PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Riasco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Fadden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riasco comes to the cage accompanied by The Mexakinz ft. Xzibit - The Wake Up Show. Fadden is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Judgement Night by ONYX & BIOHAZARD . The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Riasco
vs
Fadden

162 cm
26
165 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

170 cm
32
168 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 17 - 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 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Fadden!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fadden throws a poor cross that misses

and Riasco counters with a shoot takedown. Fadden fights it but they end up in guard.
Riasco trying to control the position from guard on top but Fadden is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fadden has his hands on Riasco's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Riasco stays in close to Fadden's body and controls the position.
Riasco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fadden is keeping the position for now.
Riasco is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Fadden working for a triangle but Riasco defends it easily.

Fadden pushes Riasco off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riasco avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Fadden looks to land a combination but Riasco avoids it well.
Fadden defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Riasco.
Riasco walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Nice combo by Fadden! Oh, that's hurt him - Riasco falls to the canvas and Fadden follows him into side control.

Riasco is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Riasco is looking to reverse the position.
Riasco prevents Fadden from improving position.
We've been hearing good reports from Riasco's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Riasco is looking to reverse the position.
Riasco manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Riasco is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Riasco working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riasco trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Riasco moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Fadden has worked his arm free - good work by Fadden!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fadden can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fadden tries to improve position but can't.

Riasco is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Fadden knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Riasco thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fadden is trying to get back to half guard.

Riasco swings around for an armbar but Fadden sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Riasco's guard.

Riasco is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Fadden is aware though and is defending well.

Riasco working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Fadden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Fadden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Riasco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Fadden is pushing down on Riasco's leg trying to pass to half guard. Riasco is fighting to maintain full guard but Fadden has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Riasco is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fadden's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fadden's back!

Riasco is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Fadden trying to control the hands but Riasco won't let him.
Fadden prevents Riasco from getting a body triangle.

Fadden manages to stand up with Riasco still on his back. Eventually Riasco drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fadden looks to land a left hand but Riasco moved out of range nicely.
Fadden connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fadden catches Riasco with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Riasco gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fadden dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fadden connects with a nice looking jab.
Fadden has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Fadden lands a left and a right that sends Riasco crashing to the canvas! Fadden dives into mount looking to finish!
Oh Riasco is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Riasco is looking to improve his position but Fadden isn't that keen on the idea.
Fadden sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Riasco seems to have got his legs back now.
Riasco working to try and regain half guard.
Fadden avoids the attempt from Riasco to control.
Fadden raining down shots from the mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fadden controlling the position easily from mount.
Fadden really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Riasco. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Riasco tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Fadden has hold of Riasco's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Riasco manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Riasco is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fadden sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Riasco manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Riasco slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Riasco is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Fadden looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Riasco isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Fadden stacks Riasco on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Fadden!

Fadden wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Riasco, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Riasco tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fadden remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Fadden tries to stand but Riasco is controlling his head.
Riasco regains half guard.

Riasco looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Fadden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Riasco keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Riasco regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fadden slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Riasco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fadden gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fadden wants to get up but he can't break Riasco's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Fadden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Riasco is defended easily by Fadden.

Fadden closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Riasco's guard.
Fadden tries to stand but Riasco is controlling from the bottom.
Fadden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Riasco has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fadden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Riasco had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fadden defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fadden is looking to advance position but Riasco has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Riasco can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fadden is looking to escape.

Riasco goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Fadden turns into him and now he's in Riasco's guard.
Riasco keeping full guard, as Fadden tries to pass.

Fadden got a little sloppy there for a moment and Riasco has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fadden has managed to get both his arms back between Riasco's legs - danger averted.

Riasco looking for a triangle here. Fadden is fighting it but it looks tight! Riasco pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Fadden is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Santiago Riasco!
A very excited looking Santiago Riasco 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.