PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Duane Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lambis Kobelikos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lambis Kobelikos is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Lara
vs
Kobelikos

165 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 4 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Duane Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Lambis Kobelikos!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Ron Honeybunn and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Lara. No joy for Kobelikos on that attempt.
Lara shoots in and drives through. Kobelikos sprawls well.
Lara tries to clinch but Kobelikos moves away
and Kobelikos makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A head kick misses from Lara.
A head kick misses from Lara.
Lara checks a low kick from Kobelikos.
Lara really is a fat lump.
Kobelikos pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kobelikos forces Lara back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lara tries a body shot but Kobelikos blocks it.
Lara is trying to stall.
Lara trying to land knees to the body.

Lara drags the fight down to the ground.
Lara is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kobelikos stops Lara from standing up.
Lara controls Kobelikos momentarily but Kobelikos frees himself.
Kobelikos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lara has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Kobelikos closes the distance and clinches.
Lara is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Lara pulls guard successfully.
Lara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kobelikos stays in close to Lara's body and controls the position.

Lara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kobelikos defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lara throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lara is breathing heavily.
Lara throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Lara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kobelikos defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lara preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kobelikos looks to land a combination but Lara avoids it well.
Kobelikos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lara wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kobelikos avoids the head kick by Lara.
Kobelikos unleashes a big counter combination but Lara bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lara takes one to the side of the head.
Kobelikos shoots in and drives through. Lara sprawls well.
Duane Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lambis Kobelikos.
Lara misses with a takedown attempt
and Kobelikos counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lambis Kobelikos will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kobelikos pushes Lara up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kobelikos creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Duane Lara has been cut.
Lara is struggling to control the position.
Lara stops a takedown attempt from Kobelikos.
Lara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kobelikos in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Kobelikos decides to pull guard.
Lara trying to control the position from guard on top but Kobelikos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lara stands up and waves to Kobelikos to follow him.
Lambis Kobelikos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lara pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Lara gets the takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lara stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kobelikos gets caught flat footed, as Lara shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lara stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Lara throws a nice head kick!
Lara fails to land the takedown.
Lara tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kobelikos counters with a one-two to the body.
Lara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kobelikos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lara wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lara checks a leg kick.
Lara tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kobelikos paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kobelikos looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lara is fending him off so far but Kobelikos persists. Nope, Lara circles away and we're back to standing.
Lara is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kobelikos.
Duane Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lambis Kobelikos.
Lara throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Duane Lara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kobelikos with a lazy takedown attempt

and Lara counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Lara struggles to land a body shot inside as Kobelikos controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lara jumps guard but Kobelikos stands there with Lara around his waist. Lara gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lara is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kobelikos to keep the fight standing.
Kobelikos changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lara fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lara swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lara throws a head kick that misses.
Kobelikos shoots in and drives through. Lara sprawls well.
Lara throws a head kick but Kobelikos moves out of range.

Lara moves into range and clinches up with Kobelikos.
Kobelikos is working Lara over against the cage.
Kobelikos has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Lara seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Kobelikos can turn it around.
Lara tries to stall but Kobelikos uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kobelikos jumps guard.
Kobelikos is trying to control the position but Lara postures up.

Lara stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Kobelikos tries to keep at a distance but Lara has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kobelikos wants to break the clinch but can't.
Stalling in the clinch from Lara.
Kobelikos has Lara pressed against the cage, preventing Lara from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lara is pressed up against the cage. Kobelikos has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Lara down to the mat. Lara avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kobelikos avoids the head kick by Lara.
Nice sprawl there from Lara as Kobelikos shoots in.

Lara looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kobelikos!

Kobelikos explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duane Lara dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Duane Lara's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lara displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kobelikos.
As Kobelikos looks to move away, Lara throws a big counter combo but Kobelikos just gets out of the way.

Lara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Lara tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kobelikos smiles and moves away.
Lara misses with a head kick.
Lara tries a head kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kobelikos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lara defends well and Kobelikos ends up having to push Lara into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lara throws a head kick that misses.
Lara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lara tries a head kick but it misses.
And Kobelikos tries to counter it with a takedown but Lara pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Duane Lara is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kobelikos shoots in but no luck this time.
Duane Lara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lambis Kobelikos.

Kobelikos moves into range and clinches up with Lara.
Kobelikos prevents a body shot from Lara.
Lara tries to pull guard but Kobelikos won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lara.
Lara trying to land knees to the body.

Kobelikos drags the fight down to the ground.

Kobelikos working for a triangle but Lara defends it easily.
Kobelikos working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kobelikos has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Lara off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Lara throws a head kick but Kobelikos moves out of range.
Lara throws a head kick but Kobelikos moves out of range.
Kobelikos goes for a double leg but Lara avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lara continues to drive forward.
Lara tries to clinch but Kobelikos is having none of it.

Kobelikos has closed the distance and engaged Lara in a clinch.
Duane Lara has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lara looking to slow down the pace here.
Lara is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kobelikos is keeping busy.
Lara can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Lara tries to stall but Kobelikos uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Kobelikos.
Kobelikos has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kobelikos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lara smiles and moves away.
Lara tries to clinch up.
Nice sprawl there from Lara as Kobelikos shoots in.
Lara tries to counter by clinching up but Kobelikos breaks away and moves out of range.
Lara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kobelikos swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kobelikos throws a counter combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kobelikos.
Lara tries to counter by clinching up but Kobelikos breaks away and moves out of range.

Lara clinches up with Kobelikos and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lara tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lara stalling.
Kobelikos is trying to break the clinch but Lara has him pressed against the cage.

Kobelikos gets control of Lara's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kobelikos will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Lara decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Lara shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kobelikos eats them both and turns towards Lara to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Nice takedown defense from Lara. No joy for Kobelikos on that attempt.

Lara clinches up against the cage.
Lara has Kobelikos pressed against the cage.
Kobelikos being controlled against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Duane Lara.
I think Lara has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Duane Lara!