PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Chaz Popizicki (ranked 1997 p4p, 2663 weight class) and Ngozi Chai (ranked 261 p4p, 339 weight class). Chaz Popizicki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Popizicki
vs
Chai

182 cm
20
193
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
185
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Silverback Sweatshop
Stoner's Killer Apparel

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chaz Popizicki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ngozi Chai!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Popizicki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Chai.
A nice inside leg kick there by Chai. That's going to slow Popizicki down.
Popizicki throws a nice looking combination but Chai bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Chai is looking to clinch but Popizicki is avoiding it.
Chaz Popizicki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Popizicki throws a hook but Chai avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Chai! But no joy.
Popizicki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Chai fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Popizicki on the side of the head.
We've been hearing reports that Popizicki has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Popizicki thuds his right hand into Chai's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popizicki misses with a looping right.
Despite the aggression on Chai's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Chai throws a lazy right hand but Popizicki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Popizicki shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

It looks like Chaz Popizicki has been cut.
Chai thows a body kick. Popizicki tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Popizicki. That did some damage!
Popizicki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Chai.
Chai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Popizicki misses with a wild body shot.
Popizicki throws a jab when Chai was well out of range.
Popizicki ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Popizicki throws a hook to the side of Chai's head but Chai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Chai misses with a body kick.
Chai throws a right hand that Popizicki ducks under and follows up with a left that Popizicki also avoids with ease.
Popizicki misses with a body punch
and Popizicki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki lands a slapping body shot.
Popizicki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Popizicki just misses with a punch to the body.
Donk. Chai catches Popizicki right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Popizicki misses with a hook. Chai ducked under it nicely.
Popizicki tries to close the distance and clinch but Chai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Popizicki looks to land a left hand but Chai moved out of range nicely.

Popizicki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Popizicki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Chai moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Popizicki postures up in Chai's guard and throws a big left but Chai blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki looking to sit in guard and control but Chai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Popizicki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Popizicki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Popizicki has an active guard here but Chai has managed to pass into half guard.

Popizicki looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki moves into full guard.
Chai really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Popizicki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Chai avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Popizicki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Chai being controlled here momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ngozi Chai will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Chaz Popizicki's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fighters circle momentarily. Popizicki darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Good standup being displayed there by Popizicki as he connects with a hook.
Chai moves to clinch but Popizicki breaks away
and Popizicki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Popizicki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Popizicki throws out a loose jab but Chai uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Popizicki looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai lands with a short shot to the head.
Chai connects with a knee to the head.
Chai crunches a lovely knee into Popizicki's ribcage.

Chai breaks from the clinch.
Popizicki swings away with a body shot that misses
and Chai counters with a leg kick.
Popizicki misses with a left hand
letting Chai counter with a right hand.
Popizicki misses with a body shot.
A little jabbing left from Chai on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Popizicki misses with a looping left.
Chai throws a series of punches but Popizicki moves out of range.
Popizicki tries to counter with a takedown but Chai is quick to defend against it.
Chai defending well as Popizicki loads up on a big left hand.
Popizicki cracks a nice hook into Chai's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai throws a body punch but Popizicki moves out of range.
Popizicki throws a sloppy body shot

and Chai counters with a nice right hand that sends Popizicki toppling to the canvas! Popizicki scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Chai finish him?!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Popizicki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Popizicki throws a body shot but no joy.
Chai lands with a cross.
Popizicki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Chai let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Popizicki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chai looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Popizicki swings for the body but Chai moves out of range.
Ngozi Chai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Popizicki throws a hook but Chai avoids it easily.
Chai slips a straight right by Popizicki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Popizicki loads up on a big right hand but Chai slips the punch.
Popizicki lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Popizicki throws a body punch but Chai moves out of range.
Chai misses the shot to the body.
Chai scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Chai lands a two punch combo.
Ngozi Chai seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Popizicki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Popizicki is trying to control the action in half guard but Chai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Popizicki takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Popizicki is keen to just control but Chai is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Popizicki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Chai is defending against the submission attempts here by Popizicki.
Popizicki working over Chai with some ground and pound. Chai looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ngozi Chai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chaz Popizicki'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. This is the final round!

A slow jab from Popizicki misses its intended target.
Chai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Popizicki.
Despite the aggression on Chai's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Chai wants to clinch up but Popizicki keeps it at a distance.
Popizicki appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Chai lands a big head kick that sends Popizicki tumbling to the mat! Chai takes a step backwards and waves Popizicki back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Popizicki is rocked!
Popizicki misses with a hook to the body
and Chai counters with a series of strikes that practically lifts Popizicki off his feet! He tumbles backwards, his head bouncing off the mat - Chai follows up with more strikes before the ref can step in but Popizicki was out before he hit the floor.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Ngozi Chai!
After winning the bout, Ngozi Chai thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.