PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Crose McCringe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Tipton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

McCringe
vs
Tipton

170 cm
33
146 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

165 cm
21
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Crose McCringe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Byron Tipton!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tipton scoring well with a low kick there.
McCringe looks for a takedown but Tipton sprawls well.
McCringe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tipton's waist but Tipton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCringe off to one side.
Tipton stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crose McCringe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tipton fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McCringe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tipton uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McCringe.
Tipton steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from McCringe.
Tipton misses with a hook.
Tipton chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McCringe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tipton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Tipton bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
McCringe dodges the ground and pound from Tipton.
Tipton moves into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tipton looking to control but McCringe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
McCringe avoids a strike by Tipton and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Tipton's guard! Fantastic escape!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tipton wants to sweep here but McCringe controlling him for the moment.
McCringe cracks Tipton with a solid left hand.
Tipton 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.

Tipton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McCringe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tipton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tipton keeping moving, preventing McCringe from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tipton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McCringe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCringe trying to control the position from guard on top but Tipton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tipton is trying to control the position but McCringe postures up.
McCringe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tipton is keeping the position for now.
McCringe has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tipton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McCringe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McCringe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tipton looking for a guillotine here but McCringe defends easily.

Tipton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but McCringe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCringe trying to control but Tipton is working from the bottom.
McCringe stays in close to Tipton's body and controls the position.
McCringe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

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

McCringe is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tipton is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tipton has escaped and now he's on top!

Tipton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tipton pushes down on McCringe's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tipton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
McCringe is looking to improve his position.
McCringe is looking to control Tipton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McCringe avoid being mounted?
McCringe is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCringe trying to hold on to Tipton's head to control him but Tipton postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Tipton dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tipton throws a low kick but McCringe moves out of range easily.
McCringe dives in for a single leg takedown but Tipton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A shot to the liver by Tipton. Beautiful body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from McCringe is defended easily by Tipton.
Tipton wants to counter the offense by McCringe and move into the clinch position.
Horrible takedown attempt by McCringe or perhaps it was just good defense by Tipton, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crose McCringe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McCringe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tipton.
Tipton tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and McCringe is able to avoid easily.
McCringe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tipton sprawls well. Tipton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McCringe gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tipton closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tipton lands in his opponent's guard.
Tipton trying to control the position from guard on top but McCringe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tipton connects with a couple of short punches.
McCringe wants to sweep but no luck.
Tipton passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McCringe sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
McCringe wants to get back to full guard.
Tipton is looking to advance position but McCringe won't allow it.
Tipton landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
McCringe is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tipton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tipton slows the pace down in half guard.
McCringe trying to control from the bottom.
Tipton trying to pass the guard but McCringe defending well.
Tipton throwing shots but McCringe is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCringe controlling the position well.
McCringe is trying to get back to full guard.
McCringe is working hard here to advance position.
Tipton lands with a punch from half guard.
Tipton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks McCringe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Tipton is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tipton not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tipton slips a nice elbow through McCringe's hands, connecting with McCringe's forehead.

Tipton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
McCringe moves into full guard.
McCringe wants to sweep but no luck.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Tipton working his ground and pound in the gym.
Tipton wants to pass the guard but McCringe is keeping the position.
McCringe is trying to control the position but Tipton postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tipton looking to pass the guard.
Tipton wants to control from the top but McCringe keeps moving.
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! This is the final round!

Tipton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with McCringe, pushing him back against the cage.

Tipton escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McCringe dives in for a single leg takedown but Tipton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McCringe.
McCringe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tipton swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Crose McCringe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tipton feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McCringe's calf.
McCringe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tipton but Tipton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tipton changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
McCringe shoots in and drives through. Tipton sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCringe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tipton's waist but Tipton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing McCringe off to one side.
Tipton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Tipton clinches.

Tipton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Tipton throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. McCringe tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tipton is in McCringe's guard.

McCringe pushes Tipton off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crose McCringe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tipton.

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

McCringe kicks off Tipton and gets to his feet.
McCringe shoots in looking for a takedown but Tipton manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McCringe's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McCringe pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
McCringe dives in for a single leg takedown but Tipton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tipton is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McCringe.
Tipton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

McCringe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tipton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McCringe manages to get himself to full guard.

Byron Tipton 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.
Tipton passes McCringe's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCringe tries to get to full guard but Tipton has control of the leg.
Tipton working McCringe over with strikes.
McCringe is looking for a sweep. Tipton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McCringe trying to hold on to Tipton's head to control him but Tipton postures up.
Byron Tipton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tipton throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tipton looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McCringe trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCringe is staying active underneath Tipton, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
McCringe trying to control but Tipton postures up.
McCringe wants to improve his position but Tipton is controlling well.
McCringe wants to control but Tipton is keeping busy.
Tipton slows the pace down in half guard.
McCringe is trying to stand up here but Tipton is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Still in half guard, Tipton seems content to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tipton throws a leg kick but McCringe checks it.
McCringe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tipton pinned against the cage. Tipton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Tipton scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
McCringe is not content to let Tipton control the position.
The referee asks Tipton politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Tipton prefers to stall for the moment though.
Crose McCringe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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 Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Byron Tipton!
Byron Tipton was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.