If you don’t know who the “B-side” of BKFC Spain’s main event is, you’re about to find out. And he is certainly no “B-side.”
Tony “Loco” Soto enters the biggest fight of his life on Saturday, October 12th, when he takes on Franco Tenaglia for the vacant BKFC Lightweight World Championship. Since Soto’s name is on the right of the poster, in combat sports, that implies he is the “B-side.” Suggesting he may be the underdog, the lesser known fighter, not the main attraction, etc. All of those things might be true here considering he is fighting Tenaglia in his backyard of Marbella, Spain. But here’s what “B-side” can’t tell you. It doesn’t matter what side of the poster you’re on when you step inside the squared circle.
Here’s what I think you should know about Tony “Loco” Soto.
BKFC RESUME
Soto has never lost in BKFC carrying a 6-0 record with three stoppages going into Saturday night. That’s three more fights and wins than Tenaglia has. Soto had three wins in 2023 alone. One of those came against former bare knuckle world champion and BKFC world title challenger Tyler Goodjohn in the main event of BKFC 42. That was Soto’s only main event in the company leading up to BKFC Spain.
Soto’s last win came over the undefeated Kevin Croom. The win before Goodjohn was against Wayna Reid who was making his debut and went on to win his next two fights. Before that was an experienced MMA fighter in Joshua Morales. Soto’s second win in BKFC came against Shawn Moffett who was also 1-0 at the time. Finally in Soto’s debut, he beat fellow debutant Joshua Sikes who went on to win his next two fights.
Can you believe that this man showed up to a BKFC tryout in Alabama and they didn’t pick him to join the company? Yeah, that actually happened. Luckily for Soto and BKFC, GOAT Combat Agency did see something in Soto and managed to get him in the organization regardless.
ROOTS
Soto was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to a mother who was 18 years old when she had him, who also dealt with some addiction problems during his childhood. He recalls his first “fist-fight” happening when he witnessed his mother being abused by her partner at the time and at 4 or 5 years old, Soto tried to stand up for her by punching the man in the stomach. The man threw Soto to the ground but that wouldn’t be the last time Tony used those fists for good.
Soto moved around a lot during his life, eventually ending up in Hickory, North Carolina where he currently resides.
He has a wife and is a father of two daughters.
SKATEBOARDING
If Tony Soto wasn’t a great fighter, he might’ve been an equally talented skateboarder. The profession that he says he actually wanted to pursue growing up. A hobby that he still enjoys to this day. In fact, one of his idols was Geoff Rowley, a pro skateboarder who was featured in the majority of the Tony Hawk Franchise video games. He is now a big fan of Soto’s career.
OTHER JOBS
Until just recently Soto had everyday jobs outside of beating people up. The one he just moved on from was being a corrections officer at a maximum security level 3 prison in Carolina. A job that he enjoyed and recommends to anyone looking for a good paying job. He also worked at Fedex which he didn’t enjoy.
POSSIBLE FUTURE OPPONENTS
Former two-division BKFC champion Luis Palomino and world title challenger Bryan Duran. Soto has had beef with both of them in the past.
“LOCO”
The Spanish word for crazy. Tony’s nickname represents who he is once he starts to make his ring walk. Fitting, since you do have to be a little crazy if you’re going to step into the squared circle.
Photo courtesies: BKFC
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