The seven-inch height difference is just wild to look at. Caballero sticks a long right in just after the opening bell, and that's going to keep Lacierva in a lot of trouble. Lacierva lunges in with a big left hook to the jaw, which is crazy. Really awkward fight for the first minute and a half. Lacierva is really controlling the action, which I did not expect. Caballero's height is great, but it's actually a disadvantage so far. A gutsy guy with some pop can give him trouble, and that's what's happening so far. Lacierva is totally frustrating Caballero, to the point where Celestino throws two blatant shots to the back of the head at the end of the round.

Lacierva 10-9

Caballero comes with chopping right hands, but neither land clean. Lacierva sticks Caballero with a right after Caballero forearms him away a little bit, then Caballero throws and misses two embarrassingly wild right hooks.

Lacierva 10-9
Lacierva 20-18

HUGE overhand right from Lacierva. Caballero is thrwoing big shots, but missing. Holy shit, Lacierva just hit him from behind the back. This fight is bizarre.

Lacierva is fighting way above expectations, Caballero way below. This is a barroom brawl -- like, a real barroom brawl. Lots of punches missing, tempers flaring, ugly action.

Lacierva pushes Caballero at the bell.

Lacierva 10-9
Lacierva 30-27

Nice long jab from Caballero after another half a round where I'd score for the challenger. Right and then a fast four-punch combo from Lacierva. Big right to the head from Lacierva. Caballero is killing himself as much as Lacierva is beating him. Left uppercut from Caballero, right to the body. Overhand right from Caballero, who has fought himself back into this round. Bell sounds before he can win it, though.

Lacierva 10-9
Lacierva 40-36

Caballero was holding the arm, Cole let it go, and Lacierva just starts firing away on him. Then Caballero is elbowing him and shit. This fight is dirty as all hell.

Lacierva with a right-left, then a left hook. Man, there's more dirty fighting. I just don't know what the hell to make of this fight, but I can damn sure say this ain't no sweet science.

Fighting after the bell.

Lacierva 10-9
Lacierva 50-45

Caballero misses a punch with Lacierva's back turned. Caballero is a total dick, man. And he's not even near the level of either of the main eventers.

Caballero is starting to land clean shots, long straight punches. Lacierva very obviously headbutts the hell out of Caballero, and there goes a point. This is some kind of brawl.

This might've been Caballero's best round, but it was definitely Lacierva's worst, plus the point got taken.

Caballero 10-8
Lacierva 58-55

Lacierva decks him with a huge lunging right. It's hard to say if either guy is getting hurt, because it wouldn't really appear so. Hard body shot from Caballero.

Hard right upstairs from Lacierva, and Caballero is whining about something while getting destroyed by Lacierva. Caballero is turning his back over and over and then complaining.

Now Caballero is bringing it. They stumble and hold and punch until the bell. This is some kind of something.

Caballero 10-9, close round
Lacierva 67-65

I don't know WHAT Caballero is doing. He's turning, moving in awkward angles, and getting caught repeatedly. If he had fought to his reach and height, he'd be winning, or it might be over.

Caballero IS now fighting with his jab, boxing a lot, and controlling the action, neutralizing Lacierva.

We do have a close fight now, and Caballero could well be ahead on the official cards.

Caballero 10-9
Lacierva 76-75

Albert thinks Caballero is way behind, too. This sounds like a case of guys getting a little too excited about a surprising performance. He hasn't dominated.

And, again, I think Caballero is winning this round. Now Lacierva catches him with two good shots. Lacierva starts swinging, and he's trying to steal the round. Caballero is warned for pushing Lacierva's head down.

Caballero 10-9
85-85 heading into the championship rounds

Cole tries to break up a hold, and Lacierva is shoved down. Cole warns him AGAIN. Oh, but it's his last one. Why not take a point for this shit? He's been warned several times for several offenses.

Caballero with a big uppercut. Now it's just wrestling, basically. Crappy, standing wrestling. Lacierva is getting hurt this round, and I think he's hit the wall. Caballero has taken over in this fight, despite all the bullshit.

This has now gone beyond "ugly but entertaining" and into "ugly and shitty."

Caballero 10-9
Caballero 95-94

Now they're trading. It's sloppy, but it beats the clinching. I think Caballero just kicked at him? What the hell.

By the way, this is not a star-making performance for Caballero.

The logos in the ring are slippery as all hell. That was Caballero's second slip, and Lacierva had one earlier, too.

Lacierva with a hook inside, but he's out of the fight now. Caballero is dictating the pace and the action, and all the momentum is his. Jab, jab, slapping rights, uppercuts, and Lacierva can't work in.

Caballero 10-9
Caballero 105-103

Lots of holding. Lacierva eats a nice uppercut, then slips trying to come back in. He might've gotten floored there if he hadn't, so that might be helpful.

This'll be interesting on the cards, huh? Fun fight. Not a good one, but fun.

Lacierva 10-9
Caballero 114-113

UNANIMOUS DECISION FOR CELESTINO CABALLERO

Steve bitches. I don't know, man. I'm not too upset. Some people aren't going to be impressed by Laciera's style, and frankly, I think Lacierva really hurt him maybe two times, tops. Lots of lunging and punching.

Caballero accuses Lacierva of being a dirty fighter. He didn't start the fire.

Feeling-out process to start, both guys trying to establish the jab on their way inside, and now they're getting ready in the center. Straight to the nose from Marquez, Vazquez shimmies and sends Marquez back with a left hook. Uppercut from Marquez, Vazquez with a flurry, and Marquez comes right back at him. No holding, all boxing.

Marquez is clearly quicker, which we found out last time. Both guys are fighting and working, as expected. Vazquez has some swelling near the temple already. Marquez with some nice body work, and then he catches him with a thunderous left hook.

Marquez 10-9

Marquez working the jab, Vazquez trying to do the same, but his just isn't as good. As Al says, though, all Vazquez needs is to have it good enough to get him inside to use his hook. Marquez with a borderline low blow, quick warning from Guadalupe Garcia.

This is a world of difference after that mess of an opening bout.

Vazquez is being kept at bay so far for the most part. Marquez with a left hook. Misses a second try. Vazquez with a nasty left hook, followed with a stinging right, and Marquez throws triple jabs. Another left hook from Vazquez. This is a hell of a fight already.

Vazquez 10-9
19-19

Marquez with a left upstairs, and he looks like he's gotten his legs back. This is a brawl now.

Marquez is throwing huge, heavy shots, but Vazquez is firing back. Exactly what you'd expect. Huge uppercut from Vazquez, and Marquez is hurt again. HERE COMES MARQUEZ AGAIN.

Vazquez has a nasty cut over his left eye. This is war. Now it appears as though his right eye is cut, too.

MARQUEZ WITH RIGHTS AND LEFTS. Vazquez is staggered! WOO.

Marquez is just letting it go, but Vazquez's legs are back. This is two warriors moving forward and refusing to stop fighting. I think Marquez is cut, too.

If this goes the full 12, I'll fucking eat my hat.

Vazquez 10-9
Vazquez 29-28

HUGE shot from Vazquez. Marquez digs to the body to come back. Marquez eats an awesome uppercut, and Marquez's legs look bad. Marquez with a sick hook to the body.

Vazquez is all power shots now, and Marquez has been goaded into Vazquez's fight. Marquez is now going back to the jab, which is very wise.

This is ALL action. Throwing back and forth, both guys landing beautiful shots, both guys showing how great their chins are. More and more brutal shots.

MARQUEZ DRILLS HIM UPSTAIRS. Vazquez comes back! Marquez comes back! Good God almighty. Anyone disappointed? Bueller?

Marquez 10-9
38-38

Stiff jab from Vazquez as they pepper each other near the ropes, and they go back to the center of the ring. Vazquez comes up and under with a left hook, but it misses. Pace has slowed, but how in the hell couldn't it?

Vazquez with a beautiful combo to the head, and he knows that the cut is dangerous. Vazquez catches Marquez badly, but goes down on a slip.

They're back up and trading. They're just brawling again, but it's technically superior brawling. This is phenomenal.

10-10
48-48

VAZQUEZ WITH A HUGE LEFT HOOK -- MARQUEZ IS DOWN.

He's up, and we're fighting on!

Now Marquez has to survive the next two and a half minutes. Vazquez smells blood. He's out for the kill now. Marquez is fighting back on instinct. Vazquez with an uppercut and a hook, he's ALL OVER HIM. Marquez is still standing, which is amazing.

GARCIA STOPS IT -- VAZQUEZ WINS BY TKO!

Holy mother of pearl. If you're a fight fan and aren't on your feet for these two, you should question why you're watching. We've got ourselves a rivalry, and it's a damn great one.

Israel Vazquez TKO-6

We're getting a trilogy. They have to do it.