Ryo Tajima booked his spot in the Road to UFC bantamweight final, outpointing Manipur, India’s Chungreng Koren by unanimous decision in a closely contested semifinal. All three judges scored it for Tajima, with scorecards reading 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28.
A Slow Start Before Ryo Tajima Found His Rhythm Against Chungreng Koren at Road To UFC Season 5 Semifinals
The Japanese bantamweight needed time to settle into the fight, spending much of the opening round working out his range and timing against an aggressive Koren. True to form, Koren came forward early, pushing the pace behind heavy strikes and big movement, while Tajima focused on avoiding significant damage as he found his footing in the contest.
As the fight progressed, Tajima’s sharper striking and higher output began to take control of the action. Koren, meanwhile, looked to change the pace by working to bring the fight to the canvas, though his offense from those positions was limited. That shift in momentum proved decisive on the judges’ scorecards, with Tajima’s volume and precision ultimately outweighing Koren’s forward pressure.
Fans Split on the Scoring of Ryo Tajima vs. Chungreng Koren
Despite the unanimous verdict, the decision hasn’t sat well with everyone watching. Several fans have argued that Koren, the fighter representing Manipur, India, in the tournament, deserved credit for rounds one and three based on his wrestling and control in those stretches.
Tajima now advances to the tournament final, where he’ll face Rabindra Dhant to determine who walks away as the Road to UFC bantamweight champion.
About The Author
