PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Riasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riasco comes into the arena with The Mexakinz ft. Xzibit - The Wake Up Show blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Riasco
vs
Evans

162 cm
26
165 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

170 cm
24
149 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

The Empire Clothing and Laundry
AnonymouS

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 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santiago Riasco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Nick Evans!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Micheangelo Fripello and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Riasco drives through with a takedown into guard.
Evans looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Evans is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Evans is continuing to stall.
Riasco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Evans lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Evans pushes down on Riasco's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Evans keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Riasco is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Evans pulls his head out easily.
Riasco tries to roll over but Evans keeps him under control.
Evans takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evans is trying to control the action in half guard but Riasco is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Riasco tries to roll over but Evans keeps him under control.
Riasco is working hard here to advance position.
Riasco keeping control of the position.

Riasco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Evans seems to be working for a kimura but Riasco defends the submission attempt.

Evans looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Riasco looking for submissions off his back.
Evans is looking to take a break and control but Riasco is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Riasco tries to roll over but Evans keeps him under control.

Riasco looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans is looking to advance position but Riasco won't allow it.
Riasco is looking for a sweep. Evans is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Evans looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A head kick misses from Evans.
Riasco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Evans sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Riasco looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Riasco looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riasco shoots and misses
and Evans counters with a nice leg kick.
Evans misses with a body kick.
Riasco darts in looking for a takedown but Evans gets double underhooks and turns Riasco into the cage.
Evans is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Riasco with a body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Riasco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head kick misses from Evans.
Evans tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Riasco.
Evans struggling a bit here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Riasco working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Evans is holding Riasco down, trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Nick Evans will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Riasco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Riasco looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riasco trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.

Evans has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Riasco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans trying to keep a closed guard but Riasco is proving a slippery customer.
Riasco passes Evans's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Evans is defending against the submission attempts here by Riasco.
Evans trying to hold on to Riasco's head to control him but Riasco postures up.

Riasco is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Evans is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Evans moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Riasco advances to half guard.
Evans has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's two 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Evans manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Riasco trying to control the position from guard on top but Evans is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Evans pulls Riasco in to control the position.
Riasco wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Riasco is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Evans looking to control.
Evans has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Riasco trying to control but Evans is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riasco misses with a takedown
and Riasco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Evans throws a nice inside leg kick.
A head kick by Evans misses

so Riasco counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Evans managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riasco sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Riasco forces his way into half guard.
Riasco looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Evans is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Riasco's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Riasco's back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riasco is really stuck here.
Evans biding his time, controlling Riasco.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Riasco dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Riasco darts in looking for a takedown but Evans gets double underhooks and turns Riasco into the cage.
Riasco darts in looking for a takedown but Evans gets double underhooks and turns Riasco into the cage.
Riasco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Evans sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Riasco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Evans scores with a nice head shot.
Evans connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Riasco throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Evans was covering up waiting for the punch and Riasco finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Santiago Riasco overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Riasco from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riasco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Evans swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Riasco forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riasco is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Evans defends it well.
Evans is looking to improve his position.
Riasco wants to take a breather but Evans is having none of it.

Riasco is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Evans won't allow Riasco to pass to mount.
Riasco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Evans does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Evans won't allow Riasco to pass to mount.
Evans gets full guard.
Evans working a defensive guard here.
Riasco wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Evans pulls Riasco in close to prevent any damage.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Evans looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Santiago Riasco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Evans dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riasco shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Evans counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Riasco fails with the takedown
and Evans connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Evans lands a high kick!
A lazy body kick from Evans

and Riasco counters with a single leg into guard. Evans didn't expect that.
Evans keeping moving, preventing Riasco from controlling successfully.
Evans trying to control the position here.

Riasco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Evans is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Riasco, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evans pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Riasco is keeping the position for now.
Evans sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Evans trying to control the position from guard on top but Riasco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nick Evans.
I think Evans 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Santiago Riasco!
A relieved looking Santiago Riasco thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.