PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kendrick Carroll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ding Ling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Carroll
vs
Ling

183 cm
19
193 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
24
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kendrick Carroll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ding Ling!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Carroll.
Ding Ling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ling clinches with his opponent.

Ling breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ling drives through with a takedown into Carroll's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Carroll is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ling presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Carroll will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ling up against the cage.
Ling prevents a body shot from Carroll.
Carroll looking to throw knees to the head but Ling is blocking nicely.
Carroll jumps guard but Ling stands there with Carroll around his waist. Carroll gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Ling manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carroll bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Ling throws Carroll to one side and escapes!
Ling tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Carroll manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ling fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Carroll, pushing him back against the cage.
Ling leaning his opponent against the cage.
Carroll stalling against the cage.

Ling breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Carroll gets caught napping as Ling dives in and scores a takedown. Carroll manages to retain guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ling would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ling stands up and waves to Carroll to follow him.

Ling moves into the clinch.
Carroll tries to pull guard but Ling holds him up against the cage and eventually Carroll drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendrick Carroll. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carroll is pushing Ling up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Ling breaks from the clinch.

Ling forces Carroll back against the cage and clinches.
Carroll fails to pull guard.

Ling escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ling looking to score a takedown here. Carroll is defending well but Ling drives through and ends up in Carroll's guard.
Ling trying to stand up but can't free himself from Carroll's guard.
Ling wants to stand and escape but instead Carroll has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ling is controlling Carroll's posture.
Ling working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Carroll.
Ling has control of Carroll's left arm, preventing Carroll from doing any damage.
Carroll throws a strike but Ling rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ling stands up and waves to Carroll to follow him.
Ling tries to clinch there but Carroll circles away.

Ling shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Carroll kicks Ling off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ding Ling dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Carroll swats away the attempt to clinch by Ling.
Carroll went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Ling gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Carroll is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ling is defending well.

Carroll has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Ling uses from the top position.
Ling throws a big elbow that misses.

Ling gets to his feet. Carroll looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ling drives through and clinches with Carroll against the cage.

Ling lands a takedown into guard.
Ling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ling gets to his feet. Carroll looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ling gets a takedown into half guard.
Carroll moves into full guard.
Carroll trying to keep a closed guard but Ling is proving a slippery customer.
Carroll is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carroll is trying to control the position but Ling postures up.
Carroll tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Ling gets to his feet - Carroll follows without any prompting.
Ling tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ling has closed the distance and engaged Carroll in a clinch.
Carroll fails to pull guard.

Ling escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ling gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Carroll to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ling has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Carroll off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Carroll gets caught napping as Ling dives in and scores a takedown. Carroll manages to retain guard.
Ling cracks Carroll with a solid left hand.
Ling would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Ling decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Carroll slips a jab and a cross from Ling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ling clinches up with Carroll and pushes him back against the cage.
Carroll jumps guard but Ling turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kendrick Carroll. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ling breaks from the clinch.

Ling closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Carroll's guard.

Ling gets to his feet. Carroll looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Carroll gets tackled into the cage by Ling. Ling maintains the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ling breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ling looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ding Ling showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ling shoots in and gets a takedown into Carroll's guard.
Carroll wants to improve his position but instead Ling has moved into half guard.

Ling decides to stand and escape the position.
Ling throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ling closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Carroll quickly recovers to half guard.

Ling stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Carroll to get to his feet.

Carroll gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ling is looking to escape.
Carroll seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ling does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Carroll scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ling works his way to full guard. Good work.
Carroll in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ling is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ling wants to stand up but Carroll is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ling takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Carroll trying to control but Ling is working from the bottom.
Ling is pulling down on Carroll's head. It's preventing any offense from Carroll, at least for the moment.
Carroll lands a couple of elbows.
Carroll won't allow Ling to sweep him here.
Carroll postures up in Ling's guard and throws a big left but Ling blocks it.
Ling seems keen to control Carroll's posture.
Carroll wants to control from the top but Ling keeps moving.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ding Ling has got the better of the ground game so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Ling clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carroll tries to pull guard but Ling won't allow it.

Ling breaks the clinch.
Carroll keeps the fight on the outside.
Carroll went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ling tries to clinch up.
Carroll throws a big counter combination but Ling scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kendrick Carroll is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ling tries to clinch up.

Ling decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Ling is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Carroll desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ling trying to control from Carroll's half guard. Carroll has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Carroll is working an open guard so Ling takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ding Ling comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ling 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ding Ling!
Ding Ling took some time post fight to say the following; 'Thanks for my coach and i need to rest...'.