PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregory Jules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhari kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. Gregory Jules struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Azhari
vs
Jules

171 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 9 - 1

180 cm
33
160 lbs
24 - 16 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Conquer

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 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ebrahim Azhari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Gregory Jules!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Jules is out of range.
A lazy body kick from Jules
and Azhari counters with a nice leg kick.
Azhari has been working on his boxing with his coaches at [CBK] Punch-kicker Academy in the buildup to the fight.
Jules throws the kick towards the body but Azhari avoids it.
Jules throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
Azhari misses with a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Jules checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Jules throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jules tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azhari throws a wild body kick that Jules sees coming a mile off.
Azhari jabs at Jules's body.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Jules. Azhari shrugs it off though.
Jules throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari cracks the inside of Jules's front leg.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Azhari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jules struggles to land a body shot inside as Azhari controls his hands.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jules misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
Jules works on Azhari's body with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jules has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Azhari throws a punch but it's blocked by Jules.
Jules tries to throw a body punch but Azhari avoids it by throwing Jules back against the ropes.
Azhari blocks a body shot from Jules.
Azhari throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Azhari has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Jules breaks from the clinch.
Jules is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gregory Jules seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azhari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Azhari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azhari lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Azhari lands the left hand.

Jules closes the distance and clinches.
Azhari avoiding damage as Jules throws knees to the body.

Jules breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jules steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Jules bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari connects with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhari takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Azhari has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Jules.
Azhari throws a front kick aimed at Jules's knee but Jules avoids it well.
Jules lands a head kick. Azhari smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Azhari takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jules is looking to land body kicks.
Azhari throws a leg kick which misses Jules's front leg but catches the back leg as Jules tries to avoid it.
Azhari moves out of range as Jules throws a body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Azhari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Azhari 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.
Azhari throws a shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jules tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Jules rushes Azhari and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Jules blocks an uppercut.
Azhari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Azhari wants to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ebrahim Azhari will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jules closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Azhari lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jules backwards.
Jules avoiding damage as Azhari throws knees to the body.

Jules breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jules goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Good leg kick by Azhari there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Azhari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jules misses with a body kick.
Jules scoring well with a low kick there.
Azhari turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Azhari lands a lovely overhand right.
Azhari blocks the body kick.

Jules fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Azhari, pushing him back against the ropes.
Jules takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Gregory Jules has been cut.
Azhari throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jules scores with a hook 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!
Azhari throws a head punch that misses.
Azhari lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jules backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jules stalling.
Jules blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azhari is looking to control Jules's arms but Jules gets an underhook and turns him. Now Azhari has his back to the ropes.
Jules avoids the elbow strike from Azhari, against the ropes.
Jules is looking to control Azhari's arms but Azhari gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jules has his back to the ropes.
Azhari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Jules misses with a punch to the body.
Jules is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Azhari is defending well for now.
Azhari tries to land a knee to the head but Jules blocks with his arms.
Jules avoids the elbow strike from Azhari, against the ropes.
Azhari is trying to maintain a safe position but Jules gets an underhook and turns Azhari into the ropes.
Azhari throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jules misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
Jules misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
Azhari is looking to control Jules's arms but Jules gets an underhook and turns him. Now Azhari has his back to the ropes.

Jules breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jules throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

Jules has taken the fight to the clinch.
Azhari misses with an elbow over the top.
Azhari creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Azhari misses with an elbow over the top.
Jules utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gregory Jules seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jules stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Jules.
Azhari lands an elbow that stopped Jules in his tracks for a moment.
Jules trying to land knees to the body.
Jules blocking some punches.
Azhari is trying to break free.

Jules breaks from the clinch.
Jules looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jules lets loose with a powerful body kick. Azhari will feel that in the morning.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jules stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azhari.
Good leg kick by Azhari there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Azhari wants to slow Jules down by chopping away at his legs.
Jules chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azhari can pounce on him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gregory Jules will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gregory Jules's cut.
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.

Azhari scores with a hook to the body. Jules takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jules looks to throw a body kick
and Azhari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jules misses with a kick to the body
and Azhari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jules throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Jules gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Azhari counters with a nice body shot.
Jules throws a body kick that misses.
Jules is looking to clinch.
Azhari moves out of range as Jules throws a body kick.
Jules looks to land a body kick but Azhari moved away.
Good leg kick by Azhari there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ebrahim Azhari is winning the standup battle so far.
Azhari is looking to clinch.
Azhari tries to clinch there but Jules circles away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Azhari.

Jules pushes Azhari up against the ropes in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhari is trying to maintain a safe position but Jules gets an underhook and turns Azhari into the ropes.
Jules trying to land knees to the body.
Azhari throws an elbow that misses.
Jules is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Azhari is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Jules.
Jules throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Azhari blocks it with crossed arms.
Jules takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short right from Azhari.
Jules taking a breather.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Azhari tries to break free but Jules pushes him back against the ropes.
Azhari gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Jules tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Azhari avoids it.
Azhari stalling in the clinch but Jules improves position.
Jules blocks an elbow strike from Azhari.

Jules manages to break the clinch.
Jules's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Azhari closes the distance and pushes Jules back into the ropes.
A short uppercut from Azhari.
Jules blocks an elbow strike from Azhari.
Knees in the clinch landing for Jules.
Azhari is trying to break the clinch but Jules has him pressed against the ropes.
Jules misses with a punch to the body.
Jules using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Azhari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Azhari misses with an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Azhari.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jules misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
Jules taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Azhari pushes off an throws an elbow but Jules leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Azhari avoiding damage as Jules throws knees to the body.
Azhari works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Jules missing with knees to the body.
Jules throws a knee to the head but misses.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Azhari gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Azhari misses with a punch to the body.
Jules with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azhari with a knee to the head.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Azhari working Jules over with knees to the body.
Azhari tries to land knees in the clinch but Jules avoids the damage to the body.
Azhari lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Gregory Jules's cut.
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.

Azhari lands a jab to Jules's midsection.
Jules is looking to clinch.
Azhari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Azhari is looking to chop away at Jules's legs.
Jules tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azhari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Azhari connects with a body shot that sends Jules's belly button to the back.
Azhari misses with a few strikes there.
Azhari feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jules's calf.
Jules takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Azhari buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Azhari moves out of range of the body kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Azhari.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhari swats away the attempt to clinch by Jules.
Azhari lands a nice shot to the body.
Jules is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Azhari throws out a leg kick but Jules moves out of range and Azhari only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azhari throws out a leg kick but Jules moves out of range and Azhari only half commits.
Jules takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jules checks a leg kick.
Azhari misses with a two punch combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for Azhari.
Azhari swings for the body but Jules moves out of range.
Jules throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Azhari counters with a leg kick.
Azhari throws a front kick aimed at Jules's knee but Jules avoids it well.
Jules looks for the body kick but Azhari saw that one coming.
Azhari throws a solid leg kick but Jules takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Azhari.
Jules takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Azhari 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.
Azhari blocks a head kick by Jules.
Azhari feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jules's calf.
Jules stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azhari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Azhari. That's going to slow Jules down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azhari is looking to clinch.
Jules on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Azhari feints and then cracks Jules's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jules down.
Jules throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari connects with a solid leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Azhari.
That kick from Azhari tenderised Jules's leg. Jules is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jules looks to clinch
and Azhari counters with a left to the body.
Jab from Azhari.
Azhari scores with a sloppy right hand. Jules should have avoided that one.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice uppercut lands for Azhari. That snapped Jules's head back.

Jules is rocked!
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Jules is still on wobbly legs! Can Azhari finish him?
Azhari is looking to slow Jules down with leg kicks.
Jules seems to have recovered his senses.
Azhari tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Jules manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari had his way with Gregory Jules in that round.
The cut man is working on Gregory Jules's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jules swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Azhari with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Azhari.
Jules looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Azhari lands with an uppercut that bounces Jules off the ropes and back into range.
Azhari is looking to score with low kicks.
Azhari connects with a nice looking jab.
Azhari tries to score with a low kick but Jules moves his leg out of the way.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Azhari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Azhari takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jules is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Azhari moves out of range as Jules throws a body kick.

Jules closes the distance and clinches.
Azhari lands with a left to the head.
Ebrahim Azhari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jules is trying to maintain a safe position but Azhari gets an underhook and turns Jules into the ropes.
Azhari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jules lands a knee to the body.
Jules is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Jules misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
Azhari lands a left hand that snaps the head of Jules backwards.
Azhari scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Jules tries to land knees in the clinch but Azhari avoids the damage to the body.
Azhari creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Jules's defenses.
Azhari lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jules is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Azhari is defending well for now.
Jules is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Jules.
Azhari throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Azhari misses with an elbow strike.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Azhari is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Jules is keeping busy.
Azhari misses with an elbow over the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jules trying to stall but Azhari improves his position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Azhari misses with an elbow strike.
Azhari tries to stall but Jules uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Azhari.

That has opened up Gregory Jules's cut even more.
Jules lands a knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jules blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Jules missing with knees to the body.

Jules escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jules stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azhari.
Jules moves out of range as Azhari throws a body kick.
Azhari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jules checks it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A head kick misses from Jules.
Azhari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gregory Jules has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azhari looks to throw the jab but Jules is out of range.

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 Ebrahim Azhari.
I think Azhari 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 49:46
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 49:47
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ebrahim Azhari!
An out of breath Ebrahim Azhari thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.