PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Ubaldo Cortez (ranked 1900 p4p, 358 weight class) and Ngozi Chai (ranked 232 p4p, 48 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Ngozi Chai enters the ring!

Cortez
vs
Chai

186 cm
34
180
25 - 17 - 0

185 cm
26
185
12 - 3 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer
Conviction

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ubaldo Cortez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Ngozi Chai!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Cortez does it's job there.
Chai ducks under a wild hook from Cortez.

Chai closes the distance and pushes Cortez back into the ropes.
Cortez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Chai tries to work over Cortez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Chai tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cortez avoids it.

Cortez manages to break the clinch.
Cortez throws a leg kick but Chai checks it.
It seemed like Chai was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Chai tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cortez.
Chai misses with a body shot.
Cortez fires out a quick counter leg kick but Chai just manages to avoid it.
Chai looks to land a combination but Cortez avoids it well.
Chai throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cortez counters with a body kick.
A low kick from Cortez is predictable there
and Chai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Chai lands a nice looking kick to the body. Cortez takes a step back to recover.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Cortez gets tackled into the ropes by Chai. Chai maintains the clinch.
Cortez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Cortez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cortez lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Cortez misses.
Cortez misses with a straight right.

Chai drives through and clinches with Cortez against the ropes.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chai.
Chai swings wildly with an uppercut but Cortez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chai lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Chai looking to throw knees to the head but Cortez is blocking nicely.
Chai tries to land knees in the clinch but Cortez avoids the damage to the body.
I was talking to Cortez's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Cortez misses with a punch to the body.
Cortez lands a shoulder strike.
Cortez tries to land knees in the clinch but Chai avoids the damage to the body.
Chai tries to land a knee to the head but Cortez blocks with his arms.
Cortez misses with a punch to the body.
Chai lands a right hand.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chai.
Chai blocking some punches.

Cortez manages to break the clinch.
Cortez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Cortez throws the left hand but Chai avoids the punch easily.
Chai looks to throw the jab but Cortez is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cortez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Chai looks to score with a jab to the body but Cortez is just out of range.
Cortez cracks Chai with a good jab.
Cortez is looking to chop away at Chai's legs.
Cortez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Chai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cortez.
Cortez cracks Chai with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Cortez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Cortez throws an off balance right hand
and Chai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chai throws a lazy head kick
and Cortez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Cortez takes a swing at Chai's ribcage but misses.
Chai takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chai tries to clinch up.
Cortez missing with a left hand there. Chai was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cortez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Chai moves into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ubaldo Cortez will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Cortez swings for the body but Chai moves out of range.
Chai tries to clinch but Cortez is having none of it.
Cortez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cortez throws a jab but it's blocked by Chai.
Chai throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Chai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Chai throws a counter combo.
Cortez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Chai tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Cortez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Chai throws a hook to the side of Cortez's head but Cortez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Chai slips under a jab.
Cortez lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Chai throws a nice looking combination but Cortez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
An attempted straight right counter from Cortez misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez's corner calls for a 1-2. Cortez obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Cortez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Cortez.
Cortez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Chai was well out of range. Poor timing from Cortez.
Chai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Chai there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chai drives through and clinches with Cortez against the ropes.
Chai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Chai connects with a nasty looking knee right to Cortez's face.
Ngozi Chai seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short left from Cortez.
Chai blocks an uppercut.
Cortez pushes Chai back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cortez lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Chai backwards.
Chai throws a punch but it's blocked by Cortez.
Chai swings wildly with an uppercut but Cortez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chai misses with a punch on the inside.
Cortez swings wildly with an uppercut but Chai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cortez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Chai blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Chai misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Chai fails to land.
Chai lands a body punch in the clinch.
Cortez's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Chai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Chai has a couple of punches blocked by Cortez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cortez blocks a body shot from Chai.
Chai lands a knee to the head.
Chai misses with some punches.
Cortez misses with a punch to the body.
Cortez managing to block the knees to the body from Chai.
Chai scores with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Chai.
Cortez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cortez takes a shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Chai.
Chai working aggressively here.
Cortez throws an elbow that misses.
Chai misses with a body punch.
Chai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Chai landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A short body shot lands from Cortez as the two fighters clinch.
Chai pushes Cortez back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chai tries a low kick but Cortez avoids it.
Cortez looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ngozi Chai will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cortez moves away from the strike by Chai.
Chai throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cortez.
Ubaldo Cortez is winning the standup battle so far.
Chai throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cortez counters with a stiff right hand.
Chai lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Chai tries to clinch but Cortez is having none of it.
Cortez lands an overhand right.
Cortez misses with a straight left.
Cortez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Chai is looking to land body kicks.
Chai lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cortez circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut lands for Chai. That snapped Cortez's head back.
Cortez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Cortez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
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 walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Cortez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai wants to clinch but Cortez slips to the side
and Cortez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Chai thinking.
Cortez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Chai.
Cortez throws a poor cross that misses
and Chai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Cortez throws a leg kick
and Chai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chai misses with a left hand
and Cortez counters with a thumping low kick.
Cortez throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Chai chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Cortez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Chai counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cortez thinking.
A big left from Cortez misses.
Cortez throws a lazy uppercut
and Chai makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Cortez.
Cortez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cortez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cortez misses with an uppercut
and Cortez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chai checks the leg kick nicely there.
Chai takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Cortez walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Chai checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Cortez connects with a leg kick.
Chai throws a leg kick which misses Cortez's front leg but catches the back leg as Cortez tries to avoid it.
Chai dodges the punch combination from Cortez.
Chai ducks under a wild hook from Cortez.
Chai checks a low kick from Cortez.
Chai has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Cortez finds it's way round the side to connect with Chai's head.
Chai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cortez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Chai lands a nice looking body kick.
Chai defending well as Cortez loads up on a big left hand.
A bone on bone clash there as Cortez blocks the leg kick.
Chai misses with a low kick.
Cortez scores with a decent looking hook.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Chai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cortez.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Ubaldo Cortez did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Cortez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cortez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A leg kick checked by Chai.
Chai lands with a straight right. Cortez didn't see that one coming.
Chai swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cortez counters with a leg kick.
Chai wants to clinch.
Chai throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Chai 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.
Cortez throws the left hand but Chai avoids the punch easily.
Cortez scores with a hook to the body. Chai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Cortez walks into a straight right hand from Chai.
Chai throws a low kick but Cortez avoids it.
Cortez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chai clinches.
Chai's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Chai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Cortez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cortez tries to throw a body punch but Chai avoids it by throwing Cortez back against the ropes.
Cortez is trying to stall.
Cortez scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Chai misses with some punches.
Cortez swings wildly with an uppercut but Chai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cortez tries a body shot but Chai blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Cortez.
Chai misses with a knee strike.
Cortez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Chai is working Cortez over against the ropes.
Cortez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cortez blocks a body shot from Chai.
Chai lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the ropes.
Chai has a couple of punches blocked by Cortez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chai pushes Cortez back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A short right from Chai on the inside.
Cortez misses with the head strike.
A short right from Chai on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cortez misses with the head strike.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Chai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Chai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cortez's elbow.
Chai lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cortez backwards.
Chai misses with a punch on the inside.
Cortez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Chai.
Cortez misses with a punch to the body.
Cortez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Cortez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Chai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Cortezs head.
Chai lands a left hand.
Chai looking to throw knees to the head but Cortez is blocking nicely.
Chai tries a knee to the head but Cortez blocks it.
Cortez misses with the head strike.
Chai lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ngozi Chai dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A leg kick checked by Chai.
Cortez misses with a body kick.

Chai closes the distance and clinches.
Chai misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Cortez.
Chai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cortez lands a right hand.
Cortez tries to land knees in the clinch but Chai avoids the damage to the body.
Cortez has a couple of punches blocked by Chai.
Cortez throws a head punch that misses.
Chai swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Chai throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cortez blocks it with crossed arms.
Chai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cortez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cortez takes a knee right on the jaw!
Chai misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cortez tries a body shot but Chai blocks it.
Cortez lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Cortez.

Cortez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chai misses with a head kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Cortez.
Cortez is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Chai.
No joy there for Cortez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Chai ducks under a wild hook from Cortez.
Chai doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cortez throws an off balance right hand
and Chai counters with a head kick. That will keep Cortez thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A telegraphed right hand from Cortez misses the target.
Chai scores with the left hand. Cortez knows he should have avoided that one.
Chai fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cortez checks it well.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Chai.
Cortez lands a lovely overhand right.
Cortez throws a hook to the side of Chai's head but Chai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chai throws a jab but it's blocked by Cortez.
Cortez misses with a looping right.
Cortez turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cortez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Chai sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Chai thows a left - swing and a miss!
Cortez avoids the body shot from Chai.
Cortez misses with a low kick.
Chai misses with an uppercut.
Cortez is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cortez fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Cortez scores with a body shot.
Chai looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Cortez punishes Chai's body with a nice straight punch.
Chai uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Chai appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chai's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Chai throws a solid leg kick but Cortez takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Chai.
Cortez tried to counter with a leg kick but Chai avoided it.
Cortez moves out of range as Chai strikes.
Chai steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Cortez.
Chai moves out of range of the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ubaldo Cortez.
I think Cortez 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 48:47
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 48:47
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ubaldo Cortez!
Ubaldo Cortez retains his welterweight title!
Ubaldo Cortez decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.