MMA Dreams: Osgood Teen Punches Way To Heavyweight Title

By Mike Perleberg Jac-Cen-Del High School senior Tyler Shipp (center) won the Bluegrass MMA heavyweight title belt in a championship fight on February 4. He poses with trainers Kevin Rinear of Hybrid Gym in Osgood and Andrew Wood of Team Demon. Photo provided. (Osgood, Ind.) – When Tyler Shipp moved to Osgood, he was disappointed to learn that the local high school didn’t have a wrestling team. But he’s found another way to take opponents to the mat: mixed martial arts. Soon after his move at age 13, Tyler found Hybrid Gym in Osgood. Owner Kevin Rinear saw something in him. “Kevin, being an MMA fighter and trainer, took Tyler under his wing and began to train Tyler and help Tyler pursue his dream to become a professional UFC fighter,” says Joe Shipp, Tyler’s father. He excelled in kickboxing and wrestling tournaments from age 15 to 17. At one tournament, he caught the attention of Andrew Wood, owner and trainer of Team Demon, and began working with him. “It is a small organization with a few select fighters,” Joe says. “Team Demon has not lost a fight with any of their fighters in the last two years.” Now 18 and a senior at Jac-Cen-Del High School, Shipp is as close to his UFC dream as ever. Earlier this month, he fought in his fourth amateur heavyweight MMA match at Hardrock MMA 86 in Shepherdsville, Kentucky on February 4. This one was for a championship belt. “This fight was a dream for Tyler. This is the one fight that Tyler had passionately trained so hard for. A big stepping stone to becoming a professional MMA UFC fighter,” says Joe. Tyler won it, defeating his opponent by TKO less than three minutes into the first of three rounds. Tyler Shipp after winning the Bluegrass MMA heavyweight title belt on February 4. Photo by Mellek Photography. Now, the Osgood teen is ranked first out of 42 registered heavyweight fighters in Kentucky. He’s 4th out of 330 heavyweights in the U.S. southeast. JCD High School recognized his accomplishment with an announcement on the school message board recently. Tyler will have to defend his title at Hardrock MMA 89 at Turfway Park in Florence on Saturday, May 13. Joe Shipp credits each of Tyler’s trainers for helping through his budding MMA career. They are Kevin Rinear (Hybrid Gym), Andrew Wood (Team Demon), Andy Hartley (Hybrid Gym), Davie Gayhart (Team Demon), Michael Ehrhardt (Team Demon). “He has devoted his life to achieving his dream while still maintaining his grades at school so that he can graduate this year,” said Joe, adding that Tyler’s second career choice would be in law enforcement. Local MMA fans can keep up with Tyler Shipp’s story on his official Facebook page. Hybrid Gym in Osgood is open Monday through Thursday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Learn more on the gym's Facebook page. Photo provided.