PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Helio Machado (ranked 4552 p4p, 24410 weight class) and Thomas Carden (ranked 440 p4p, 500 weight class). Carden has chosen Simple Man as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Thomas Carden was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Machado
vs
Carden

179 cm
24
154
2 - 2 - 0

174 cm
21
165
1 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Shadow Realm NYC

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Helio Machado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Carden!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Machado tries to clinch but Carden is having none of it.

Machado shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Carden's guard.
Machado wants to control from the top but Carden keeps moving.
Machado engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Carden really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Machado. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Machado advances to half guard.
Machado is looking to advance position but Carden won't allow it.
Carden is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Machado is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Machado is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Carden defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Machado is looking for a kimura but Carden is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Machado to get the leverage.
Carden tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Carden is defending against the submission attempts here by Machado.
Machado is trying to control the action in half guard but Carden is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Machado is looking for a kimura but Carden is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Machado to get the leverage.
Machado trying to control from half guard but Carden is working away.
Carden trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Carden is trying to get back to full guard.
Machado takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Machado is working for a submission of some sort.
Carden is trying to stand.

Machado is working for a submission of some sort.
Carden is trying to stand up here but Machado is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Machado is working for a kimura but Carden is defending it quite comfortably.
Carden trying to control but Machado postures up.
Carden tries to kick Machado off but Machado keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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

Carden clinches up with Machado and pushes him back against the cage.
Machado is working for takedown but Carden is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've been informed that Carden has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Machado wants to take the fight to the mat but Carden manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Carden stops a takedown attempt from Machado.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helio Machado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machado wants a takedown.
Carden stops a takedown attempt from Machado.
Carden misses with an elbow over the top.
Machado tries to score a body lock takedown but Carden shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Carden is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Machado is looking for a takedown.
Machado is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Machado is looking for a takedown.
A nice right hand lands inside from Carden.
A nice left hand lands by Carden.
Machado goes for a takedown attempt but Carden pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Machado ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Carden feints a jab promting Machado to slip. Carden then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Machado slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Machado seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Machado bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Machado shoots and misses
and Carden connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A jab from Carden misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Carden.
Carden dips to his left and cracks Machado with an uppercut!

Machado is rocked!
Machado shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Carden sprawls well. Carden wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Machado gets slowly back to his feet.
Carden swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Oh Machado is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Carden rushes Machado and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Carden is struggling to control the position.
Machado seems to have got his legs back now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Carden working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Carden dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Machado shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Machado moves into the clinch successfully.
Carden has Machado pushed against the cage.
Machado goes for a takedown attempt but Carden pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Machado looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Machado walks into a straight right hand from Carden.
Carden throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Machado wants to clinch
and Carden makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Machado tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Carden paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Carden looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Machado pushes Carden up against the cage in a clinch.
Machado looking for a takedown.
Carden prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Helio Machado. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Machado is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Carden gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice left hand lands by Carden.
Machado drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Carden has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machado is working for takedown but Carden is calmly controlling the position for now.
Machado tries to score a body lock takedown but Carden shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Carden is pressed up against the cage. Machado has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Carden down to the mat. Carden avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Carden throws a jab but it's blocked by Machado.
Carden misses with a body shot.
Machado shoots in and drives through. Carden sprawls well.
It seemed like Carden was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Thomas Carden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Carden lands with a cross.
Carden might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Carden dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Carden bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Carden lands a jab-cross combination.
Machado tries to clinch there but Carden circles away.
You can follow us on Twitter at...Ooooooh Machado got wobbled bad by a big combination! Carden presses forward with punches and knees until Machado stumbles to the ground! The ref watches Machado closely before deciding to step in and end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thomas Carden!
Thomas Carden was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.