PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Toney (ranked 5310 p4p, 4468 weight class) and Riptide Santa Romero (ranked 500 p4p, 461 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Toney
vs
Santa Romero

185 cm
18
190
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
190
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Toney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Riptide Santa Romero!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Eliza Hachem and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toney clinches up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Santa Romero.
Toney stalls.
Toney misses with the head strike.
Santa Romero blocking some punches.
Toney misses with a short punch on the inside.

Santa Romero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Toney lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Santa Romero misses the jab.

Toney moves into the clinch.
Toney working aggressively here.
Santa Romero wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Toney has him pressed against the cage.
Toney is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Toney has a couple of punches blocked by Santa Romero.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santa Romero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The referee calls for Toney to work.
Santa Romero can't break the clinch.
Santa Romero lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toney has Santa Romero pushed against the cage.
Santa Romero tries to break free but Toney pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Toney fails to land.
Santa Romero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Toney throws a head punch that misses.
Santa Romero swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Toney will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Santa Romero up against the cage.
Santa Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Toney controls his hands.
Toney misses with a short punch on the inside.
Santa Romero tries a body shot but Toney blocks it.

Santa Romero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Toney ducks under a wild hook from Santa Romero.
Toney tries to counter by clinching up but Santa Romero breaks away and moves out of range.
Toney looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Toney clinches up with Santa Romero and pushes him back against the cage.
Santa Romero tries to circle away but Toney has him pinned against the cage.
A short uppercut from Santa Romero.
Toney keeps control of Santa Romero as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Toney misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toney lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Santa Romero backwards.
Santa Romero tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Santa Romero blocking some punches.
Toney dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Santa Romero throws a head punch that misses.
Santa Romero looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Santa Romero is trying to break the clinch but Toney is controlling him.
Santa Romero lands with a light punch inside.
Santa Romero blocking some punches.
Santa Romero wants to break free but Toney has control.
Santa Romero tries to work over Toney's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Santa Romero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Toney moves in looking to clinch but Santa Romero pushes him off.
Toney wants to clinch up but Santa Romero keeps it at a distance.
Toney getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Santa Romero throws a sloppy head kick and Toney moves out of range easily.
Toney is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Santa Romero.
Toney misses with an uppercut
and Santa Romero counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Toney tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Santa Romero paws at him with a jab and circles away.
James Toney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toney tries to clinch there but Santa Romero circles away.
Toney tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Santa Romero counters with a big head kick but Toney shrugs it off.
Toney scores with a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Toney misses the target.
Toney wants to clinch.
Santa Romero only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Santa Romero lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Toney moves into the clinch.
A body shot lands from Santa Romero.
Santa Romero is trying to break the clinch but Toney has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Santa Romero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toney throws a head punch that misses.
Toney has a couple of punches blocked by Santa Romero.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Toney.
Toney has Santa Romero pressed against the cage, preventing Santa Romero from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Santa Romero goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Toney scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Santa Romero blocks an uppercut.
Toney throws a head punch that misses.
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!
Santa Romero can't break the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Toney.
Santa Romero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Toney's elbow.
Santa Romero is trying to break the clinch but Toney is controlling him.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Santa Romero misses with a punch to the body.
Santa Romero lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Toney or not.
Santa Romero wants to break the clinch but can't.
Toney throws a head punch that misses.
Santa Romero pushes Toney back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Santa Romero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Santa Romero working some nice short punches in the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Riptide Santa Romero will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Santa Romero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Toney.
Toney connects with a looping right hand.
Santa Romero scores with a head kick. Toney tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The fight stays on the outside here - Toney looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
It seemed like Santa Romero was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Toney moves into the clinch.

Santa Romero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Riptide Santa Romero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Toney looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Toney scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toney tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Santa Romero counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Santa Romero throws a push kick but Toney slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Santa Romero.
Santa Romero scores with a sloppy right hand. Toney should have avoided that one.
Toney fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Toney catches Santa Romero with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Santa Romero moves out of range as Toney strikes.
Toney avoids the body shot from Santa Romero.
Toney thows a left - swing and a miss!
Santa Romero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Toney wants to clinch.
Santa Romero throws a fast counter high kick but Toney manages to duck under it in time.
A swing and a miss from Toney.
Santa Romero replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Toney blocks it well.

Toney rushes Santa Romero and presses him up against the cage.
Toney is pushing Santa Romero up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch on the inside from Santa Romero fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Santa Romero's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Santa Romero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Toney throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Santa Romero counters with a nice body kick.
Santa Romero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santa Romero keeps the fight on the outside.
Santa Romero scores with a kick to the body.
Santa Romero throws a head kick that half lands.
Santa Romero throws a shot from downtown. Toney moves away and avoids it.
Santa Romero needs to keep his hands up - Toney had a free shot at his head there.
Toney fails in his attempt to clinch.
Toney is looking to clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Santa Romero. Toney does a little dance to reset his feet.
Santa Romero buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Toney is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Toney misses with a lunging right hand
and Santa Romero counters with a good, hard body kick but Toney shrugs it off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toney clinches with his opponent.
James Toney has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Santa Romero is working Toney over against the cage.
Santa Romero is trying to push Toney away but Toney has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Santa Romero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Toney wants to clinch.
Santa Romero looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Nice defenses there by Santa Romero.
Toney is looking to clinch but Santa Romero is avoiding it.
Santa Romero throws an overhand right that lands on Toney's shoulder, as Toney tries to avoid the shot.
Toney throws a hook but Santa Romero blocks it.
Santa Romero moves out of range of the strikes.
Santa Romero was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Jab, jab by Santa Romero - just one landing.
Santa Romero misses with an uppercut. Toney saw that one coming.
Santa Romero slips a straight right by Toney.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Toney closes the distance and clinches.

Santa Romero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Santa Romero gets tackled into the cage by Toney. Toney maintains the clinch.

Santa Romero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Toney waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santa Romero.
That kick from Santa Romero tenderised Toney's leg. Toney is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Toney tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Santa Romero counters with a head kick.
Toney doesn't manage to clinch there - Santa Romero circles away.
Toney throws a jab but it's blocked by Santa Romero.
Santa Romero has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Toney finds it's way round the side to connect with Santa Romero's head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Toney darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Santa Romero lands with a shot to the body.
Santa Romero swats away the attempt to clinch by Toney.
Santa Romero throws a head kick but Toney moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Riptide Santa Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Toney tries to clinch there but Santa Romero circles away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Santa Romero.
Toney misses with an uppercut
and Santa Romero counters with a nice kick to the body.

Toney rushes Santa Romero and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Santa Romero working hard to break the clinch.
Santa Romero tries to break free but Toney pushes him back against the cage.
Toney throws a punch but it's blocked by Santa Romero.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toney.

Santa Romero breaks the clinch.
Santa Romero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Toney looks to land a right hand but Santa Romero moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Santa Romero clobbers Toney with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Santa Romero fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Toney on the side of the head.
Toney closes the distance looking to clinch
and Santa Romero counters with a solid body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santa Romero works Toney's body with a nice hook.
Santa Romero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Toney on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Santa Romero scores with a push kick.
Santa Romero lands with a kick to the ribs.
Toney fails in his attempt to clinch.
Santa Romero thumps Toney with a low kick.
Santa Romero throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Santa Romero fakes the leg kick and cracks Toney in the body.
Santa Romero moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Santa Romero lands a nice looking body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santa Romero throws a front kick that sends Toney stumbling back into the cage.
Santa Romero lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Santa Romero misses with a head kick.
Santa Romero tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Toney was well out of range. Poor timing from Santa Romero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Romero scores with a hook.
Santa Romero fakes the leg kick and cracks Toney in the body.
Toney takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Santa Romero fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Toney.
Santa Romero throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Santa Romero lands a front kick.
Toney avoids the body shot from Santa Romero.
Toney tries to clinch but Santa Romero is having none of it.
Santa Romero looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
An inside leg kick lands from Santa Romero.
Santa Romero swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santa Romero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Toney getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Santa Romero scores with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Santa Romero.
Santa Romero lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Toney slips under a jab.
Toney throws out a loose jab but Santa Romero uses good head movement to avoid it.
Toney tries to close the distance and clinch up but Santa Romero swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Crunch! Santa Romero slams his shin into Toney's torso.
A good leg kick by Santa Romero.
Santa Romero lands a head kick. Toney smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Toney throws a big shot that misses.
Toney drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Toney tries to clinch but Santa Romero moves away
and Santa Romero counters with a head kick that wobbles Toney - left then right he sways and one more bomb from Santa Romero sends him down. This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Riptide Santa Romero!
In defeat, James Toney stepped up to the mic, saying 'He was the better man tonight, but I will come back stronger, no doubt'.