TUF Nations Finale results, photos: Mark Bocek takes split from Mike De La Torre

QUEBEC CITY – Mark Bocek outpointed short-notice newcomer Mike De La Torre, but got all he could handle over three rounds.

After getting rocked early, De La Torre fought back to draw Bocek into a bloody affair.

The lightweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s TUF Nations Finale event at Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of additional prelims and a main card on FOX Sports 1.

The final scores were 30-27 and 29-28 in favor of Bocek, with one judge awarding the first-time UFC fighter a 29-28 score.

Bocek might have stopped the fight early and added a clip for the highlight reel when he cracked De La Torre with a right hand early on. But rather than swing it out, the jiu-jitsu specialist pushed for a takedown. It was on the mat that he found the newcomer wasn’t easy to put away.

De La Torre executed a crafty throw that put him on top and soon returned to his feet, where he traded punches with the Canadian. Although Bocek repeatedly landed an overhand right, the damage he took featured more prominently on his face.

Bocek was forced to slug it out in the second when De La Torre repeatedly resisted his efforts to take the fight southward. On the feet, De La Torre made up for lost ground.

A big takedown opened the final frame for Bocek, whose face bled generously from cuts. But De La Torre was able to recover and again force a standup fight. Bocek ceded more points as De La Torre found his range, though he managed to hop on his opponent’s back and threaten a choke with seconds left on the clock.

Bocek (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) gets back on the winning track after a decision loss to Rafael Dos Anjos in his previous outing, while De La Torre (12-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) sees a three-fight regional streak snapped.

Up-to-the-minute TUF Nations Finale results include:

• Mark Bocek def. Mike De La Torre via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Nordine Taleb def. Vik Grujic via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Richard Walsh def. Chris Indich via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Mitch Gagnon def. Tim Gorman via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

For complete coverage of the TUF Nations Finale, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

Mike Bohn contributed to this report on-site in Quebec City.