PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raiymbek Batyr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santiago Riasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riasco has chosen The Mexakinz ft. Xzibit - The Wake Up Show as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Batyr
vs
Riasco

173 cm
22
134 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

162 cm
24
155 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raiymbek Batyr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Santiago Riasco!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batyr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Batyr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Batyr seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Riasco closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Riasco lands in his opponent's guard.
Riasco trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Batyr keeping moving, preventing Riasco from controlling successfully.
Batyr wants to stand but Riasco is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Batyr trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Riasco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batyr is keeping the position for now.
Riasco slips nicely into half guard.
Batyr wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Riasco seems to be looking for submissions.
Batyr tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Riasco manages to move to mount!
Riasco won't let Batyr get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Batyr knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Riasco on the ground.

Riasco has hold of Batyr's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Batyr manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Batyr is trying to stand.

Riasco working for a submission but Batyr is keeping him at bay.
Batyr is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Riasco working for a submission but Batyr is keeping him at bay.
Batyr squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Riasco is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Batyr to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Batyr shrugs it off.
Riasco trying to control but Batyr is having none of it.

Riasco working for a submission but Batyr is keeping him at bay.
Batyr is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

Riasco looking to secure an arm triangle but Batyr defends it well.
Batyr wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Riasco working for a guillotine from mount but Batyr is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batyr is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Riasco working for a submission but Batyr is keeping him at bay.

Riasco has control of Batyr's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Batyr regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Batyr is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Riasco is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Batyr has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Riasco tries to control but Batyr wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Batyr's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Riasco is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Batyr to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Batyr shrugs it off.
Batyr is squirming around, avoiding Riasco's attempts to control the action.
Batyr wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

Riasco working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Batyr tries to buck Riasco off but he can't manage it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Riasco looking for a guillotine from mount but Batyr is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Batyr is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Riasco dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

No luck for Riasco with that takedown attempt.
Riasco shoots in and drives through. Batyr sprawls well.
Batyr misses with a wild combination.
Batyr chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Batyr throws a head kick that misses.
Raiymbek Batyr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Batyr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Riasco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Riasco shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Batyr pinned against the cage. Batyr gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Raiymbek Batyr 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 manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Batyr on his heels. He'll look to pass Batyr's guard now, I'm sure.
Riasco won't allow Batyr to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riasco wants to control from the top but Batyr keeps moving.
Riasco looking to pass the guard.
Santiago Riasco has got the better of the ground game so far.
Batyr wants to stand and escape but Riasco is having none of it.
Batyr is looking to stand back up but Riasco counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Batyr.
Riasco is keen to just control but Batyr is a slippery customer.

Riasco is working for a kimura but Batyr is defending it quite comfortably.
Batyr pushes Riasco off looking to stand but Riasco dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Riasco 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.
Batyr wants to get back to his feet.
Riasco is pressing down on Batyr's thigh, looking to free his foot. Batyr is holding on for now.
Batyr is trying to stand back up but Riasco is controlling him

Batyr makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Riasco drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Riasco is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Riasco won't allow Batyr to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batyr keeping full guard, as Riasco tries to pass.
Riasco wants to control from the top but Batyr keeps moving.
Batyr wants to stand and escape but Riasco is having none of it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Riasco wants to control from the top but Batyr keeps moving.

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

Oooh a lovely combination from Batyr sends Riasco down but not out. Batyr dives into side control looking to finish.

Riasco is rocked!
Riasco sneaks back into half guard.
Batyr tries to pass to full mount but Riasco defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Riasco looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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!
Batyr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Riasco controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Riasco slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Batyr is posturing up here but Riasco has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Batyr tries to roll out but it's too tight and Batyr has to tap! Slick submission there by Riasco!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Santiago Riasco!
Santiago Riasco decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.