PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Carden (ranked 1798 p4p, 2750 weight class) and Nick Mullen (ranked 234 p4p, 324 weight class). Carden comes to the cage accompanied by Simple Man. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Carden
vs
Mullen

174 cm
23
165
6 - 5 - 0

184 cm
21
165
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

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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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Carden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nick Mullen!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carden throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carden throws an overhand right that lands on Mullen's shoulder, as Mullen tries to avoid the shot.
Nice defenses there by Mullen.
Mullen with the counter takedown but Carden avoids it easily.
Mullen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Carden fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mullen walks into a jab.
Carden scores with a hook.
Carden connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mullen's hands.
Mullen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
And Mullen tries to counter it with a takedown but Carden pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mullen shoots in for a double leg but Carden sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mullen shoots in for a takedown but Carden shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A little feinted left hand from Carden on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Thomas Carden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Mullen.
Mullen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Carden sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Carden moves into the clinch successfully.
Carden lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mullen backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen working aggressively here.
Carden scores with a nice hook to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Carden as Mullen tries to tie him up.
A shot in the inside from Carden.
Mullen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Mullen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Carden with a knee to the head.
Mullen throws a punch but it's blocked by Carden.
Still in the clinch, Carden scores with a nice short uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Carden.
Carden is leaning against Mullen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Carden lands with a light punch inside.
A short right from Carden on the inside.

Mullen has picked Carden up - he's going for a ride! Mullen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carden is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mullen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Carden gets back to full guard.
Mullen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mullen wants to pass the guard but Carden is keeping the position.
Carden looking for a sweep. Not yet Carden, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mullen postures up.
Carden manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mullen manages to get himself to full guard.

Carden has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen is trying to control the position but Carden postures up.
Carden is in close to Mullen's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Mullen working for a triangle but Carden defends it easily.
Carden works over Mullen with some ground and pound from guard.
Mullen trying to keep a closed guard but Carden is proving a slippery customer.
Mullen wants to sweep but no luck.
Carden stands up over Mullen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mullen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Mullen working for a triangle but Carden defends it easily.

Mullen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Carden postures up in Mullen's guard and throws a big left but Mullen blocks it.
Mullen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carden's guard.

Mullen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Carden looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Carden looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Carden!

Mullen is trying to control Carden's posture but Carden avoids it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Carden dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Carden shoots in looking for a takedown. Mullen tries to sprawl out of it but Carden keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mullen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Thomas Carden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carden moves into range and connects with a jab.
Mullen closes the distance and clinches up with Carden, looking for a takedown. Mullen pushes Carden against the cage but Carden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mullen tries to move into range but Carden moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Carden throws a big shot that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mullen is defended easily by Carden.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carden throws a body shot but no joy.
Carden keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Thomas Carden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Mullen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen closes the distance and clinches up with Carden, looking for a takedown. Mullen pushes Carden against the cage but Carden circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Mullen moves into the clinch.
Carden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mullen can do to turn this around?
A short right hand to the side of the head by Carden.
Mullen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carden's elbow.
A nice left hand lands by Carden.
Mullen stalling in the clinch.
Carden makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carden effectively controlling the action here.
Carden gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mullen.
Mullen misses with a punch on the inside.
Carden scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Carden makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carden cracks Mullen with a nice body shot.

Carden is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mullen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Carden to the mat. Carden regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mullen controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carden is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nick Mullen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mullen looking for submissions off his back.
Carden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Mullen taking some punishment here, with Carden in his half guard.

Mullen actively working from the bottom here.
Carden winds up and cracks Mullen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Carden takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carden winds up and cracks Mullen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Carden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mullen keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mullen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Carden works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mullen controlling the position for now.
Carden not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Carden winds up and cracks Mullen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Carden has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mullen wants to control but Carden is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Carden cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Carden with shots to the head and body - Mullen looks very uncomfortable down there.
Mullen is looking to get to half guard.
Mullen regains half guard.
Mullen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mullen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Carden throwing strikes but missing.

Mullen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Carden dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Carden lands with a good body shot.
Carden throws a right and a left that both miss.
Thomas Carden is winning the standup battle so far.
Carden misses with an uppercut. Mullen saw that one coming.

Mullen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Carden!
Mullen taking a break here but Carden is having none of it and regains half guard.
Mullen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Carden's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carden is refusing to be controlled, as Mullen sits in half guard.
Mullen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Carden knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mullen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mullen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Mullen dominating with strikes here.
Mullen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Carden keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Mullen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Carden is looking to escape.
Mullen lands a heavy elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carden wants to control but Mullen is having none of it.
Carden is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Mullen trying to control but Carden is having none of it.
Carden can't escape the position.
Mullen unloading with bombs!
Carden is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mullen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Nick Mullen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mullen controlling the pace for now.
Mullen wants to control the pace but Carden is squirming around nicely.
Mullen prevents Carden from getting the reversal.
Mullen throwing strikes here but Carden is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Mullen is trying to control here but Carden has managed to regain half guard.
Carden is refusing to be controlled, as Mullen sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mullen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Carden haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Carden holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Mullen moves nicely into side control.
An elbow from Mullen crashes against the mat.

Mullen swings around for an armbar but Carden sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mullen's guard.

Mullen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Carden doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Carden manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Carden's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Thomas Carden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mullen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Carden is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Mullen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Carden has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Carden!
As Thomas Carden got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Man that boy was talking a bunch of crap before this fight. But I came out here and showed his ass how we country boys do it. Line me up another one. Yeehaaw!'.