PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Tyler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Cao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Thomas Tyler has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Thomas Tyler seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Tyler
vs
Cao

180 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

179 cm
18
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thomas Tyler!
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, Kevin Cao!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tyler shoots in and bounces Cao off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tyler throwing strikes from guard but Cao blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cao has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Cao wants to stand up but Tyler is controlling him.
Tyler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tyler.
Tyler throwing strikes from guard but Cao blocks nicely.
Tyler in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tyler stopping the sweep attempt from Cao.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Cao as Tyler shoots in.
Cao will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tyler displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cao.
Cao shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tyler pinned against the cage. Tyler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Thomas Tyler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Cao.
Tyler with a poor takedown

and Cao counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tyler won't be happy with that.
Cao avoids the strikes from the bottom by Tyler.
Tyler tries to buck Cao off but Cao is having none of it.
Tyler tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Cao is looking to take a break and control but Tyler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cao blocks the strikes from Tyler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyler tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Tyler is not content to let Cao control the position.
Cao scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tyler to see if he's OK.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tyler doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Cao counters with a single leg into guard. Tyler didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tyler will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Tyler is breathing heavily.
Tyler trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Cao trying to control but Tyler is working from the bottom.
Tyler throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Tyler can't keep his opponent in guard - Cao advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cao scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cao blocks the strikes from Tyler.
Tyler is not content to let Cao control the position.
Tyler flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Tyler misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Tyler is staying active underneath Cao, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Cao wants to stand but Tyler has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Tyler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Cao is trying to defend but Tyler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Tyler thows a huge punch but Cao dodges it nicely.
Tyler looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cao with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cao avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tyler.
Cao blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tyler.
Tyler sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cao defending well though.
Tyler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cao is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tyler's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tyler's back!
Cao lands punches and elbows.
Tyler rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cao is nestled in close to Tyler, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tyler missing with punches from the bottom.
Tyler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Cao.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tyler drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tyler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tyler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cao 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.
Tyler is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tyler has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Cao is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tyler won't allow Cao to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tyler postures up in Cao's guard and throws a big left but Cao blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tyler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tyler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tyler postures up in Cao's guard and throws a big left but Cao blocks it.
Tyler throws a big right hand that misses.
Tyler throwing strikes but missing.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cao shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tyler as he avoids it easily.
Tyler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cao counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cao.

Cao decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tyler, up you get!
Tyler gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cao counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cao landing with the ground and pound.
Kevin Cao has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tyler manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Cao wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Tyler.
Tyler working the ground and pound effectively.
Tyler thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyler throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tyler throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Cao regains half guard.
Tyler thows a huge punch but Cao dodges it nicely.
Tyler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Cao keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tyler throws a strike but Cao avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Tyler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tyler throws a big right hand that misses.
Tyler postures up in Cao's guard and throws a big left but Cao blocks it.
Tyler tries to free his leg and advance position but Cao is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tyler with a poor takedown

and Cao counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Tyler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tyler is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cao stops a takedown attempt from Tyler.

Cao gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Cao content to stall in guard here.
Tyler throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Cao controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cao trying to control but Tyler is working from the bottom.
Tyler striking off his back but it's not causing Cao any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Cao showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tyler with a poor takedown
and Cao counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tyler shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cao decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tyler's guard.
Tyler keeping moving, preventing Cao from controlling successfully.
Tyler throws a couple of heel strikes.
Cao lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cao wants to pass the guard but Tyler is keeping the position.
Cao not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tyler throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tyler trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cao is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tyler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cao counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tyler is lucky that one didn't land flush.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Tyler. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tyler tries to keep at a distance but Cao has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tyler is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cao lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cao is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tyler is keeping busy.
Tyler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cao gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cao manages to pull guard.
Tyler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tyler scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tyler with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Cao avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyler throwing strikes from guard but Cao blocks nicely.
Tyler stands up over Cao, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Cao pushes Tyler off and gets back to his feet.
Tyler fails with the takedown

and Cao holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Cao turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Cao manages to end up in side control.

Cao stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Cao shoots in looking for a takedown. Tyler tries to sprawl out of it but Cao keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tyler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Cao shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Tyler manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cao lands a couple of elbows.
Tyler trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Tyler throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Cao passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.

Cao looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Cao prevents Tyler from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cao drops an elbow to the side of Tyler's head.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tyler misses with a takedown attempt

and Cao decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tyler's guard.
Tyler trying to strike off his back.
Tyler tries to strike from the bottom.
Cao trying to control but Tyler is working from the bottom.
Tyler trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Cao won't allow Tyler to sweep him here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tyler striking off his back but it's not causing Cao any problems.
Cao is looking to stand up but Tyler won't let him.
Thomas Tyler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kevin Cao is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Cao shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Cao showed some decent athleticism there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Cao comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cao winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Cao!