PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tomi Atomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kyle Romo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atomi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Spookshow Baby. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Atomi
vs
Kyle Romo

191 cm
30
181 lbs
19 - 5 - 1

190 cm
27
184 lbs
24 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fight Night Nutrition

Nutrition Your Way!
Fight Night Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tomi Atomi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Kyle Romo!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Alyssa Summers and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atomi throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Romo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Romo jabs Atomi right on the nose. Atomi blinks but takes it well.
Atomi throws a leg kick but Romo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Romo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Romo throws a leg kick but Atomi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Romo misses with a low kick.

Romo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Romo with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Romo blocks a body shot from Atomi.
A shot in the inside from Romo.
Atomi scores with a shoulder strike.
Romo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Atomi.
Atomi lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romo scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Atomi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Romo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Atomi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Romo just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Atomi as Romo tries to tie him up.

Atomi breaks from the clinch.
Romo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Atomi.
Atomi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Atomi connects with an inside leg kick.
Romo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
John Kyle Romo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Atomi motions for Romo to come forward. Atomi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Romo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Romo thumps Atomi with a low kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Atomi blocks the leg kick.
Atomi throws a leg kick but Romo sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Romo tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Atomi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Atomi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
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!
Atomi working the head with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Atomi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Atomi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romo keeps working.
Atomi throws a strike aimed at the side of Romo's head but Romo avoids it well.
Atomi is looking to take a break and control but Romo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atomi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Romo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Romo wants to control but Atomi postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Atomi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romo keeps working.
Atomi working the ground and pound but Romo is defending the strikes.
Atomi 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.
Atomi tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Atomi tries to score with some ground and pound. Romo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Atomi controlling the position from side mount.
Atomi working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Atomi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romo keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atomi throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Romo is not content to let Atomi control the position.
Atomi working the head with strikes.
Atomi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Romo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Romo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Atomi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Atomi dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Atomi misses the shot to the body.
Romo misses with a leg kick.
Atomi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Atomi misses with a leg kick
and Romo counters with an inside leg kick.
Romo feints and then cracks Atomi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Atomi down.
Atomi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Romo is looking to land body kicks.

Romo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Romo tries to land a knee to the head but Atomi blocks with his arms.
Romo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Atomi's face.
Atomi is looking to take this one to the mat.
Romo connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Tomi Atomi has been cut.
Romo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Romo blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Atomi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Romo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Atomi avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atomi managing to block the knees to the body from Romo.
Romo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Atomi working aggressively here.

Atomi jumps guard.
Romo trying to control but Atomi is working from the bottom.
Romo stopping the sweep attempt from Atomi.
Atomi is trying to control the position but Romo postures up.
Atomi looking for a sweep. Not yet Atomi, not yet.
Romo passes Atomi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Atomi is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atomi tries to roll over but Romo keeps him under control.
Romo trying to control the action but Atomi is working from the bottom.
Atomi is looking to control Romo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Atomi avoid being mounted?
Romo is keen to just control but Atomi is a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Atomi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Romo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Atomi trying to control the position.
Atomi is looking to sweep but instead, Romo has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atomi is trying to maintain the position but Romo is very close to passing his half guard.
Romo is keen to just control but Atomi is a slippery customer.
Romo is taking a breather. Atomi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Atomi tries to get to full guard but Romo has control of the leg.
Atomi is trying to maintain the position but Romo is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Atomi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Romo's head backwards.
Romo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Atomi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Romo wants to clinch.
Romo looks to land a right hand but Atomi moved out of range.
Romo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Romo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Atomi.
Atomi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Romo connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Atomi scrambles back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atomi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Atomi ducks right into an uppercut from Romo.
Atomi loads up on a big right hand but Romo slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Kyle Romo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tomi Atomi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Romo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Atomi looks to land a body kick but Romo moved away.
Romo cracks the inside of Atomi's front leg.
Atomi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Romo swivels and escapes.
Atomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Romo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Romo thuds his right hand into Atomi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A chopping leg kick lands by Atomi.
Romo tries to close the distance and clinch but Atomi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
An inside leg kick from Atomi misses.
A low kick from Romo misses

and Atomi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Romo's guard.
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!
Atomi wants to control from the top but Romo keeps moving.
Romo can't keep his opponent in guard - Atomi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Atomi is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Romo as he works his way to full guard.
Atomi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Atomi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Romo trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Atomi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romo has his feet on Atomi's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Horrible takedown by Atomi or perhaps it was just good defense by Romo which made him look bad.
Atomi lands a lovely overhand right.
Atomi misses the jab.
A clash of legs there as Atomi blocks the low kick.
Atomi closes the distance and clinches up with Romo, looking for a takedown. Atomi pushes Romo against the cage but Romo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tomi Atomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Atomi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
John Kyle Romo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Atomi moves out of range of the strikes.
Atomi misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Romo does no damage.
A telegraphed right hand from Atomi misses the target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Romo.
Nice sprawl there from Romo as Atomi shoots in.
Romo throws a low kick but Atomi moves out of range easily.
Atomi misses with a body shot.
Romo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Nice defenses there by Romo.

Atomi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Romo looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Atomi trying to control the position but Romo is working away.
Romo defending against the ground and pound.
Atomi cracks Romo with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romo is trying to control Atomi's posture but Atomi avoids it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Atomi sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Romo is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Atomi in side control, throwing shots but Romo defends.
Romo dodges the ground and pound from Atomi.
Atomi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Romo!
Atomi wants to control the pace but Romo is squirming around nicely.

Atomi has control of Romo's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Romo regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Tomi Atomi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Atomi clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Tomi Atomi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Atomi is looking to score with low kicks.
Romo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Romo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Romo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
John Kyle Romo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Atomi moves out of range of the strikes.
Romo blocks a head kick by Atomi.
Romo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Atomi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Atomi has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Atomi there as he acknowledges the shot.
Atomi walks into a stiff left hand from Romo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romo misses with a body kick.
Romo lands with an uppercut that bounces Atomi off the cage and back into range.
Atomi connects with a leg kick. Romo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A slow jab from Romo misses its intended target.
Romo looks to land a body kick but Atomi moved away.
Romo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Atomi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Romo moves out of range as Atomi throws a body kick.
Atomi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Romo is out of range and Atomi settles back down.
Romo misses with a leg kick.
Atomi cracks Romo with a good jab.
Atomi circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romo paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Atomi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Romo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Atomi lands with a right hand.
Atomi throws a body punch but Romo moves out of range.
Atomi's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Atomi duly obliges.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Atomi throws a lazy right hand but Romo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Romo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Atomi misses with a body kick.
Romo cracks the inside of Atomi's front leg.
Romo cracks the inside of Atomi's front leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Romo misses with a hook

and Atomi counters with a single leg into guard. Romo didn't expect that.
Romo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Romo prevents Atomi from improving his position.
Romo is controlling the pace.
Atomi wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romo is controlling the pace.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Atomi trying to control here.

John Kyle Romo has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Romo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Atomi is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atomi swats away the attempt to clinch by Romo.
Atomi looks to land a left hand but Romo moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kyle Romo dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Tomi Atomi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A jab from Romo misses.
Romo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Atomi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Romo can pounce on him.
Atomi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Atomi blocks a jab.
Romo throws a nice looking combination but Atomi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Romo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Atomi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Romo. That did some damage!
Atomi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A big right from Romo misses.
Atomi tries to score with a low kick but Romo moves his leg out of the way.
Atomi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atomi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Atomi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Romo. Romo obviously looking to wear him down.
Atomi connects with a leg kick. Romo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Romo defending well as Atomi loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Romo finds it's way through Atomi's defenses.
Romo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Atomi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice defenses there by Atomi.
Atomi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romo connects with a good right hand that stumbles Atomi. Atomi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Atomi closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Romo to the mat! Romo manages to get full guard.
Atomi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Romo is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romo looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Atomi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Atomi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Atomi is pressing down on Romo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Romo is holding on for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Atomi is working hard here to advance position.
Atomi throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Romo to regain full guard.
Atomi postures up in Romo's guard and throws a big left but Romo blocks it.
Atomi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Atomi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atomi throws a big elbow that misses.
Romo wants to sweep here but Atomi controlling him for the moment.
Romo is trying to keep Atomi in close.
Atomi works over Romo with some ground and pound from guard.
Romo wants to sweep here but Atomi controlling him for the moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Romo holds on and takes a little breather.
Atomi throws a big elbow that misses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Atomi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atomi postures up.
Romo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Atomi forces his way into half guard.
Atomi throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Romo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Romo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Romo being controlled here, momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romo is trying to keep Atomi in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tomi Atomi.
I think Atomi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 48:47
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 48:47
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomi Atomi!
Tomi Atomi retains his welterweight title!
In his post fight interview, Tomi Atomi started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.