PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mini Stipe (ranked 426 p4p, 17 weight class) and Alton Newcastle (ranked 475 p4p, 21 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stipe
vs
Newcastle

150 cm
29
139 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

170 cm
37
148 lbs
25 - 21 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Bullet Proof System

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mini Stipe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Alton Newcastle!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Newcastle lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Stipe takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stipe fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Newcastle manages to avoid it.
Stipe has been working on his boxing with his coaches at IMMA Gym of Elite ASS in the buildup to the fight.
A slow jab from Newcastle misses its intended target.
Stipe looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Newcastle missing with a left hand there. Stipe was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Newcastle with a jab.
Stipe looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Newcastle darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Newcastle thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stipe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Newcastle manages to circle out of the way.
Newcastle throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Newcastle throws a big shot that misses.
Stipe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stipe takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Alton Newcastle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Newcastle keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stipe looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Stipe won't allow Newcastle to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stipe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Newcastle wants to sweep here but Stipe controlling him for the moment.
Stipe works over Newcastle with some ground and pound from guard.
Newcastle trying to keep a closed guard but Stipe is proving a slippery customer.
Stipe trying to control but Newcastle is working from the bottom.
Stipe stopping the sweep attempt from Newcastle.
Newcastle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Stipe trying to control but Newcastle is working from the bottom.
Newcastle 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.
Newcastle is trying to hold Stipe in close to prevent damage but Stipe has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two 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.
Stipe wants to lay and pray for a moment but Newcastle keeps working.

Newcastle looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Stipe.
Newcastle trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Stipe manages to pass to mount!
Newcastle manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ground and pound from Stipe.
Newcastle has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Tōshi. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Newcastle is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newcastle is still trying to improve position.
Stipe wants to control but Newcastle is keeping him busy.
Newcastle moves into full guard.
Newcastle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Stipe's guard.

Stipe keeping full guard, as Newcastle tries to pass.
Newcastle trying to control but Stipe is working from the bottom.
Newcastle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Stipe might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stipe pulls Newcastle in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Newcastle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stipe is keeping the position for now.
Stipe working a defensive guard here.
Stipe 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.
Newcastle tries to free his leg and advance position but Stipe is retaining full guard.
Newcastle trying to control but Stipe is working from the bottom.
Newcastle slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stipe is looking for a sweep.
Stipe can't do much from the bottom here.

Newcastle goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Stipe has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Newcastle but great work by Stipe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alton Newcastle dominated that round.
That's time! Stipe's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Newcastle keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A head kick misses from Stipe.
Newcastle connects with a good right hand that stumbles Stipe. Stipe circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Stipe ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Newcastle throws a lazy uppercut
and Stipe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alton Newcastle seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Newcastle throws a series of punches but Stipe moves out of range.
Newcastle connects with a nice looking jab.
Stipe drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Newcastle has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Stipe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Newcastle moves away from the strike by Stipe.
Newcastle misses with a hook. Stipe ducked under it nicely.
Stipe throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Stipe takes a swing at Newcastle's ribcage but misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Newcastle throws a lazy right hand but Stipe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Stipe gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Stipe misses with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Stipe.
Newcastle throws a series of strikes that have Stipe backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stipe walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Newcastle checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Newcastle. Stipe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stipe is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Stipe scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Stipe moves forwards but Newcastle connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Stipe buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Newcastle might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Newcastle throws a right hand that misses

and Stipe decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Newcastle's guard.
Newcastle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Newcastle has his foot on Stipe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stipe works his way back into a safe position though.
Stipe distracts Newcastle with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Newcastle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mini Stipe overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stipe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stipe is working Newcastle over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stipe passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Newcastle is pressing down on Stipe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stipe working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Stipe with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Stipe is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Newcastle is on top in guard.

Newcastle being controlled here momentarily.
Newcastle won't allow Stipe to sweep him here.
Stipe controlling Newcastle's posture.
Newcastle tries to free his leg and advance position but Stipe is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Newcastle preventing the sweep.
Newcastle looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Newcastle is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stipe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Newcastle looking to improve position, pressing down on Stipe's thigh with his hand. Stipe seems to be working to lock up a guilotine though... is Newcastle paying attention? Apparently not! He's locked it up tight! Newcastle's face has turned purple! Will he tap? Will he! YES! He's tapped! Stipe picked his opening and made it count! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Mini Stipe!
A very excited looking Mini Stipe made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.