PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Corona (ranked 261 p4p, 721 weight class) and Dragon Li Chai (ranked 35 p4p, 44 weight class). Corona's entrance music is Lil Baby, Lil Durk - How It Feels. A fine choice. Juan Corona had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 137.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The key to victory for Juan Corona has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Corona
vs
Chai

185 cm
27
151
14 - 5 - 1

165 cm
27
146
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

SynCity Fightwear
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Juan Corona!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dragon Li Chai!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chai throws a big shot that misses.

Chai shoots in and gets a takedown into Corona's guard.
Corona looking to hit a scissor sweep but Chai is one step ahead there.
Chai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chai wants to control from the top but Corona keeps moving.
Chai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Corona swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Corona bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chai's guard.

Chai can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Corona controls the pace.

Chai working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Corona doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Corona manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corona being controlled here momentarily.

Chai is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Corona trying to control the position from guard on top but Chai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chai is controlling Corona's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chai is trying to keep Corona in close.
Corona is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Corona passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Chai is looking to reverse the position.
Corona tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Chai is not content to let Corona control the position.
Chai struggling a bit here.
Corona tries to advance to mount but can't.
Chai wants to control but Corona postures up.
Chai tries to bench press Corona off him but Corona keeps the position.

Corona tries for a kimura but Chai is defending well.
Corona is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Chai's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai tries to improve position but can't.

Corona looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Corona trying to control the action but Chai is working from the bottom.
Corona will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Chai is looking for a sweep.
Chai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Corona wants to control but Chai is keeping him busy.
Corona tries to advance to mount but Chai denies him.
Chai can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Chai is being controlled here.
Chai is trying to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Chai's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Corona advances to full mount.
Chai is squirming around, avoiding Corona's attempts to control the action.
Corona controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chai tries to hold on but Corona postures up.
Chai manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Corona dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Corona lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Corona is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Chai can do to turn this around?
Corona throws a lazy right hand but Chai sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Corona displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Chai.
Corona throwing a counter right hand but Chai manages to avoid it.
Chai takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Chai misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Corona to counter with a crisp jab.
Corona dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai misses the shot to the body.
Chai fails with the takedown.
Chai is trying hard to land a takedown here. Corona sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Corona throwing a counter right hand but Chai manages to avoid it.
Juan Corona has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dragon Li Chai.
Corona throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai slips a jab from Corona.
Corona throws the left hand but Chai avoids the punch easily.
Corona connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Corona really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Chai throws out a loose jab but Corona uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chai with a poor takedown
and Chai takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Chai swings for the body but Corona moves out of range.
Corona misses with a hook

and Chai counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Corona controlling the position for now.

Corona is defending against the submission attempts here by Chai.
Chai prevents Corona from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Corona trying to control here.
Chai takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Chai is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Chai is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Corona defends it well.
Corona is looking for a sweep. Chai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Chai is looking to take a break and control but Corona is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chai passes to full mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Corona is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chai wants to finish this one by submission but Corona is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Chai.
Corona is squirming around, avoiding Chai's attempts to control the action.

Chai is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Corona is surviving well by controlling Chai's body position as best he can.
Chai takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
Corona tries to roll but Chai sticks to his back.

Corona is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Corona breaks Chai's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chai wants to sweep here but Corona controlling him for the moment.
Corona controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Chai looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Chai keeping full guard, as Corona tries to pass.
Chai wants to sweep here but Corona controlling him for the moment.
Chai controls Corona momentarily but Corona frees himself.
Corona has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Corona not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Corona forces his way into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Corona dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Corona misses with a straight right.
Chai is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Chai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Corona looking for subs off his back but Chai has passed one foot through into half guard.
Corona won't allow Chai to pass to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chai passes to full mount!
Corona can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corona is working hard here to advance position.
Chai trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Chai moves to the back.

Chai is persistently looking for the submission but Corona is defending it well.

Chai looking to break Corona's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Corona remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Chai will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Chai is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Chai is hanging on to Corona's back as he tries to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Chai not allowing Corona to control his hands.
Corona tries to break free.
Corona trying to control but not successfully.

Chai has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Chai struggling to keep hold of the position.

Chai is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Corona is really stuck here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chai not allowing Corona to control his hands.
Chai is trying to stick to Corona's back but Corona is turning into Chai. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Chai's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Corona.

Chai has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Corona can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Corona pushes down on Chai's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Chai makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Chai.
Corona trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Corona is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chai working for submissions but it's allowed Corona to get to half guard.
Still in half guard, Corona seems content to control.
Chai wants to control but Corona is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Corona seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Corona wants to pass the guard but Chai is defending well.
Dragon Li Chai has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dragon Li Chai really dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Chai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chai moves forwards but Corona connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jab from Corona.
Corona gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Chai counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Chai seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Corona is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Dragon Li Chai!
After the fight, Dragon Li Chai was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.
In defeat, Juan Corona stepped up to the mic, saying 'Humble in victory, humble in defeat! Huge respect for my opponent for putting the work to outplay my gameplan, I am sure at some point we will run this back, celebrate it while you have it! Thanks to everyone who came here to support me and keep's supporting me even after this fight! '.