PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yawa Kiang (ranked 24976 p4p, 4285 weight class) and Thomas Carden (ranked 0 p4p, 426 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kiang
vs
Carden

182 cm
18
160
2 - 8 - 0

174 cm
20
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Yawa Kiang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Carden!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carden throws a combination that misses

and Kiang counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kiang.
Carden looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Carden is looking to stand up but Kiang isn't so interested in that idea.
Kiang being controlled here momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Carden is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carden wants to take the fight to the mat but Kiang manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Carden is trying to trip Kiang. He has hold of a leg but Kiang is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Carden persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Carden decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Carden throws a right and a left that both miss.

Carden shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kiang's guard.
Carden content to stall in guard here.
Carden connects with a couple of short punches.
Carden working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Carden is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carden lands a couple of elbows.
Carden scoring with punches to the head and body.
Carden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kiang avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carden landing with the ground and pound.
Carden is looking to work some ground and pound but Kiang has wrist control.
Carden stays in close to Kiang's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Carden might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Carden trying to control the position from guard on top but Kiang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carden engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Carden is working Kiang over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Carden slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Carden rushes Kiang and presses him up against the cage.
Carden lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiang is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carden gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Carden drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Carden has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kiang uses from the top position.
Carden has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Carden lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Carden dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Carden rushes Kiang and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Carden wants a takedown.

Carden manages to pull guard.
Kiang wants to control from the top but Carden keeps moving.
Carden has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kiang has passed into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carden tries to bench press Kiang off him but Kiang keeps the position.
Carden is trying to control Kiang's posture but Kiang avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carden tries to escape but Kiang is in control.
Carden manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kiang's best efforts.
Kiang is trying to control. Carden wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Carden can do anything to dispel that myth.
Carden wants to get back to his feet.
Carden tries to get to full guard but Kiang has control of the leg.
Carden is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kiang's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kiang's back!
Thomas Carden has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carden loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Kiang hold on?
Carden missing with punches from the back.
Carden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Carden looking for the choke from the back.
Kiang trying to control the hands but Carden won't let him.
Carden somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Carden controlling the positon.

Carden is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carden lands shots from the back.
Kiang wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Kiang taking shots to the head.
Carden lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kiang hang on?
Carden fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Carden raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carden thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Carden is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Carden landing strikes from the mount and Kiang is in trouble!
Carden with a couple of short strikes.

Kiang is rocked!
Carden lands with some strikes.
Oh Kiang is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Carden postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Kiang badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Carden around the waist but Carden pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Carden is the winner by TKO! Carden jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thomas Carden!