PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Evans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Riasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Riasco's choice of entrance music: The Mexakinz ft. Xzibit - The Wake Up Show. Nick Evans has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Evans
vs
Riasco

170 cm
21
149 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

162 cm
22
155 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Fast

The Empire Clothing and Laundry
Vendetta Supplements 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Evans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santiago Riasco!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Evans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Evans throws a lazy body kick

and Riasco counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Riasco.
Riasco looking to pass the guard.

Riasco thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Evans working a defensive guard here.
Riasco being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Riasco looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riasco is still trying to improve position.
Evans tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Riasco sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Evans's guard.
Evans is staying active underneath Riasco, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Riasco is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Riasco wants to take a breather but Evans is having none of it.
Riasco is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Riasco is looking for submissions but instead, Evans has regained full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riasco wants to control from the top but Evans keeps moving.
Evans is trying to control the position but Riasco postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Riasco shoots in and drives through. Evans sprawls well.
Nick Evans is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Evans swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Evans is looking to land body kicks.
Evans misses with a body shot.
Evans thumps Riasco with a low kick.
Riasco walks into a stiff left hand from Evans.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riasco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Evans sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Riasco takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Evans misses with a hook.
A leg kick checked by Riasco.
Riasco changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Evans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Evans lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Evans pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
And Riasco tries to counter it with a takedown but Evans pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Evans is looking to chop away at Riasco's legs.
Riasco drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Evans defends it well.
Evans misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Riasco.
Riasco shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Evans but Evans pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nick Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Riasco.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riasco looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Evans fires out a quick counter leg kick but Riasco just manages to avoid it.
Evans slaps away a takedown attempt from Riasco, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Evans.
Evans stuffs the takedown attempt from Riasco. Riasco gets slowly back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Riasco shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Evans as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Riasco shoots in but Evans avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Evans looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Evans connects with a right hand. Riasco shakes it off.
Evans defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Riasco.
Evans appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Evans punishes Riasco's body with a nice straight punch.
Evans throws a jab but it's blocked by Riasco.
Evans leaves Riasco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Evans fires out a quick counter leg kick but Riasco just manages to avoid it.
Nick Evans 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.
Riasco blocks the body kick.
Nick Evans is winning the standup battle so far.
Riasco shoots in but Evans avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riasco shoots for a double leg takedown but Evans sprawls well. He's pushed Riasco's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Riasco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Riasco has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Evans attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Evans misses with a head kick.
Santiago Riasco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Evans pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Riasco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Evans swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Evans stuffs the takedown attempt from Riasco. Riasco gets slowly back to his feet.
Riasco is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riasco moves out of range of the leg kick from Evans.
Riasco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Evans sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Riasco on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Evans. Evans obviously looking to wear him down.
An inside leg kick from Evans misses.
Riasco tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Evans goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Riasco takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Evans scores with a kick to the body.
Evans goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Riasco takes one to the side of the head.
Evans with a body punch. A glancing blow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riasco shoots in for a takedown but Evans shows good takedown defense.
Evans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Riasco can do to turn this around?
Riasco looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Evans ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Evans defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Riasco.
Evans is looking to counter with a body kick.
Evans throws a leg kick which misses Riasco's front leg but catches the back leg as Riasco tries to avoid it.
Evans stuffs the takedown attempt from Riasco. Riasco gets slowly back to his feet.
Riasco takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riasco blocks a head kick by Evans.
Evans throws a shot to the body.
Evans thuds a left hand into Riasco's body.
Evans connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Riasco takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Riasco on the wrong end of a kick 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!
Evans is looking to land body kicks.
Evans throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Evans lands with a nice body punch.
A head kick misses from Evans.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Evans dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Evans throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Riasco counters with a takedown into side control.

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 working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Evans stops Riasco from passing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Evans wants to control but Riasco postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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 thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Evans struggling a bit here.

Riasco looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Nick Evans is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Evans tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Riasco wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Riasco is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Evans has escaped the position, nice work there.
Evans struggling a bit here.
Riasco tries to advance to mount but Evans denies him.
Santiago Riasco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evans struggling a bit here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Riasco blocks a head kick by Evans.
Riasco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Riasco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Evans circles away.
Evans scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Evans lands with a slapping head kick.
Evans moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Evans looks to land a body kick but Riasco moved away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riasco shoots for a takedown but Evans saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nick Evans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Santiago Riasco.
Riasco tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Evans defends well and Riasco ends up having to push Evans into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Evans was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Riasco takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Evans lands with a kick to the ribs.
Nice takedown defense from Evans. No joy for Riasco on that attempt.
Evans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Evans throws a head kick that misses.
And Riasco tries to counter it with a takedown but Evans pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Evans connects with a high kick.
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 crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Evans throws a nice outside leg kick.
Evans leaves Riasco with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Evans showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Evans, 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:26
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Evans!
A very excited looking Nick Evans made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.