches with Rippa against the cage.

Sten's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sten moves away from the strike by Rippa.
Sten with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sten throws a nice head kick!
Sten scoring well with a low kick there.
Sten connects with a right hand. Rippa shakes it off.

Sten rushes Rippa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Sten has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rippa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sten connects with a body shot.
Rippa throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Sten counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rippa throws a series of punches but Sten avoids them all with ease.
Sten lands a front kick.
Rippa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sten - that will leave a mark!
Rippa doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sten cracks Rippa with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Sten connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sten lands a jab to Rippa's midsection.
Sten thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Rippa if he has to take too many more of those.
Rippa on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Sten moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Sten takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A jab from Sten finds it's way through Rippa's defenses.
Rippa tries for a takedown but Sten sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sten throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Sten gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gavin Rippa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sten thuds his shin into the meat of Rippa's side.
Sten scores with a three punch combo!
Sten lands a head kick!
Sten thuds his shin into the meat of Rippa's side.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sten.
Sten scoring well with a low kick there.
A slapping body kick lands there for Sten.
Vlad Sten is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sten throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rippa stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sten lands the left hand.
Sten throws a nice inside leg kick.

Sten closes the distance and pushes Rippa back into the cage.

Sten breaks the clinch.
Rippa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sten.
Sten lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rippa steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Sten. That one must have hurt.
Sten scores with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sten throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Sten.
Sten keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sten throws a good cross that connects.
Rippa takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sten connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rippa takes a jab right on the kisser.

Sten closes the distance and clinches.

Sten pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sten feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rippa's calf.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sten darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Sten lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rippa misses with a hook. Sten ducked under it nicely.
Sten lands a body shot.
Sten scores with a shot to the body.
Rippa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sten scores with a head kick.
Rippa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sten.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sten uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Rippa has time to react.
Sten lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rippa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sten can pounce on him.
Sten stuns Rippa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sten scores with a push kick.
Sten lands a nice looking body kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Sten.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sten changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sten moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Sten lands with a straight right. Rippa didn't see that one coming.
Rippa is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Sten.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sten.
Sten throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sten throws a leg kick which misses Rippa's front leg but catches the back leg as Rippa tries to avoid it.
Sten thows a body kick. Rippa tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sten lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rippa takes a step back to recover.
Sten fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rippa looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vlad Sten showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sten, 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Vlad Sten!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Vlad Sten!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Vlad Sten!

Vlad Sten wins by unanimous decision!