PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marc Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lysa Pala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pala is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kiara - Bonobo. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Lysa Pala enters the cage!

Garcia
vs
Pala

190 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
26
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marc Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lysa Pala!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia goes for a double leg but Pala avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pala continues to drive forward.
Garcia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pala drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Garcia defends it well.
Garcia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pala counters with a single leg into guard. Garcia didn't expect that.

Garcia looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Pala has picked Garcia up and slammed him! Garcia can't keep hold of the triangle and Pala manages to pass to side control!
Garcia is trying to get back to half guard.

Pala has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pala feints the counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pala is able to avoid easily.
Pala leaves Garcia with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Garcia tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pala defends well and Garcia ends up having to push Pala into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Garcia is looking to land body kicks.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
Garcia has his takedown stuffed

and Pala counters with a shoot takedown. Garcia fights it but they end up in guard.

Pala stands up and waves to Garcia to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garcia tries to clinch

and Pala counters with a nice double leg into side control. Garcia won't be happy with that.

Pala decides to stand up, so the ref orders Garcia to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garcia looks to land a combination but Pala avoids it well.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Garcia darts in looking for a takedown but Pala gets double underhooks and turns Garcia into the cage.
Pala stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pala wants it to stay on the feet.
Garcia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pala counters with a single leg into guard. Garcia didn't expect that.

Garcia is working an open guard so Pala takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but Pala shows good takedown defense.
Garcia throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Garcia moves to clinch but Pala breaks away

and Pala counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pala.

Pala decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Garcia closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pala counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Garcia working a defensive guard here.

Garcia is working an open guard so Pala takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Pala has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
A head kick by Garcia misses

and Pala counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Garcia has a closed guard, preventing Pala from standing up.

Garcia working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pala has passed into half guard!

Pala postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Garcia to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lysa Pala dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Garcia shoots for a double leg takedown but Pala sprawls well. He's pushed Garcia's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Garcia throws a push kick but Pala slaps the foot to one side.
Pala changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Pala circles away from the clinch attempt.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Garcia falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pala counters with a nice double leg into side control. Garcia won't be happy with that.

Pala stands up and beckons Garcia to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garcia tries for a takedown but Pala circles away easily

and Pala counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Garcia wants to stand and escape but Pala is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Pala wants to stand and escape but Garcia is having none of it.
Garcia trying to control but Pala is working from the bottom.
Pala wants to stand and escape but Garcia is having none of it.

Garcia postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Pala is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Garcia, into his guard.

Pala wants to stand but Garcia is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garcia throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Pala gets to his feet - Garcia follows without any prompting.
Garcia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Garcia bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Garcia has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia fails with the takedown

and Pala counters with a single leg into guard. Garcia didn't expect that.
Pala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Garcia. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Pala gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Garcia tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pala counters with a nice double leg into side control. Garcia won't be happy with that.

Pala stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Garcia closes the distance but Pala moves to the side

and Pala counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Garcia!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Garcia struggling a bit here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pala decides to stand up, so the ref orders Garcia to his feet.
Garcia has a takedown stuffed.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pala stuffs the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lysa Pala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Garcia falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pala counters with a shoot takedown. Garcia fights it but they end up in guard.
Garcia controls Pala momentarily but Pala frees himself.

Garcia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Garcia has a closed guard, preventing Pala from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia working a defensive guard here.
Pala won't allow Garcia to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Garcia tries to clinch up

so Pala counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pala stands up and waves to Garcia to follow him.
Garcia tries to clinch up.
Pala checks a leg kick nicely.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pala avoids the head kick by Garcia.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Pala slips a jab from Garcia.
Pala drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Garcia defends it well.
Garcia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pala with the counter takedown but Garcia avoids it easily.
Pala displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Garcia.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia misses with a head kick.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt.
Pala drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Garcia defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Garcia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garcia throws a combination that misses

and Pala counters with a takedown into side control.

Pala stands up.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lysa Pala seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garcia darts in trying to clinch

and Pala counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Pala stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Pala's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Garcia connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Pala scrambles back to his feet.
Pala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice takedown defense from Pala. No joy for Garcia on that attempt.
Garcia looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And Pala tries to counter it with a takedown but Garcia pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Marc Garcia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Garcia pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pala drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Garcia defends it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lysa Pala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pala has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 26:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lysa Pala!