PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Sobral (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Riasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sobral comes into the arena with Notorious Thugs blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Riasco's choice of entrance music: The Mexakinz ft. Xzibit - The Wake Up Show. On his way into the cage it seems that Antonio Sobral has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Antonio Sobral seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Sobral
vs
Riasco

150 cm
23
167 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

162 cm
25
165 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

GREEN!160

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Sobral!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santiago Riasco!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sobral gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Riasco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sobral gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Riasco.
Sobral putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Riasco in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sobral lands a shoulder strike.
Sobral taking a breather.
Sobral gets underhooks to prevent Riasco's takedown attempt.
Riasco avoids a wild elbow strike from Sobral.
Riasco wants a takedown but no success here.
Antonio Sobral has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Riasco.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Riasco.
Good body shot from Sobral.
Sobral scores with a shoulder strike.
We've been hearing reports that Sobral has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sobral pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Sobral breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sobral misses with a looping left.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Riasco has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Antonio Sobral seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sobral throws a solid leg kick but Riasco takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Sobral.
Sobral tries to clinch up.
Riasco blocks the body kick.

Sobral gets a clinch.
Sobral misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Riasco.
Sobral throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Riasco blocks it with crossed arms.
Sobral is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Riasco is defending well for now.
Riasco goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sobral prevents it.
Sobral tries a body shot but Riasco blocks it.
Riasco on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sobral lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Sobral stops a takedown attempt from Riasco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sobral escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sobral tries a head kick but it misses.
Riasco ducks under a wild hook from Sobral.
Riasco fails with a takedown attempt.
Sobral throws a quick counter head kick but Riasco was just out of range.
Sobral throws a head kick that misses

and Riasco counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sobral won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Riasco tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Riasco has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Riasco is looking to take a break and control but Sobral is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sobral seems a little lost for a moment, as Riasco dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Riasco is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Sobral looks calm but he's in trouble here. Riasco gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Sobral is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Riasco lets go of the hold and Sobral can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Santiago Riasco!
An out of breath Santiago Riasco thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.