PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dylan Toal (ranked 5385 p4p, 6045 weight class) and Jerome Blades (ranked 520 p4p, 555 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Toal
vs
Blades

180 cm
18
170
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
20
178
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Shadow Realm NYC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Dylan Toal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jerome Blades!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toal moves into the clinch.
Blades tries to pull guard but Toal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Blades wants a takedown but no success here.
Blades is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Blades tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Toal just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dylan Toal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome Blades.
Blades trying to land knees to the body.
Our sources have told us that Toal has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Blades keeps control of Toal as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Blades goes for a takedown in the clinch but Toal prevents it.
Blades misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blades is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Blades wants to take the fight to the mat but Toal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Blades is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Toal to keep the fight standing.
Blades is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Toal pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toal prevents a takedown attempt there.
Toal blocks an uppercut.
Toal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Blades is looking to break free of the clinch but Toal has double underhooks.
Blades has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Toal avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Toal creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Toal escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Toal with a nice cross.
Blades fails to land the takedown.
Blades looks winded!
Blades avoids the head kick by Toal.
Blades showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Toal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blades dives in for a single leg takedown but Toal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Toal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blades moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dylan Toal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blades shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Toal as he jumps to the side.
Toal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Blades misses the shot to the body.

Toal closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Toal drags the fight down to the ground.
Toal throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Toal looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blades is one step ahead there.
Toal striking off his back but it's not causing Blades any problems.
Blades postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Toal bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Blades's guard.

Blades utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blades is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Toal with a flurry of punches that miss.
Toal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Toal stands up from Blades's guard - Toal perhaps looking for a knockout.
Toal misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Toal has Blades up against the cage in a clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Toal working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Blades is working for takedown but Toal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Blades missing with knees to the body.
Blades is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Toal pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Toal gets underhooks to prevent Blades's takedown attempt.
Toal is trying to force a seperation but Blades has the dominant position.
Toal can't break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Toal blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Toal is trying to force a seperation but Blades has the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Toal dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Toal misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Toal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Blades fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blades avoids a punch combination nicely.
Toal lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Blades closes the distance and pushes Toal back into the cage.
Blades jumps guard but Toal stands there with Blades around his waist. Blades gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Blades is working for takedown but Toal is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dylan Toal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome Blades.
Blades is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blades is looking to take this one to the mat.
Toal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toal lands an elbow just above Blades 's eye.
Toal working hard to break the clinch.
Blades is looking to take this one to the mat.
Blades has a couple of punches blocked by Toal.
Blades tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blades drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Toal wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Blades wants to take the fight to the mat but Toal manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Blades has a couple of punches blocked by Toal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toal tries a knee to the head but Blades blocks it.
Toal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Toal ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Toal no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Toal looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Toal trying to keep a closed guard but Blades is proving a slippery customer.
Blades with a flurry of punches that miss.
Toal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Blades can do to turn this around?
Toal is looking to stand up but Blades isn't so interested in that idea.
Toal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Blades content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Blades distracts Toal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Toal manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blades is looking to take this one to the mat.
Toal tries to break the clinch but Blades is controlling the position.
Toal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Blades is defending well for now.
Toal gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Blades.
Toal pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Blades can't get the takedown.
Toal wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dylan Toal has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Toal is looking to break free of the clinch but Blades has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Toal breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Toal darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Blades shoots in looking for a takedown. Toal tries to sprawl out of it but Blades keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Toal manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Toal closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Blades avoids the head kick by Toal.
Dylan Toal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Blades avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Toal scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Blades looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dylan Toal dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Toal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blades moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Blades shoots in looking for a takedown but Toal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Blades's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Toal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blades moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Toal displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Toal throws a right hand that Blades ducks under and follows up with a left that Blades also avoids with ease.

Toal rushes Blades and presses him up against the cage.
Blades is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Toal to keep the fight standing.
Toal prevents the takedown attempt.
Dylan Toal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerome Blades.
Toal has had enough of the clinch but Blades keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Toal breaks the clinch.
Toal tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Blades takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Blades clinches up with Toal and pushes him back against the cage.
Toal can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blades fails to pull guard.
Toal is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Blades has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Toal is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Toal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Toal wants to break the clinch but can't.
Blades tries to pull guard but Toal won't allow it.

Blades escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Toal looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Toal moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Blades avoids the head kick by Toal.
Blades throws a right and a left that Toal avoids nicely.
Toal lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Toal.
Toal displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Blades.
Toal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Blades moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No joy there for Toal, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Toal wants to clinch but Blades slips to the side
and Blades cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Toal throws a leg kick but Blades sees it coming and moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Blades's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Toal misses with a double jab.
Blades shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Toal but Toal pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Blades dives in for a single leg takedown but Toal sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Toal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Blades has Toal pressed against the cage, preventing Toal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Blades fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blades blocks the elbow strike.

Toal pulls guard.

Toal is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Blades is aware though and is defending well.
Blades works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Blades keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Toal has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Blades is on him like a limpet, forcing Toal back against the cage.
Blades tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Blades's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A right hook to the body lands for Toal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blades fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Toal breaks from the clinch.

Toal moves into the clinch.

Toal successfully pulls guard.
Blades must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Blades distracts Toal with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Toal might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Blades avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Blades's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dylan Toal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Toal working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blades.
Jerome Blades has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Blades with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dylan Toal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Toal has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dylan Toal!
Dylan Toal seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.