PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Koss Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lino Bastardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bastardi's choice of entrance music: Indestructible- Disturbed. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rivers
vs
Bastardi

168 cm
23
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
27
168 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Koss Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Lino Bastardi!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rivers avoiding damage.
Rivers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bastardi is defending well for now.
Rivers creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bastardi drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rivers gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Rivers lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bastardi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rivers walks away with a smile on his face. Bastardi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rivers lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Bastardi or perhaps it was just good defense by Rivers which made him look bad.
Koss Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lino Bastardi.
A left and a right from Rivers both land. Nice combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rivers, as that shot connected.
Rivers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bastardi.
Rivers works over Bastardi's head and body with a nice combination.

Rivers fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bastardi, pushing him back against the cage.
Rivers lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rivers throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bastardis head.
Rivers landing knees to the body.
Rivers stalls.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivers lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rivers pushes Bastardi back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bastardi takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rivers lands a damaging elbow.
Rivers lands an elbow inside.

Rivers breaks the clinch.
Rivers throws a nice looking combination but Bastardi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koss Rivers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rivers scores with a three punch combo!
Rivers throws a sloppy head kick and Bastardi moves out of range easily.

Rivers clinches.
Rivers is working Bastardi over against the cage.
Rivers tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rivers just leaning against Bastardi, taking a breather.
Rivers tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Rivers.
Rivers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bastardi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rivers tries to land knees in the clinch but Bastardi avoids the damage to the body.
Rivers lands an elbow that stopped Bastardi in his tracks for a moment.

Rivers manages to break the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Rivers scores with a four punch combination!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rivers lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A short right from Rivers.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rivers as Bastardi tries to tie him up.
Rivers working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bastardi is trying to pull guard but Rivers has him pressed against the cage.
Rivers lands a damaging elbow.
Rivers stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rivers landing some nice looking knees to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rivers crunches a lovely knee into Bastardi's ribcage.
Rivers creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bastardi's defenses.
Rivers is leaning against Bastardi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bastardi wants a takedown.
Rivers comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rivers lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Rivers landing some nice looking knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koss Rivers dominated that round.
That's time! Rivers's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rivers connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bastardi. Bastardi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Rivers clinches with his opponent.
Bastardi tries to stall but Rivers uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rivers controlling the action here for a moment.
Rivers misses with a knee to the head.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jab from Rivers.
Rivers lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bastardi circles away quickly and effectively.
Bastardi darts in trying to clinch

and Rivers counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rivers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers misses with a knee to the head.
Rivers just leaning against Bastardi, taking a breather.
Rivers lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bastardi backwards.
Rivers is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bastardi can do to turn this around?

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Koss Rivers is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivers shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bastardi eats them both and turns towards Rivers to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bastardi shoots in for a takedown but Rivers shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bastardi wants to clinch but Rivers slips to the side
and Rivers counters with a three punch combo that has Bastardi backing up. Bastardi nods at Rivers to acknowledge the strikes.
Bastardi looks to clinch
letting Rivers counter with a right hand.
Rivers wants to clinch up but Bastardi keeps it at a distance.
Rivers looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bastardi has a takedown stuffed.
No joy there for Rivers, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastardi tries to clinch but Rivers is having none of it.

Bastardi closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rivers did well to prevent Bastardi getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bastardi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rivers defending well though.
Rivers is staying active underneath Bastardi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rivers is holding on to half guard well.

Bastardi is looking for a kimura here.
Rivers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rivers is trying to control but can't.

Bastardi seems to be working for a kimura but Rivers defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers is refusing to be controlled, as Bastardi sits in half guard.

Bastardi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rivers is staying active underneath Bastardi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rivers is controlling Bastardi's trapped leg to prevent Bastardi from advancing to side control.
Rivers knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bastardi on the ground.
Rivers is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bastardi's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bastardi's back!
Rivers struggling to keep hold of the position.
Bastardi trying to control the hands but Rivers won't let him.
Bastardi turns into Rivers and is now in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rivers pushes Bastardi off and gets back to his feet.
Bastardi circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rivers rushes Bastardi and presses him up against the cage.
Rivers slowing the pace effectively.
Bastardi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rivers fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Koss Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lino Bastardi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rivers throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koss Rivers dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bastardi swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rivers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivers is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rivers clinches up against the cage.
Rivers scores with a knee to the head.

Rivers breaks the clinch.
Rivers throws a head kick that misses.
Bastardi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rivers sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bastardi somewhat.

Rivers clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivers taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Rivers trying to land knees to the body.
Rivers is stalling here.
Rivers lands a knee to the body.
Bastardi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rivers after a bit of a struggle.
Rivers unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rivers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bastardi in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rivers lands an elbow inside that Bastardi shrugs off.
A hook to the body from Rivers.
Bastardi jumps guard but Rivers stands there with Bastardi around his waist. Bastardi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Koss Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lino Bastardi.
Bastardi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rivers is struggling to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bastardi tries to pull guard but Rivers forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Come on Rivers - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A right hand to the body from Rivers.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rivers stalling against the cage.
Rivers pushes off an throws an elbow but Bastardi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rivers tries a knee to the head but Bastardi blocks it.
Bastardi letting Rivers take a breather here.
Rivers pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rivers.
Rivers looking to throw knees to the head but Bastardi is blocking nicely.
Bastardi is looking for a takedown.
Rivers looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Rivers breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rivers throws a right and a left that Bastardi avoids nicely.
Koss Rivers is winning the standup battle so far.
Bastardi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A combination from Rivers does no damage.
Bastardi swats away the attempt to clinch by Rivers.
Rivers slaps away a takedown attempt from Bastardi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rivers tries to clinch there but Bastardi circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bastardi paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Rivers darts in and clinches Bastardi up against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rivers just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bastardi's brow.
Lino Bastardi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rivers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bastardi looks for a takedown but Rivers sprawls well.
Rivers lands a body shot.
Rivers throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nice sprawl there from Rivers as Bastardi shoots in.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rivers gets a clinch.
Koss Rivers is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bastardi is trying to drag Rivers to the mat but Rivers just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A nice left hand lands by Rivers.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koss Rivers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rivers, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koss Rivers!