PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Carden (ranked 2683 p4p, 1997 weight class) and Nasir Malikai (ranked 335 p4p, 262 weight class). Carden comes to the cage accompanied by Simple Man. Malikai has chosen Huka Blues as his entrance music. Nasir Malikai will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Carden
vs
Malikai

174 cm
24
165
7 - 7 - 0

186 cm
20
170
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Silverback Sweatshop

Conviction
© Trap House

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 - 7 - 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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nasir Malikai!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Carden swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Carden swings for the body but Malikai moves out of range.
Malikai scores with a hook.
The fighters circling - Carden throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Carden looks to land a right hand but Malikai moved out of range.
Malikai stuns Carden with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Malikai tries to clinch but Carden moves out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Malikai.
Malikai slips under a jab from Carden.
Carden takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Malikai cracks Carden with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Carden throws a shot from downtown. Malikai moves away and avoids it.
Malikai has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Nasir Malikai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Carden keeps the fight on the outside.
Carden connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Carden closes the distance and lands a one-two.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carden misses with a straight left.

Malikai clinches up against the cage.
Carden digs a right hand into Malikai's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Malikai's gas tank.
Malikai misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malikai blocks an uppercut.
Malikai blocking some punches.
Carden misses with a short punch on the inside.
Malikai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Malikai lands with a left to the head.
Carden works on Malikai's body with a couple of short punches.
A head punch on the inside from Carden fails to land.
Carden is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Carden is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Malikai's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Malikai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Carden lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Malikai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Nice elbow from Malikai.
Malikai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Carden prevents a body shot from Malikai.
Malikai working aggressively here.
Malikai throws a punch but it's blocked by Carden.
Carden misses with a punch on the inside.
Carden missing with knees to the body.
Carden looking to throw knees to the head but Malikai is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malikai throws a head punch that misses.
Carden misses with a punch on the inside.
Malikai lands a body shot in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malikai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Malikai tries a body shot but Carden blocks it.
A hook to the body from Malikai.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Malikai.
Malikai avoiding damage as Carden throws knees to the body.
Malikai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Malikai looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Malikai lands a hook that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
Malikai softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Malikai throws a head punch that misses.
Carden working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Malikai lands a right hand that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
Carden takes a shot to the head.
Malikai prevents Carden from breaking the clinch.
Carden tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Malikai's elbow.
A body shot lands from Carden.
Malikai tries to work over Carden's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Malikai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malikai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Malikai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Malikai misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Malikai working aggressively here.
Carden lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch on the inside from Carden fails to land.
A short right from Malikai on the inside.
Carden blocks a body shot from Malikai.
Malikai scores with a nice hook to the head.
Malikai throws a head punch that misses.
Malikai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Carden takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Malikai pushes Carden back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Malikai gets through Carden's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Carden blocks an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Malikai throws a head punch that misses.
Malikai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Malikai misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Malikai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Carden tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Malikai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Carden avoids the elbow strike from Malikai, against the cage.
Malikai tries to work over Carden's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Carden is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Malikai is defending well for now.
Carden lands with a left to the head.
Carden missing with knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Malikai throws an elbow but misses.
Carden throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Malikais head.
Malikai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Carden tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Carden has a couple of punches blocked by Malikai.
Carden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Malikai working aggressively here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot in the inside from Carden.
Carden throws a head punch that misses.
Carden lands a left hand.
Malikai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cardens head.
Carden misses with the head strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nasir Malikai dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Malikai clinches up against the cage.
Carden struggles to land a body shot inside as Malikai controls his hands.
Malikai lands a hook that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Malikai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Carden prevents a body shot from Malikai.
Malikai misses with a punch to the body.
Malikai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Carden prevents a body shot from Malikai.
Carden lands a nice shot to the body.
Malikai has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Malikai scores with a shoulder strike.
A short left from Malikai.
Nasir Malikai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Carden looking to slow down the pace here.
Carden tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malikai blocks a body shot from Carden.
Carden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Carden misses with a body punch.
Malikai works on Carden's body with a couple of short punches.
Malikai working aggressively here.
Malikai scores with a shot to the side of Carden's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malikai blocks an uppercut.
Malikai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Malikai misses with a punch on the inside.
Malikai lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Carden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Malikai pushes Carden back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Malikai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Carden has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Malikai misses with a body punch.
Malikai scores with a nice hook to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Carden.
Malikai blocks an uppercut.
Malikai lands a right hand that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
Malikai gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Carden stalling in the clinch.
Good body shot from Malikai.
Malikai managing to block the knees to the body from Carden.
Malikai misses with the head strike.
Carden scores with a shoulder strike.
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!
Carden throws a head punch that misses.
Malikai tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Carden.
Carden prevents a body shot from Malikai.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Malikai.
Malikai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Malikai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Carden misses with a hook from the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Malikai.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Malikai lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Malikai comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Carden blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Malikai.
Malikai misses with the head strike.
Malikai has a couple of punches blocked by Carden.
Malikai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Malikai scores with a nice short uppercut.
Carden doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Carden looking to stall.
Malikai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
A short right from Malikai on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malikai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Carden blocks a body shot from Malikai.
Malikai makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Malikai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carden's elbow.
Malikai fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Carden trying to stall but Malikai improves his position.
A hook to the body from Malikai.
Malikai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short left from Malikai.
Malikai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Malikai lands a hook to the side of the head.
Malikai misses with a hook to the ribs.
Carden throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from Malikai.
Come on Carden - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Malikai lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malikai lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Malikai lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malikai gets through Carden's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Carden fails to land.
Malikai blocking some punches.
A body shot lands from Carden.
Carden is leaning against Malikai and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Carden scores with a shot to the side of Malikai's head.
Carden looking to slow down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Malikai.
Malikai swings wildly with an uppercut but Carden uses good head movement to avoid it.
Malikai tries to throw a body punch but Carden avoids it by throwing Malikai back against the cage.

Carden pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Carden throws a shot from downtown. Malikai moves away and avoids it.
Malikai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've been told by Carden's head coaches at California Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malikai misses with a wild combination.
Carden slips under a jab from Malikai.
Some wild striking there from Carden.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nasir Malikai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Carden missing with a left hand there. Malikai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Malikai changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Carden doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nasir Malikai seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab, jab by Malikai - just one landing.
Carden throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Carden closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Carden misses with a jab, cross combination.
Carden scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Malikai misses the shot to the body.
Carden swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Malikai darts in and clinches Carden up against the cage.
Malikai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carden's elbow.
Malikai can't find room to land a body shot as Carden controls the action.
A nice right hand lands inside from Malikai.
Malikai scores with a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malikai pushes Carden back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Malikai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malikai lands a nice elbow.
Carden looking to throw knees to the head but Malikai is blocking nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Malikai misses with a body punch.
Carden blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Malikai lands an uppercut.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A hook to the body from Malikai.
A right handed body shot lands from Malikai.
Malikai lands an uppercut.
Carden misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short uppercut from Malikai.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Malikai.
Malikai digs a right hand into Carden's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Carden's gas tank.
A right handed body shot lands from Malikai.
Malikai lands a nice uppercut.
Malikai struggles to land a body shot inside as Carden controls his hands.
Malikai scores with an uppercut up the middle.
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!
Malikai lands a right hand that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
Nasir Malikai is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malikai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Carden's elbow.
Carden swings wildly with an uppercut but Malikai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carden working aggressively here.
Malikai stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Carden.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Malikai.
Carden throws a head punch that misses.
Malikai takes a shot to the head.
Thomas Carden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A frustrated look appears on Carden's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Carden throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Carden.
Malikai has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Carden tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Malikai avoids it.
Carden tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Malikai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
Malikai lands a body punch.
Carden misses with a knee to the head.
Carden swings wildly with an uppercut but Malikai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Carden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Malikai lands a right hand that snaps the head of Carden backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Carden.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malikai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Carden throws a head punch that misses.
Carden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Malikai lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Malikai comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Malikai blocks a body shot from Carden.
Malikai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Carden misses with the head strike.
Malikai lands with a right to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carden misses with a knee strike.
Carden gets through Malikai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Carden working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Carden.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nasir Malikai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Malikai has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nasir Malikai!
Nasir Malikai seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.