PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Carden (ranked 2048 p4p, 3119 weight class) and Devon Black (ranked 266 p4p, 388 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Carden might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Simple Man. Thomas Carden has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Carden
vs
Black

174 cm
23
165
7 - 6 - 0

179 cm
21
162
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Silverback Sweatshop
Stoner's Killer Apparel

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 7 - 6 - 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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Devon Black!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black takes a swing at Carden's ribcage but misses.
Carden lands the left hand.
Black takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Carden throws a hook to the side of Black's head but Black sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Black! But no joy.
Carden catches Black with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Carden is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Black.
Black throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Black throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Black scores with a nice right hand.
A slow jab from Carden misses its intended target.
Black scores with a body shot.
Black jabs at Carden's body.
Black ducks under a wild hook from Carden.
Carden thuds a left hand into Black's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carden misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Black.
Black avoids the body shot from Carden.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black lands with an overhand left.
Black looks to land a left hand but Carden moved out of range nicely.
Black throws a looping overhand right but Carden ducks down to avoid it.
Carden went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Carden throws an overhand right that lands on Black's shoulder, as Black tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Carden finds it's way through Black's defenses.
Carden keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Carden wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Carden connects with a right hand. Black shakes it off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Black. Carden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Carden looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Black misses the jab.
A left lands for Carden.
Black shoots in but no luck this time.
Carden is looking to counter punch.
Black throws a jab when Carden was well out of range.
Carden slips under a jab from Black.
Carden is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Thomas Carden is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Carden misses the shot to the body.
Carden lands a jab to Black's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carden uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Black.
Black throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Carden's waist but Carden gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Black off to one side.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Black blocks a jab.
A nice side step and Black releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A big right from Carden misses.
A nice combination there by Carden.
Black tries for a takedown but Carden sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Thomas Carden has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Devon Black.
Carden throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Black takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Carden ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Carden scores with a nice right hand.
Carden misses with a jab, cross combination.
Black with a lazy takedown attempt
and Carden counters with a straight right hand.
Thomas Carden seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carden pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Carden throws a lazy right hand but Black sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Black with the counter takedown but Carden avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Carden as he connects with a hook.
Carden lands a really nice looking cross but Black seems unphased.

Black throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Carden was covering up waiting for the punch and Black finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Black is in close to Carden's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Carden on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Carden tries to get out of the position.
Black wants to pass the guard but Carden is keeping the position.
Black working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Black passes Carden's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Black trying to control from Carden's half guard. Carden has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black wants to pass the guard but Carden is keeping the position.
Black being controlled here momentarily.
Black wants to control from the top but Carden keeps moving.
Carden trying to control the position.
Black wants to control from the top but Carden keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Carden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Carden rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Black counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Black landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Carden is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Black can do to turn this around?
Black takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Black is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Carden has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Black thows a huge punch but Carden dodges it nicely.

Black is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Carden is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carden is refusing to be controlled, as Black sits in half guard.
Black has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Black there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Carden is in all sorts of trouble here.
Carden is working hard here to advance position.
Black lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black looking to control but Carden is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Carden wants to control but Black is having none of it.
Carden working to try and regain half guard.
Black with a couple of short strikes.
Black is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Carden keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Carden looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black is punishing Carden with strikes - can he finish him?!
Carden is keeping busy.
Black throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Black struggling to land strikes to the head as Carden covers up.
Carden wants to escape the position.
Carden covering up well under a series of strikes from Black.
Black lands with a hammerfist to the side of Carden's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carden wants to escape the position.
Black misses with a punch to the head.
Carden is trying to break free.
Carden has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Black.

Carden defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Carden just trying to survive but Black is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Our spies down at at Triumph Over Fear inform us that Black has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Black lands a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Carden won't enjoy being in this position. Black looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - Carden is tapping - it's over boys! Black picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Devon Black!
An out of breath Devon Black thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.