PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alberto Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeffrey Goca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lara
vs
Goca

180 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

162 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alberto Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeffrey Goca!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goca wants to clinch up but Lara keeps it at a distance.
Lara connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lara shoots in and drives through. Goca sprawls well.
Lara misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Goca looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Goca swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lara takes the fight into the clinch.
Lara lands a body shot.
Goca has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lara avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Goca misses with a knee strike.
Goca tries to pull guard but Lara won't allow it.
Alberto Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeffrey Goca.
Goca jumps guard but Lara turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lara can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lara manages to pull guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Goca won't allow Lara to sweep him here.
Goca controls from within his opponent's guard.
Goca passes easily into side control. Nice work.
A lull in the action here.
Goca is looking to take a break and control but Lara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Goca working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Goca has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Goca controlling his opponent.

Goca has control of Lara's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lara regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goca throwing strikes here but Lara is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Goca looking to ground and pound but Lara is blocking nicely.
Goca putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Goca content just to control the position here.
BOOM! Goca connects with a massive shot to the dome!

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

Goca is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lara is surviving well by controlling Goca's body position as best he can.
Lara knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Goca on the ground.
Goca controlling from the full mount.
Goca trying to control but Lara is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeffrey Goca dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Goca fails with the takedown.
Lara with a lazy takedown attempt

and Goca counters by clinching up.
Lara wants to take the fight to the mat but Goca manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Lara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Goca pushes Lara up against the cage in a clinch.
Goca drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Lara breaks the clinch.
Goca throws a head kick that misses
and Lara counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Lara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Goca.
Alberto Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeffrey Goca.
Goca changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lara tries to avoid it but Goca manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lara to the ground. Lara escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Goca scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Goca is breathing heavily.
Goca wants to stand up but Lara is controlling the position.
Goca trying to control the action but Lara is working from the bottom.
Lara holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Goca is looking to take a break and control but Lara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Goca prevents Lara from standing back up.
Lara is staying active underneath Goca, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jeffrey Goca was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Lara blocks a head kick by Goca.
Danga de danga de dang - Lara scores with a four punch combination!
Goca tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lara swivels and escapes.
Goca takes a kick to the side of the head.
Lara feints and then cracks Goca's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Goca down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lara throws a nice head kick!

Lara darts in and clinches Goca up against the cage.
Lara has Goca pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Goca manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Goca wants to break free but Lara has control.
Goca drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lara gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Lara breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara stuffs the takedown.
Goca tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lara looks for a takedown but Goca sprawls well.

Goca shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lara's guard.
Lara wants to get back to his feet but Goca is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goca lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Goca missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lara really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Goca slows the pace down in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Goca's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jeffrey Goca will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Goca displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lara.
Goca throws a head kick that misses.
Goca fails in his attempt to clinch.
Goca shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lara defends it nicely.

Goca shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lara's guard.
Goca engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Goca wants to stand but Lara has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Jeffrey Goca has got the better of the ground game so far.
Goca takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goca is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lara looking for a sweep. Not yet Lara, not yet.
Goca working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goca cracks Lara with a solid left hand.

Goca drops back looking for a leg! Lara is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lara manages to kick Goca off! Goca jumps back into Lara's guard.
Goca tries to stand but Lara is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Goca trying to control the position from guard on top but Lara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lara will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Goca throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goca gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Goca looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Goca avoids the head kick by Lara.
Goca tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Goca shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lara pinned against the cage. Lara gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Goca paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Goca missing with a left hand there. Lara was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lara ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Lara there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goca is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lara sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Alberto Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeffrey Goca.
Lara fails with a takedown attempt.
Lara throws a combination. Goca tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Goca shoots in but no luck this time.
Goca displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lara.

Lara has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Goca as he avoids it easily.
Alberto Lara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeffrey Goca is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Goca misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lara.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeffrey Goca comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Goca winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeffrey Goca!