Rafa Garcia vs. Jared Gordon round-by-round updates: Noche UFC: Rafa Garcia vs. Jared Gordon: Live round-by-round updates

Noche UFC features a solid lightweight clash as Rafa Garcia takes on Jared Gordon.

Garcia has earned his reputation as a gritty fighter who never backs down. After a rough start to his UFC career with two losses, he’s gone 5-2 in his last seven fights. His win over Vinc Pichel earlier this year was impressive, considering he mixed steady pressure, crisp combinations, and clinch work.

Gordon arrives with momentum and a chip on his shoulder. Years of close decisions and near-misses have tested him, but his first-round knockout win against Thiago Moises in May finally shifted the narrative. Known as one of the division’s most underrated fighters, Gordon now wants to show he belongs in the upper tier.

Fans can catch Noche UFC live from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio on Saturday, September 13. The prelims begin at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT, followed by the main card at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT, streaming on ESPN+ in the United States.

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Round 1

Garcia opens up with inside leg kicks. Gordon gets inside with a two-punch combination. Both fighters trade calf kicks from a similar planted stance. Garcia lands with a short straight right hand. He fires with an inside leg kick that bothers Gordon. Uppercuts inside range from Garcia and Gordon fires back with quick punches. Garcia is looking sharp in the opening exchanges. Beautiful two-punch combination from Garcia and Gordon rolls with it. Gordon is pouring on the pressure in the closing minute, and Garcia immediately takes his opponent down. Gordon immediately gets back up, and they trade a few punches to close out an evenly contested round.

Our Score: 10-9 Garcia

Round 2

Garcia starts as the aggressor and sinks in a guillotine choke after Gordon shoots for a takedown. Garcia ends up in full mount as he tries to get some offense going. Both fighters start trading punches in volume as soon as they get back on their feet. They trade punches back and forth, and Gordon seems to be getting the better of the exchanges. Gordon is bloodied up, but he continues to throw hard shots. Garcia scores a takedown in the last second.

Our Score: 10-9 Gordon (19-19 overall)

Round 3

Gordon shoots for a takedown, and Garcia lands an elbow on the break. Garcia lands a clean elbow that hurts Gordon. Straight punches land for Garcia, and Gordon fires back. Strong right hand from Gordon. Short right check hook from Garcia drops Gordon, and he sinks in a rear-naked choke. He gives up on the position to land vicious elbows, and the referee steps in to close the fight.

Official Result

Rafa Garcia defeats Jared Gordon by TKO at the 2:27 mark of the third round.

About the author

Abhishek Ramadasan Nambiar is a journalist who covers MMA at Sportskeeda. As a long-time practitioner of various martial arts, seeing the fusion of different forms into a quest for the ultimate fighter felt both primal and profoundly technical. At Sportskeeda, Abhishek's primary goal is to offer a fresh and distinctive angle through his writing, aiming to provide readers with more than just the basics of MMA. Along with keeping them informed about the latest developments in the sport, he strives to offer valuable insights that enhance their understanding of MMA.

When not writing about MMA, Abhishek often spends time reviewing music or devouring Brian Evanson's and Blake Crouch's work. Sign up to receive news, regular updates, and exclusive coverage.

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