PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julio El Toro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregory Scarpa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

El Toro
vs
Scarpa

178 cm
37
196 lbs
20 - 17 - 0

187 cm
30
189 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Sydney Fight Gear

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 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Julio El Toro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gregory Scarpa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Steve Erwin and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scarpa fails with the takedown.

Scarpa clinches up with El Toro and pushes him back against the cage.

Scarpa turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Scarpa tries to advance position but instead El Toro slips a leg back in to half guard.
El Toro blocking the ground and pound attempt from Scarpa.
El Toro tries to kick Scarpa off but Scarpa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
El Toro is not content to let Scarpa control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scarpa stops El Toro from getting back to his feet.
Scarpa wants to take a breather but El Toro is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
El Toro looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Scarpa seems to be working for a kimura but El Toro defends the submission attempt.
Scarpa thows a huge punch but El Toro dodges it nicely.
Scarpa throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Scarpa wants to lay and pray for a moment but El Toro keeps working.
Scarpa is looking to advance position but El Toro won't allow it.
Scarpa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
El Toro taking some punishment here, with Scarpa in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scarpa stalling away here and it's allowed El Toro to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Scarpa throwing strikes but missing.
Scarpa prevents El Toro from getting back to his feet.
Scarpa pushes down on El Toro's leg and manages to get into half guard.
El Toro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Scarpa's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Scarpa's back!
El Toro looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Scarpa wants to control his opponent's hands but El Toro gets his hands free.
El Toro controlling well, preventing Scarpa from escaping the position.
El Toro loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Scarpa hold on?
Scarpa rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scarpa missing with punches from the bottom.
El Toro looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Scarpa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Scarpa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of El Toro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take El Toro's back!
El Toro is trying to stand back up.
El Toro prevents Scarpa from getting a body triangle.
El Toro is really stuck here.

Scarpa is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
El Toro is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

El Toro fending off the submission attempt from Scarpa.

Scarpa is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. El Toro knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften El Toro for a finish.
El Toro wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Scarpa tries to get the hooks in deep but El Toro pushed the leg off.
Scarpa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control El Toro haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregory Scarpa dominated that round.
That's time! El Toro's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Scarpa fails to land the takedown.

Scarpa closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into El Toro's guard.

El Toro kicks Scarpa off and gets to his feet.
El Toro displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Scarpa.
The fight stays on the outside here - El Toro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
El Toro connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scarpa just misses with a punch to the body.
El Toro's jab looks to have found its range, popping Scarpa under the eye.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Scarpa is defended easily by El Toro.
Julio El Toro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregory Scarpa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scarpa moves away from the strike by El Toro.
Scarpa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
El Toro wants to clinch up but Scarpa keeps it at a distance.
Scarpa wants to clinch.
Nice straight punches there by El Toro. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of El Toro.
Some wild striking there from El Toro.
Scarpa with the counter takedown but El Toro avoids it easily.

El Toro tries to sprawl but Scarpa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Scarpa lands strikes from half guard.
Scarpa tries to pass the half guard into mount. El Toro knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Scarpa sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Scarpa trying to work for an americana but El Toro has managed to regain full guard.
Scarpa stays in close to El Toro's body and controls the position.
Gregory Scarpa has got the better of the ground game so far.
Scarpa trying to control the position from guard on top but El Toro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Scarpa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as El Toro works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
El Toro is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Scarpa is controlling him.
El Toro throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Toro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
El Toro keeping moving, preventing Scarpa from controlling successfully.
Scarpa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
El Toro avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Scarpa works over El Toro with some ground and pound from guard.

El Toro has his feet on Scarpa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Scarpa shoots in for a double leg but El Toro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As Scarpa backs away, El Toro returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
El Toro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Scarpa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from El Toro.
Scarpa has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Scarpa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and El Toro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scarpa just misses with a punch to the body.
El Toro lands a nice shot that snaps Scarpa's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
El Toro throws a right hand that Scarpa ducks under and follows up with a left that Scarpa also avoids with ease.
El Toro connects with a body shot that sends Scarpa's belly button to the back.
El Toro cracks Scarpa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice defenses there by Scarpa.

Scarpa feints and as El Toro raises his hands in defense, Scarpa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Scarpa looking to sit in guard and control but El Toro gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

Scarpa working for a triangle but El Toro defends it easily.

El Toro stands up from guard. Let's bang!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio El Toro dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Scarpa shoots for a takedown but El Toro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
El Toro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Scarpa on the wrong end of a nice jab.
El Toro misses with a body kick.
Nice sprawl there from El Toro as Scarpa shoots in.

Scarpa fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging El Toro to the ground. Scarpa is now in El Toro's guard.
Scarpa trying to control the position from guard on top but El Toro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
El Toro is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Scarpa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. El Toro is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scarpa wants to control from the top but El Toro keeps moving.
Scarpa passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Scarpa with the ground and pound but El Toro uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scarpa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

El Toro scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Scarpa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and El Toro connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Gregory Scarpa has been cut.
Julio El Toro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregory Scarpa.
Scarpa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
El Toro with a nice cross.
A chopping leg kick lands by El Toro.
El Toro stuffs the takedown attempt from Scarpa. Scarpa gets slowly back to his feet.
El Toro scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Toro wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
El Toro misses with a hook. Scarpa ducked under it nicely.
El Toro lands with a straight right. Scarpa didn't see that one coming.
Julio El Toro is winning the standup battle so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Scarpa throws a leg kick
and El Toro counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Scarpa moves out of range of the body kick.
El Toro goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
El Toro moves into range and connects with a jab.
El Toro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Scarpa drops down looking to force a counter takedown but El Toro defends it well.
El Toro looks to land a combination but Scarpa avoids it well.
El Toro throws a hook but Scarpa avoids it easily.
Scarpa fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
El Toro misses with a body shot.

Scarpa feints and as El Toro raises his hands in defense, Scarpa changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

El Toro has his feet on Scarpa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Scarpa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by El Toro.
El Toro thumps Scarpa with a low kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by El Toro.
Scarpa dives in for a single leg takedown but El Toro sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
El Toro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Scarpa can do to turn this around?
Scarpa misses with a takedown attempt - El Toro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
El Toro scores with a shot to the body.
Scarpa tries to work over El Toro's front leg with a kick but El Toro checks it.
El Toro throws a jab when Scarpa was well out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Scarpa looks for a takedown but El Toro sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scarpa walks into a left hand.
Scarpa gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Scarpa moves to clinch but El Toro breaks away
and El Toro counters with a nice body shot.
El Toro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Scarpa.
Scarpa changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
El Toro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Scarpa.
Scarpa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Scarpa slips under a jab.
El Toro throws a good cross that connects.
Scarpa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Julio El Toro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Scarpa drops his hands momentarily and El Toro takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Scarpa is rocked!
Scarpa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Scarpa with the counter takedown but El Toro avoids it easily.

Scarpa shoots in and gets a takedown into El Toro's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio El Toro showed his dominance in that final round.
I think El Toro 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio El Toro!
Julio El Toro bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.