PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tim Slater (ranked 1974 p4p, 3446 weight class) and Mini Stipe (ranked 114 p4p, 173 weight class). Stipe is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Godsmack - I Stand Alone. Tim Slater has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Slater
vs
Stipe

170 cm
30
137
15 - 12 - 0

150 cm
41
146
23 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Slater!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mini Stipe!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slater throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Stipe shoots in but no luck this time.
Stipe connects with a leg kick.
Stipe misses with a left hand
and Slater counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Stipe misses with a leg kick
and Slater counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stipe lands a nice leg kick that just misses Slater's sensitive parts.
Slater connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stipe swings widly with a right hand
and Slater counters with a body kick.
Stipe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Slater misses the target.
Slater blocks a leg kick.
Stipe tries to score a power double leg takedown but Slater sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stipe somewhat.
Tim Slater has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mini Stipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stipe throws a poor cross that misses
and Slater makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Stipe darts in looking for a takedown but Slater gets double underhooks and turns Stipe into the cage.
Slater fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stipe manages to avoid it.
Slater is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Slater uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stipe.
Slater swats away the attempt to clinch by Stipe.
Mini Stipe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slater keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Slater was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Stipe.
Stipe chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Stipe swings widly with a right hand
and Slater counters with a one-two to the body.
Stipe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stipe defending well as Slater loads up on a big left hand.
Stipe misses with a double jab

and Slater counters with a left and a right that hurts Stipe! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Slater jumps into full mount!

Stipe is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slater wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Stipe is still in real trouble! Can Slater finish him?
Slater is working hard here to advance position.
Stipe is looking to get to half guard.

Slater looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Stipe seems to have recovered his senses.
Stipe tries to hold on but Slater postures up.

Slater goes for an armbar but Stipe turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Stipe.

Slater throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Slater is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slater is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Stipe defends well.
Stipe trying to control but Slater is working from the bottom.
Stipe slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Slater working a defensive guard here.

Slater looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stipe passes into half guard.
Slater tries to get to full guard but Stipe has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Slater looking for submissions off his back.
Slater taking some punishment here, with Stipe in his half guard.
Slater is looking to improve his position.
Slater manages to get to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Slater is on top in guard.

Stipe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Slater dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stipe scores with a one two! Slater had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stipe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stipe fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Slater has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Stipe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Slater paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Slater quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Slater lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stipe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Slater 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.
A big right from Stipe misses.
Slater is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A good leg kick by Stipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater scores with a punch to the head.
Slater jabs at Stipe's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slater misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A low kick lands for Stipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater catches Stipe with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tim Slater is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stipe throws a nice inside leg kick.
Stipe goes for a double leg but Slater avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Slater continues to drive forward.
Stipe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Slater was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Stipe throws a left and a right that both miss
and Slater counters with a leg kick.
Stipe tried to score with a low kick but Slater checks it.
Stipe tries to land a leg kick but Slater saw it coming and moves away.
Stipe scores with a punch to the head.
Slater pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Slater misses with a wild body shot.
Slater checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Stipe throws a leg kick which misses Slater's front leg but catches the back leg as Slater tries to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Stipe.
Stipe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stipe fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Slater checks it well.
Stipe throws a good cross that connects.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stipe throws a hook to the side of Slater's head but Slater sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A counter left hand to the body from Slater misses its target.
Stipe throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stipe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stipe throws a sloppy head kick
and Slater connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stipe throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Slater counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Slater with a nice calf kick.
Stipe stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Slater moves away from the strike by Stipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stipe blocks a jab.
Stipe throws a head kick but Slater moves out of range.
Stipe misses with a leg kick
and Slater counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stipe fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Slater is out of range.
Stipe throws a leg kick but Slater sees it coming and moves out of range.
Stipe misses with a low kick.
Slater is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Slater misses with a hook.
Stipe staying out of range there.
Stipe looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Stipe misses with a leg kick
and Slater cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stipe moves out of range as Slater strikes.
Stipe misses with a lunging right hand
and Slater counters with a left to the body.
A head kick misses from Stipe.
Slater appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stipe misses with a wild combination.
Slater throwing a counter right hand but Stipe manages to avoid it.
Stipe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An attempted straight right counter from Slater misses the target.
Stipe misses with a hook
enabling Slater to counter with a crisp jab.
Slater takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Slater slips under a jab.
Slater ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stipe misses the jab.
Slater is looking to counter punch.
Stipe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Stipe checks a leg kick nicely.
Stipe throws a front kick aimed at Slater's knee but Slater avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mini Stipe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stipe throws a head kick but Slater moves out of range.
Slater misses with an uppercut. Stipe saw that one coming.
Stipe scoring well with a low kick there.
Stipe will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Slater walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Stipe motions for Slater to come forward. Stipe throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, jab by Stipe - just one landing.
A low kick lands for Stipe.
Stipe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A quick step to the side and Slater tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stipe manages to avoid it.
Slater connects with a leg kick.
Stipe tries a head kick but it misses.
Slater tried to counter with a leg kick but Stipe avoided it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stipe misses the jab.
Nice takedown defense from Slater. No joy for Stipe on that attempt.
Slater swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stipe throws a right hand that Slater ducks under and follows up with a left that Slater also avoids with ease.
Slater keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Slater is looking for a counter combo.
Stipe misses with a head kick.
Stipe scores with a nice head shot.
Stipe misses with a low kick as Slater jumps back.
Slater jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Stipe finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
It looked like Slater wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Slater is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Stipe misses with a wild body shot.
Slater loads up on a big right hand but Stipe slips the punch.
A leg kick checked by Stipe.
Stipe throws a leg kick
and Slater counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Stipe thinking.
Mini Stipe seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stipe misses with a low kick.
Slater throws a right hand that Stipe ducks under and follows up with a left that Stipe also avoids with ease.
A leg kick checked by Slater.
A counter left hand to the body from Slater misses its target.
Stipe misses with a right hand
and Slater counters with a stiff right hand.
Stipe throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Stipe tries to score with a low kick but Slater moves his leg out of the way.
A head kick misses from Stipe.
Stipe paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stipe throws a leg kick but Slater sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Stipe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stipe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A bone on bone clash there as Slater blocks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stipe swings widly with a right hand
and Slater counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stipe misses with a body shot.
Stipe throws a lazy head kick
letting Slater counter with a right hand.
Stipe dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Slater. That did some damage!
Stipe lands a leg kick that knocks Slater off balance momentarily.
Stipe misses with a left hand
and Slater counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Slater. Stipe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Slater keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Stipe fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Slater checks it well.
Slater was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Stipe throws a leg kick that is checked
and Slater counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Slater lands a two punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stipe throws a leg kick
and Stipe takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stipe scores with a jab to the body.
Good leg kick by Stipe.
Stipe swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Stipe rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Slater connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stipe misses with a low kick.
As Stipe backs away, Slater returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Stipe has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Stipe throws a poor cross that misses
and Slater connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Stipe misses with a right hand
and Slater counters with a huge left! Stipe is in big trouble! He's backing up but Slater isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Stipe from any more damage. A dominating finish by Slater!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tim Slater!
After the fight, Tim Slater was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
Mini Stipe spoke after the fight, saying 'Thanks for the fight. I will come back stronger next time.'.