PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Melendez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Tipton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byron Tipton will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Melendez
vs
Tipton

168 cm
33
143 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

165 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Max Octane Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Melendez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Byron Tipton!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tipton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Melendez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tipton lands a left hand.
Melendez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tipton pulls his leg out and moves away.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Tipton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Melendez with that takedown attempt.
Melendez closes the distance but Tipton moves to the side
and Tipton counters with a stiff right hand.
Melendez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tipton is fending him off so far but Melendez persists. Nope, Tipton circles away and we're back to standing.
Tipton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Melendez shoots for a takedown but Tipton saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tipton throws a nice inside leg kick.

Tipton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tipton showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Melendez wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tipton wants to free his trapped foot but Melendez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tipton trying to control the action but Melendez is working from the bottom.
Tipton prevents Melendez from improving his position.
Tipton is looking to advance position but Melendez won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Melendez wants to control but Tipton is keeping busy.
Melendez won't allow Tipton to pass to mount.

Melendez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Tipton working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Tipton wants to control but Melendez is keeping him busy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Melendez wants to control but Tipton is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Melendez with a poor takedown
and Tipton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Tipton changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Melendez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tipton with the ground and pound but Melendez regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Melendez looking to control.
Melendez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tipton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Melendez defends it easily.
Melendez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Melendez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tipton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tipton working for a triangle but Melendez defends it easily.

Tipton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tipton is trying to control the position but Melendez postures up.
Tipton keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.

Tipton has his foot on Melendez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Melendez works his way back into a safe position though.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tipton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tipton controls Melendez momentarily but Melendez frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Melendez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Tipton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tipton jabs at Melendez's body.
Melendez shoots in for a takedown but Tipton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tipton lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Melendez closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Tipton to the mat! Tipton manages to get full guard.
Melendez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tipton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Melendez slips nicely into half guard.
Melendez working over Tipton with some ground and pound. Tipton looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Melendez drops an elbow to the side of Tipton's head.
Tipton wants to sweep but Melendez has passed to side control!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Melendez wants to control but Tipton is keeping him busy.
Tipton takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Tipton gets back to half guard.
Tipton works his way to full guard. Good work.
Melendez with a nice head shot there.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Melendez looking to sit in guard and control but Tipton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Melendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tipton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tipton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tipton slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Melendez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tipton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tipton in side control lands a decent elbow.
Tipton advances to mount.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tipton prevents Melendez from getting the reversal.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tipton cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Melendez is desperately trying to improve his position but Tipton has a good base and remains in mount.
Tipton unloads with some shots from mount but Melendez bucks and avoids them well.
Tipton throws some wild stikes that Melendez manages to avoid easily.
Melendez is squirming around, avoiding Tipton's attempts to control the action.
Melendez is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Melendez wants to control but Tipton is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Tipton dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Melendez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Melendez has a takedown stuffed.

Tipton pushes Melendez up against the ropes in a clinch.
Melendez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tipton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tipton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Tipton breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tipton closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Tipton is nestled in close to Melendez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Melendez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tipton.
Melendez is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tipton trying to mount his opponent but Melendez defends it.

Melendez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Melendez is looking to control Tipton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Melendez avoid being mounted?
Tipton passes to full mount!
A nice elbow there by Tipton.
Melendez controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tipton lands a nice shot to the head.
Tipton with a couple of short strikes.
BOOM! Tipton connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tipton cracks Melendez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tipton is landing with some decent strikes but Melendez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Melendez is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Melendez wants to hold on but Tipton pushes him away.
Oh Melendez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Tipton goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Melendez is on top in guard.
Melendez seems to have got his legs back now.
Melendez with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tipton wants to sweep here but Melendez controlling him for the moment.
Melendez trying to control but Tipton is working from the bottom.
Byron Tipton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Melendez content to stall in guard here.
Tipton looking for a sweep. Not yet Tipton, not yet.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tipton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Tipton is looking for a triangle but Melendez pushes his legs off easily.
Tipton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Tipton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Tipton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Melendez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Melendez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tipton is breathing heavily.
Melendez tries to free his leg and advance position but Tipton is retaining full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Tipton isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Melendez stacks Tipton on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Melendez!
Melendez landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Melendez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tipton manages to work his way to half guard, despite Melendez's best efforts.
Tipton is trying to get back to full guard.
Melendez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Tipton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tipton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tipton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tipton keeping moving, preventing Melendez from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Melendez takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Left hook, right uppercut from Tipton.

Tipton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Melendez's guard.
Melendez wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Melendez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tipton preventing the sweep.
Tipton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Melendez is keeping the position for now.
Melendez bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tipton's guard.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Melendez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tipton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Melendez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Melendez with a nice head shot there.
Melendez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Melendez pushing down on Tipton's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tipton is not content to let Melendez control the position.
Melendez is nestled in close to Tipton, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Melendez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Melendez slows the pace down in half guard.
Melendez stalling away here and it's allowed Tipton to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tipton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Melendez is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Tipton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Tipton fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Melendez looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Tipton throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Melendez was covering up waiting for the punch and Tipton finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Melendez wants to sweep here but Tipton controlling him for the moment.
Melendez is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tipton postures up in Melendez's guard and throws a big left but Melendez blocks it.
Melendez keeping full guard, as Tipton tries to pass.
Melendez looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Melendez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tipton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Melendez looks for a takedown but Tipton sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tipton closes the distance and clinches.
Nice body punch from Tipton.
Melendez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Tipton after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tipton is working Melendez over against the ropes.
Melendez is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anthony Melendez. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tipton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tipton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Melendez with a poor takedown

and Tipton moves into the clinch.

Tipton has clasped his hands together around Melendez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Tipton misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Melendez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Tipton connects with a decent elbow.
Tipton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Melendez keeps working.
Tipton working the strikes but Melendez uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Melendez is refusing to be controlled, as Tipton sits in half guard.
Melendez is pressing down on Tipton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tipton postures up.
Tipton wants to control from the top but Melendez keeps moving.
Melendez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tipton thuds a left hand into Melendez's body.

Tipton rushes Melendez and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Tipton pushes Melendez back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tipton manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Tipton manages to break the clinch.

Tipton closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tipton.
Melendez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tipton is defending well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Tipton prevents the takedown attempt.
A short body shot lands from Tipton as the two fighters clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Tipton.

Tipton has picked Melendez up - he's going for a ride! Tipton dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Melendez tries to roll over but Tipton keeps him under control.
Melendez trying to control from the bottom.
Melendez is looking to improve his position.
Tipton wants to pass the guard but Melendez is defending well.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Melendez is trying to control but Tipton passes into side control!
Melendez stops Tipton from passing to mount.

Tipton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tipton working away.
Byron Tipton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Tipton has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Melendez keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Melendez wants to control but Tipton is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Tipton there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Tipton trying to control but Melendez is having none of it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Melendez regains half guard.
Melendez is trying to control but can't.
Melendez is not content to let Tipton control the position.
Melendez is trying to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Tipton passes to full mount!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tipton sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Tipton lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Melendez hang on?
Melendez tries to reverse the position but Tipton maintains control.
Tipton unloads with some shots from mount but Melendez bucks and avoids them well.
Tipton lands a couple of good shots and Melendez has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Tipton has Melendez flattened out and is raining down punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tipton tries to get the hooks in deep but Melendez pushed the leg off.
Anthony Melendez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tipton punches the canvas rather than the man.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byron Tipton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tipton 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight for Byron Tipton!
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Byron Tipton!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Byron Tipton!

Byron Tipton wins by unanimous decision!
Post fight, Byron Tipton stared into the camera and said 'I just beat the champ. This means I AM the champ!'.