PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Byron Tipton (ranked 3129 p4p, 148 weight class) and Ricky Monroe (ranked 4265 p4p, 209 weight class). Monroe has chosen Deep Ocean - Island drumming as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tipton
vs
Monroe

165 cm
28
140 lbs
14 - 13 - 0

166 cm
34
143 lbs
19 - 15 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Sin City Allstars

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 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Byron Tipton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricky Monroe!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jorge Garcia and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tipton avoids the head kick by Monroe.
Monroe moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Byron Tipton has been cut.
A head kick by Monroe misses
and Tipton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Monroe.
Monroe throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tipton swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe throws a series of punches but Tipton moves out of range.
Tipton is looking to counter punch.

Monroe fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tipton sprawls well initially but Monroe persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tipton tries to get to full guard but Monroe has control of the leg.

Tipton looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tipton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Monroe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Tipton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Monroe pulls his head out easily.
Monroe working over Tipton with some ground and pound. Tipton looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tipton is not content to let Monroe control the position.
Tipton is looking to improve his position.
Monroe is taking a breather. Tipton says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe uses his free foot to push down on Tipton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tipton.
Monroe tries to control but Tipton wriggling away.
Tipton taking shots to the head.
Monroe controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tipton working to try and regain half guard.
Monroe wants to stand but Tipton is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Tipton is looking to get to half guard.
Tipton gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tipton actively working from the bottom here.
Monroe drops an elbow to the side of Tipton's head.
Tipton is refusing to be controlled, as Monroe sits in half guard.

Tipton looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Tipton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Monroe pulls his head out easily.

Monroe decides to stand up.

Monroe dives in and scores a takedown into Tipton's guard.

Tipton isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Monroe 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 Monroe!
Monroe moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tipton is looking for a sweep.
Tipton is working hard here to advance position.
Tipton is letting Monroe control him for a moment.
Tipton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Monroe drops an elbow to the side of Tipton's head.
Tipton works his way to full guard. Good work.

Tipton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Monroe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Monroe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Monroe trying to control the position from guard on top but Tipton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monroe dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Byron Tipton's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Monroe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tipton counters with a right hand to the body.

Monroe closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Monroe lands in his opponent's guard.
Ricky Monroe has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tipton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Monroe defends well.

Tipton looking for subs off his back but Monroe has passed one foot through into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monroe takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Tipton looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe trying to control from half guard but Tipton is working away.
Tipton tries to roll over but Monroe keeps him under control.
Monroe wants to free his trapped foot but Tipton is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Tipton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Monroe pulls his head out easily.
Monroe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tipton is staying active underneath Monroe, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Tipton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Monroe pulls his head out easily.

Tipton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Monroe pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Monroe scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's two 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.
Monroe is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Monroe winds up and cracks Tipton with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Monroe slows the pace down in half guard.
Monroe tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Monroe passes to side control.
Monroe lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Tipton wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe wants to control but Tipton is keeping him busy.

Monroe tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Monroe has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tipton gets back to half guard.
Tipton is looking for a sweep. Monroe is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Still in half guard, Monroe seems content to control.
Monroe 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.
Tipton tries to roll over but Monroe keeps him under control.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Monroe lands a nice short elbow.

Tipton looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Tipton looking for submissions off his back.
Monroe slips a nice elbow through Tipton's hands, connecting with Tipton's forehead.
Monroe tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Tipton.
Monroe controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tipton is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Monroe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Byron Tipton's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Monroe rushes Tipton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tipton misses with some punches.

Tipton breaks the clinch.

Monroe has closed the distance and engaged Tipton in a clinch.
Tipton misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Monroe ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Monroe no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Monroe looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tipton trying to control but Monroe is working from the bottom.
Monroe has Tipton pulled in close to control his posture.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Monroe manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monroe ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Monroe no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Monroe is controlling Tipton's posture.
Tipton landing with the ground and pound.
Tipton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Monroe preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Monroe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tipton is one step ahead there.
Monroe pulls Tipton in close to prevent any damage.

Tipton drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Monroe manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tipton has Monroe in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe is stalling in the full guard.
Tipton keeping moving, preventing Monroe from controlling successfully.

Tipton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Monroe is aware though and is defending well.

Tipton is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe passes Tipton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Tipton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Monroe is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tipton is just riding it out for now. Monroe eventually gives up the hold.
Monroe working Tipton over with strikes.
Tipton makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tipton.

Tipton looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Monroe passes into side control.
Byron Tipton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Monroe landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe working the ground and pound from side control.
Monroe trying to control the action but Tipton is working from the bottom.

Monroe is trying to get an arm triangle but Tipton is defending well.
Monroe lands an elbow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tipton tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Monroe slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Tipton.
Tipton is in all sorts of trouble here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Monroe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Monroe 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Monroe!
Ricky Monroe thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Byron Tipton was interviewed post fight and said 'I know I am only 24, but I am retiring. Obviously I dont have what it takes to become a champion, there is no reason to put my body at harm for something that I suck at.'.