Bobby Green and Erik Koch brought the excitement in the UFC Charlotte featured prelim, exchanging hard strikes for 15 minutes.
Bobby Green is an entertaining striker who made his presence known at lightweight with four straight wins to start his UFC career. Green has yet to win since his 2014 split decision against Josh Thomson, going 0-3-1 in his recent contests.
Erik Koch is more injured than not, fighting twice since 2014. Koch is 4-4 in the UFC with three stoppages including a knockout against top contender Raphael Assuncao. Koch was thoroughly beat by the wrestling of Clay Guida in his last appearance.
Erik Koch landed a hard body kick to start the fight, then Bobby Green went to the body with a combination. Koch landed a hard left over the top that sent Green backward. Another one-two landed for Koch then Green answered with a two-punch combination of his own. Green clinched up with Koch but Koch reversed position and took him down.
Koch began to work in half guard and established an arm triangle position, but let it go then postured up and landed a series of hard elbows. The elbows forced Green to turn around and Koch took his back. Green spun again and Koch was back in half guard. Green escaped then landed a hard combination after a head kick to end the round.
A body kick from Koch started the round, then a brief clinch. A nice leg kick landed for Green as Koch pumped his jab. Green landed a jab of his own then a body kick, to which Koch responded with a kick to the body. A short right hand landed for Koch, then a body kick by Green.
Green pushed Koch to the fence but that was short lived as Koch escaped to his right. The combinations from Koch continued, then another clinch. Green landed a right on the exit. Koch slipped a punch then landed a left. Green landed a body kick that was answered by a hard left hand. Green slipped a pair of jabs from Koch and another brief clinch occurred. A left hand at the end of a combination landed for Green.
The fighters immediately exchanged to start the final round with Green landing a hard right hand. Green pushed forward into a clinch behind his jabs. Green was landing with ease and taunting Koch on his way in.
Clinch, jab, repeat was the formula for Green. He then took Koch down right into side control and began working on ground and pound. Koch reversed position and had top control briefly before Green swept Koch. Green continued to strike Koch to the final bell, posturing up at the end to land some heavy blows before the end of the fight.
Bobby Green def. Erik Koch by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
