PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tadahiro Nomura (ranked 354 p4p, 1451 weight class) and Dragon Li Chai (ranked 21 p4p, 90 weight class). Dragon Li Chai has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nomura
vs
Chai

165 cm
21
142
7 - 1 - 0

172 cm
22
145
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tadahiro Nomura!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Dragon Li Chai!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nomura staying out of range there.
It looked like Nomura wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Chai is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nomura.
Chai throws a jab but it's blocked by Nomura.
It looked like Nomura was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Chai.
Chai connects with a single shot there.
Nomura moves out of range as Chai strikes.
Chai throws a poor cross that misses
and Nomura counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've been hearing reports that Nomura has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A telegraphed right hand from Chai misses the target.
A counter left hand to the body from Nomura misses its target.
Chai connects with a right hand. Nomura shakes it off.
Nomura misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Chai.
Chai lands a jab-cross combination.
Chai fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nomura.
Nomura throws a body punch but Chai moves out of range.
Chai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nomura.
A lazy left from Chai finds it's target.
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!
Chai misses with a body shot.
Nomura appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Chai with a nice calf kick.
A swing and a miss from Chai.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai misses with a kick to the body.
Nomura is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Chai misses with the combination.
Nomura changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nomura stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Chai.
Chai throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nomura half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Chai throws a lazy uppercut
and Nomura counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Chai thinking.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nomura. Chai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nomura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chai.
Chai misses with a double jab.
Nomura bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nomura ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nomura takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Chai moves out of range of the leg kick from Nomura.
Chai lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nomura moves in looking to clinch but Chai pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai scoring well with a low kick there.
Nomura throws a hook but Chai blocks it.
Nomura dodges the punch combination from Chai.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nomura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chai.
Nomura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chai.
Nomura swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nomura blocks a head kick by Chai.
Nice shot by Chai.
Good exchange - Chai coming out on top.
Nomura throws a low kick but it's checked well by Chai.
Chai is looking to slow Nomura down with leg kicks.
Nomura defending well as Chai loads up on a big left hand.
Chai throws a combination that misses

and Nomura counters with a single leg into guard. Chai didn't expect that.
Nomura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chai swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nomura postures up.
Nomura prevents Chai from getting back to his feet.

Nomura drops back looking for a leg! Chai is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Chai manages to kick Nomura off! Nomura jumps back into Chai's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Nomura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chai is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nomura keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
No joy there for Chai, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dragon Li Chai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chai connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Nomura's hands.
Chai misses the jab.
A quick step to the side and Nomura tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nomura throws a body punch but Chai moves out of range.
Chai scores with a jab to the body.
Chai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nomura lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Chai pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nomura moves away from the strike by Chai.
Chai throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Nomura is looking to wear down Chai with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nomura takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Chai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nomura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nomura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chai.
Chai throws the left hand but Nomura avoids the punch easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nomura misses with a hook. Chai ducked under it nicely.
Chai fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Nomura manages to avoid it.
Nomura attempts a counter takedown but Chai avoids it well and moves away.
Chai connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Chai missing with a left hand there. Nomura was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Chai throws a looping overhand right but Nomura ducks down to avoid it.
Chai looks to land a right hand but Nomura moved out of range.
Chai stuffs the takedown attempt from Nomura. Nomura gets slowly back to his feet.
Nomura takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nomura gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Chai.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nomura throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nomura avoids the body shot from Chai.
Nomura connects with a body shot.
Chai lands a head shot.
Nomura takes a swing at Chai's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nomura uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Chai.
Chai scores with a jab to the jaw.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nomura checks a leg kick.
As Chai looks to move away, Nomura throws a big counter combo but Chai just gets out of the way.
Nomura takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nomura moves out of range as Chai strikes.
Nomura feinted with a counter takedown.
Chai lands a really nice looking cross but Nomura seems unphased.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Nomura checks a leg kick.
A jab from Chai does it's job there.
Nomura staying out of range there.
Chai moves out of range of the strikes.
Chai takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Chai scores with a nice head shot.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Chai enables Nomura to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Chai manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Nomura looking to sit in guard and control but Chai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nomura holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nomura is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Chai rolls with it to try and escape but Nomura cranks on the arm and Chai is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tadahiro Nomura!
Tadahiro Nomura retains his bantamweight title!
During a confident post fight interview, Tadahiro Nomura thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.