PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Joao Pequeno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pequeno comes to the ring accompanied by Cão da Morte by Mão Morta. Azhari is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pequeno
vs
Azhari

177 cm
34
156 lbs
30 - 11 - 1

171 cm
26
155 lbs
9 - 9 - 1

World class boxer
KO power

World class MT
Granite chin

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 30 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joao Pequeno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ebrahim Azhari!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yuuki Gou and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhari blocks a head kick by Pequeno.
Azhari has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A low kick from Azhari is predictable there
and Pequeno counters with a body kick.
Pequeno misses with a wild body shot.
Pequeno takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Pequeno misses the shot to the body.
Pequeno uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azhari.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pequeno.
Pequeno throws a leg kick that misses.
Pequeno definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Pequeno throws a shot from downtown. Azhari moves away and avoids it.
Azhari misses with a jab, cross combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Azhari.
A low kick from Azhari is predictable there
enabling Pequeno to counter with a crisp jab.
Pequeno jabs at Azhari's body.
Pequeno moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhari throws a body punch but Pequeno moves out of range.
Pequeno chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Azhari misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pequeno. That did some damage!
Azhari 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.
Pequeno throws a one two combo.
Pequeno throws the kick towards the body but Azhari avoids it.
Azhari swings widly with a right hand
and Pequeno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Azhari dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pequeno. That did some damage!
Azhari swings for the body but Pequeno moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pequeno.
Azhari moves out of range of the leg kick from Pequeno.
Azhari on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Azhari on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Azhari tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pequeno is able to avoid easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pequeno lands a nice shot to the body.
Azhari takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pequeno misses with a body shot.
Pequeno with a hook.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Azhari checks a leg kick.
Pequeno misses with a wild body shot.
Azhari lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Joao Pequeno has been cut.
Azhari thumps Pequeno with a low kick.
Azhari blocks the body kick.
Pequeno swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Azhari motions for Pequeno to come forward. Azhari throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Azhari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pequeno is out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azhari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pequeno.
Azhari throws a leg kick that is checked
and Pequeno counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Azhari thinking.
Pequeno throws a looping overhand right but Azhari ducks down to avoid it.
Pequeno throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Pequeno dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joao Pequeno's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Azhari throws out a leg kick but Pequeno moves out of range and Azhari only half commits.
Pequeno keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Pequeno lands a lovely overhand right.
Azhari blocks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Pequeno throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Azhari thumps Pequeno with a low kick.
Pequeno throws a shot from downtown. Azhari moves away and avoids it.
A bone on bone clash there as Pequeno blocks the leg kick.
Azhari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pequeno.
Azhari throws out a leg kick but Pequeno moves out of range and Azhari only half commits.
Pequeno walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Azhari checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Pequeno misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Azhari.
Pequeno pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Azhari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pequeno checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pequeno throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari thows a leg kick but Pequeno checks it
and Pequeno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Azhari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Azhari swings for the body but Pequeno moves out of range.
Pequeno pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Azhari back to the ropes. Pequeno follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Pequeno throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azhari jabs at Pequeno's body.
Azhari slips under a jab from Pequeno.
Azhari swings for the body but Pequeno moves out of range.
Azhari takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Azhari blocks a head kick by Pequeno.
Pequeno throws a low kick but Azhari avoids it.
Pequeno fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A looping hook to the body misses from Azhari. Pequeno does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Pequeno misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Donk. Azhari catches Pequeno right on the button with a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pequeno jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Azhari slips under a jab.
Azhari is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pequeno rather than just go for the knockout.
Good shot there by Pequeno.
Azhari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pequeno is out of range.
Pequeno keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azhari looks to score with a jab to the body but Pequeno is just out of range.
Pequeno wants to land a leg kick but Azhari is out of range.
Pequeno throws a jab when Azhari was well out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhari throws a predictable looking body shot
and Pequeno counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Azhari takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Ebrahim Azhari has been cut.
Pequeno lands a head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Pequeno dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Azhari avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azhari checks a leg kick.
Azhari with a nice cross.
Pequeno thows a leg kick but Azhari checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Azhari moves away from the strike by Pequeno.
Pequeno connects with a right hand. Azhari shakes it off.
Joao Pequeno is winning the standup battle so far.
Pequeno misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azhari looks to score with a jab to the body but Pequeno is just out of range.
Pequeno lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Azhari swats away the attempt to clinch by Pequeno.
Pequeno moves away from the strike by Azhari.
Nice body punch from Azhari.
Azhari misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Pequeno.
Pequeno swings for the body but Azhari moves out of range.
Pequeno scores with a nice body kick.
Azhari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pequeno.
Azhari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Pequeno misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pequeno steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Azhari thumps Pequeno with a low kick.
Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Pequeno's shoulder, as Pequeno tries to avoid the shot.
Pequeno circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pequeno counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Pequeno checks it.
Azhari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Azhari.
An inside leg kick lands from Azhari.
Azhari checks a leg kick nicely.
Pequeno misses with a body shot.
Azhari with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pequeno looks to throw the jab but Azhari is out of range.
Pequeno jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhari staying out of range there.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Azhari lands with a good body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pequeno misses with a body shot.
Pequeno misses with a body kick.
Pequeno connects with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Ebrahim Azhari just about did enough to take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Azhari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Azhari lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Pequeno throws a body punch but Azhari moves out of range.
Pequeno throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Good leg kick by Azhari there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Azhari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pequeno is out of range.
Azhari attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Pequeno takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Azhari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Pequeno checks it well.
Azhari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Pequeno checks it well.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pequeno crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Azhari - the referee stops the clock and Pequeno gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Azhari. Pequeno manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Azhari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Azhari misses with a leg kick
and Pequeno counters with a straight right hand.
Pequeno looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pequeno misses with a body shot.
Azhari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azhari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Pequeno checks it well.
A clash of legs there as Pequeno blocks the low kick.
Pequeno checks the leg kick nicely there.
Pequeno throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Azhari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pequeno scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Azhari doesn't seem bothered though.
Azhari ducks under a wild hook from Pequeno.
Pequeno throws a head kick that half lands.
Pequeno is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Azhari keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Azhari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Azhari clobbers Pequeno with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pequeno throws a series of punches but Azhari moves out of range.
Pequeno misses the shot to the body.
Pequeno takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Pequeno throws a leg kick that misses.
Azhari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pequeno.
A shot to the body from Pequeno misses
and Azhari counters with an inside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhari fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Pequeno has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Azhari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Pequeno takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhari tries to land a leg kick but Pequeno saw it coming and moves away.
Pequeno has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Azhari.
Pequeno checks a leg kick.
Azhari takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari dominated that fourth round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A jab lands there for Azhari.
Pequeno misses with a body punch
and Azhari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Azhari lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pequeno cracks the inside of Azhari's front leg.
Pequeno misses the shot to the body.

Pequeno darts in and clinches Azhari up against the ropes.
Azhari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pequeno takes a shot to the head.

Pequeno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pequeno swings for the body but Azhari moves out of range.
Pequeno steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Azhari. That one must have hurt.
Azhari tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pequeno is able to avoid easily.
Azhari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
An inside leg kick from Azhari misses.
Azhari displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pequeno throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Pequeno
and Azhari counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Azhari is looking to slow Pequeno down with leg kicks.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Azhari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pequeno.
Pequeno scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pequeno pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Azhari drives through and clinches with Pequeno against the ropes.
Pequeno lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pequeno swings wildly with an uppercut but Azhari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Pequeno as Azhari tries to tie him up.
Pequeno tries to throw a body punch but Azhari avoids it by throwing Pequeno back against the ropes.
A short right from Azhari.
Azhari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Azhari throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Pequeno digs a right hand into Azhari's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Azhari's gas tank.
Azhari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Azhari is trying to push Pequeno away but Pequeno has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Pequeno tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pequeno lands a body punch in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pequeno tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Azhari just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pequeno's brow.
Pequeno cracks Azhari with a nice body shot.
Nice body punch from Pequeno.
Azhari tries to break free but Pequeno pushes him back against the ropes.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhari swings wildly with an uppercut but Pequeno uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pequeno lands a hook that snaps the head of Azhari backwards.
A short left from Pequeno.

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 Joao Pequeno.
Well Pequeno has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 47:48
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 47:48
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 48:48

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ebrahim Azhari!
During a confident post fight interview, Ebrahim Azhari thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.