PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhari comes to the ring accompanied by Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. This should be fireworks!

Azhari
vs
Johnson

171 cm
25
153 lbs
8 - 8 - 1

175 cm
29
147 lbs
12 - 11 - 1

World class boxer
Granite chin

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ebrahim Azhari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Anthony Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Shirou Masuda and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhari is looking to slow Johnson down with leg kicks.
Azhari blocks the body kick.
Azhari digs a good hook to Johnson's body.
Azhari has been working on his boxing with his coaches at [CBK] Punch-kicker Academy in the buildup to the fight.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Azhari digs a good hook to Johnson's body.
A good leg kick by Azhari.
Johnson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azhari checks a low kick from Johnson.
Azhari connects with an inside leg kick.
Azhari tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Azhari is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Azhari misses with a looping right.
Johnson throws a wild body kick that Azhari sees coming a mile off.
Azhari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azhari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Johnson scores with a kick to the body.
Johnson looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Johnson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson keeps the fight on the outside.
Azhari wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Johnson throws a hook but Azhari blocks it.
Johnson throws the kick towards the body but Azhari avoids it.
Azhari wants to clinch.
Azhari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johnson manages to avoid it.

Johnson has managed to clinch.
Azhari misses with an elbow over the top.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Azhari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Johnson throws an elbow but it misses.
Azhari blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Johnson blocks it with crossed arms.
Azhari throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from Azhari, against the ropes.
Johnson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Azhari in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
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!
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Johnson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Johnson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Azhari creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Azhari is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azhari.
Johnson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Azhari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Azhari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Azhari avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Azhari misses with a knee strike.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Ebrahim Azhari has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azhari has a couple of punches blocked by Johnson.
Johnson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Azhari in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Azhari is breathing heavily.
Johnson lands an elbow just above Azhari 's eye.
Johnson looking to throw knees to the head but Azhari is blocking nicely.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Anthony Johnson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ebrahim Azhari's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azhari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Azhari tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Azhari takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Johnson tries to clinch up but Azhari circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson throws the kick towards the body but Azhari avoids it.

Johnson clinches up with Azhari and pushes him back against the ropes.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Azhari just misses with a elbow thrown towards Johnson's brow.
Azhari pushes off an throws an elbow but Johnson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Azhari blocks an elbow strike.
Azhari blocks an elbow strike.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnson avoids the elbow strike from Azhari, against the ropes.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Azhari stalling in the clinch but Johnson improves position.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Johnson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Anthony Johnson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Johnson throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson avoids a wild elbow strike from Azhari.
Johnson avoiding damage as Azhari throws knees to the body.
Azhari blocks an elbow strike.
Johnson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Azhari struggles to land a body shot inside as Johnson controls his hands.
Johnson avoids a wild elbow strike from Azhari.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Azhari lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Azhari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Azhari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Azhari misses with an elbow over the top.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Azhari throws a head punch that misses.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Johnson trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Azhari avoids it.
Johnson lands an elbow inside.
Azhari tries to stall but Johnson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Johnson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Azhari's defenses.
Johnson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhari is looking to control Johnson's arms but Johnson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Azhari has his back to the ropes.
Azhari blocks the elbow strike.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Johnson lands an elbow that stopped Azhari in his tracks for a moment.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Azhari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Azhari looking to stall.
Johnson takes an elbow to the forehead.
Nice elbow from Johnson.
Azhari pushes Johnson back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Johnson landing knees to the body.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Johnson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Johnson misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ebrahim Azhari's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Azhari, right into the meat.
Azhari keeps the fight on the outside.

Johnson gets a clinch.
Azhari wants to break free but Johnson has control.
Johnson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Johnson.
Knees to the body from Johnson.
Johnson blocks an uppercut.
Azhari dodges an elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Azhari's face.
Azhari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Azhari lands with a short shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhari takes an elbow to the temple.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Johnson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Azhari's brow.
Johnson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Azhari creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Azhari throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Johnsons head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson working Azhari over with knees to the body.
Johnson misses with a knee to the head.
Johnson pushes off an throws an elbow but Azhari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Johnson lands a knee to the head.
Johnson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Azhari lands with a light punch inside.
Johnson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Azhari's face.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Johnson lands a damaging elbow.
Johnson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Azhari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Johnson is keeping busy.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Azhari throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Johnson fails to land.
Azhari is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Johnson is defending well for now.
Azhari blocks the elbow strike.
Azhari blocks the elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Azhari avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhari avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson blocks an elbow strike from Azhari.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Johnson throws an elbow but misses.
Johnson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Johnson tries to land knees in the clinch but Azhari avoids the damage to the body.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Johnson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Azhari blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.
Azhari misses with an elbow strike.
Azhari lands an uppercut.
Azhari lands a left hand that snaps the head of Johnson backwards.
Johnson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Johnson lands an elbow just above Azhari 's eye.

Ebrahim Azhari's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azhari takes an elbow to the temple.
Azhari avoids a wild elbow strike from Johnson.
Johnson blocking some punches.
Azhari blocks the elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Johnson really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ebrahim Azhari's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Azhari throws a leg kick

and Johnson moves into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Johnson.
Azhari gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Azhari creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Johnson's defenses.
Azhari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Johnson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Azhari lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Azhari misses with a short punch on the inside.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Johnson.
Johnson comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Azhari taking a breather.
Johnson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Johnson lands an elbow inside that Azhari shrugs off.

Ebrahim Azhari's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Johnson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Azhari blocks it with crossed arms.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Azhari blocks an elbow strike from Johnson.
Azhari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Nice elbow from Johnson.
Johnson landing knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson misses with an elbow over the top.
Johnson working Azhari over with knees to the body.
Johnson scores with a knee to the head.
Johnson dodges an elbow strike from Azhari.
Johnson missing with knees to the body.
Azhari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Azhari is looking to break free of the clinch but Johnson has double underhooks.
Johnson lands an elbow that stopped Azhari in his tracks for a moment.
Johnson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Johnson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Johnson lands an elbow just above Azhari 's eye.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Johnson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nice elbow from Johnson.
Johnson blocks the elbow strike.
Johnson throws an elbow that misses.
Azhari takes a knee right on the jaw!

Jeez, Ebrahim Azhari's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson throws an elbow but it misses.
Johnson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Azhari in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Johnson.
Azhari misses with a punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Johnson.
Johnson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Azhari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Azhari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Johnson throws an elbow but it misses.
Azhari misses with the head strike.
Nice elbow from Johnson.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ebrahim Azhari's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Anthony Johnson!
Anthony Johnson took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.