PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Li Xiaolong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhari is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Xiaolong
vs
Azhari

173 cm
35
158 lbs
30 - 15 - 1

171 cm
29
152 lbs
13 - 12 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

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 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Li Xiaolong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ebrahim Azhari!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xiaolong tries to land a front kick but Azhari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Azhari needs to keep his hands up - Xiaolong had a free shot at his head there.

Xiaolong fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Azhari, pushing him back against the ropes.

Xiaolong manages to break the clinch.
Xiaolong with a jab.
Xiaolong lands a slapping body shot.
Azhari blocks the body kick.
Xiaolong misses with a hook
and Azhari counters with a nice leg kick.
Azhari throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Li Xiaolong has been cut.
Nice uppercut there from Xiaolong.
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.
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!
Xiaolong steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Xiaolong feints and then cracks Azhari's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Azhari down.
Xiaolong gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Azhari.
Xiaolong misses with a body kick.
Xiaolong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azhari moves away.
Azhari is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Xiaolong.

It looks like Ebrahim Azhari has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Azhari blocks the leg kick.
Xiaolong plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Xiaolong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Azhari.
Azhari connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A low kick from Xiaolong is predictable there
and Azhari counters with an outside leg kick.
A left and a right from Azhari both land. Nice combination.
Azhari throws a front kick aimed at Xiaolong's knee but Xiaolong avoids it well.
Xiaolong tries to land a body kick
and Azhari counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Xiaolong thinking.
Xiaolong blocks a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xiaolong moves forwards but Azhari connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Xiaolong lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Xiaolong clinches up with Azhari and pushes him back against the ropes.
Azhari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Xiaolong lands a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Xiaolong.
I was talking to Xiaolong's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Still in the clinch, Xiaolong scores with a nice short uppercut.
Azhari lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Xiaolong lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Xiaolong using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Azhari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Azhari looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Xiaolong makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Azhari takes a knee right on the jaw!
Xiaolong throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Xiaolong creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Xiaolong throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Azhari missing with knees to the body.
Xiaolong stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Azhari wants to break the clinch but can't.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Xiaolong lands a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Xiaolong.
Azhari trying to stall but Xiaolong improves his position.
Xiaolong softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Xiaolong lands a shoulder strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Xiaolong dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Xiaolong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Xiaolong misses with a low kick as Azhari jumps back.
Xiaolong throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Xiaolong thows a left - swing and a miss!
Azhari gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Azhari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Xiaolong checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Xiaolong connects with a solid leg kick.
Xiaolong misses with a low kick.
Xiaolong will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Xiaolong fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Azhari is out of range.
Xiaolong cracks a nice hook into Azhari's ribs.
Li Xiaolong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Xiaolong throws a head kick but Azhari moves out of range.
Xiaolong fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Azhari looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Xiaolong connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaolong looks to throw the jab but Azhari is out of range.
Azhari misses with a wild body shot.
Xiaolong scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A looping hook to the body misses from Xiaolong. Azhari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xiaolong scores with a kick to the midsection.
Xiaolong pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Xiaolong misses with an attempted mid kick.
A leg kick checked by Azhari.
Xiaolong shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Azhari eats them both and turns towards Xiaolong to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Xiaolong tests Azhari's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Azhari thows a left - swing and a miss!
Azhari misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari checks a leg kick nicely.
Xiaolong cracks Azhari with an open hand slap.
Xiaolong takes a swing at Azhari's ribcage but misses.
Xiaolong throws a sloppy head kick
and Azhari counters with a thumping low kick.
Azhari has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azhari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Xiaolong checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Li Xiaolong is winning the standup battle so far.
Xiaolong thuds his right hand into Azhari's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Xiaolong checks the leg kick nicely there.
Azhari tries a low kick but Xiaolong avoids it.
Xiaolong lands a glancing blow to the side of Azhari's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xiaolong with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Xiaolong looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Azhari checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Xiaolong dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Xiaolong throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
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?
Xiaolong explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Xiaolong takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Xiaolong fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Azhari has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Xiaolong throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
Azhari moves away from the strike by Xiaolong.
Azhari checks a low kick from Xiaolong.
Xiaolong looks to score with a jab to the body but Azhari is just out of range.
Azhari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xiaolong.
Azhari tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Xiaolong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Xiaolong misses with a body shot
and Azhari counters with a left and a right that stings Xiaolong.
Xiaolong tries to clinch up but Azhari circles away and keeps his distance.
Xiaolong throws a jab when Azhari was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Xiaolong scoring well with a low kick there.
Xiaolong 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 gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Some bone on bone action there as Azhari checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Xiaolong steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Azhari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Azhari staying out of range there.
Xiaolong misses with a low kick.
Xiaolong misses with a low kick.
Xiaolong lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiaolong throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Xiaolong lands with a shot to the body.
Xiaolong thuds a left hand into Azhari's body.
Xiaolong connects with a single shot there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Xiaolong.
Xiaolong connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Azhari's hands.
Xiaolong buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xiaolong takes a swing at Azhari's ribcage but misses.
Xiaolong misses with a hook.
Azhari throws a series of punches but Xiaolong moves 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 leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Xiaolong misses with a low kick.
Azhari ducks under a wild hook from Xiaolong.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Xiaolong clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Xiaolong misses with a low kick.
Xiaolong throws a predictable looking body shot
and Xiaolong takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azhari lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A lazy left from Xiaolong finds it's target.
Azhari checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Xiaolong lands a jab.
Azhari checks a leg kick.
Xiaolong throws a leg kick but Azhari sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Xiaolong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice uppercut there from Xiaolong.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Azhari.
Xiaolong throws a jab when Azhari was well out of range.
Xiaolong throws a shot to the body.
Xiaolong lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Azhari takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd cheers as Xiaolong lands an impressive looking overhand right. Azhari doesn't seem phased though.
Xiaolong misses with a head kick.
Xiaolong tries to land a leg kick but Azhari saw it coming and moves away.
Xiaolong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An inside leg kick lands from Xiaolong.
Xiaolong will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Azhari lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Xiaolong finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Xiaolong.
Xiaolong fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Azhari is out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Xiaolong lands a jab to the head.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Xiaolong finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Azhari moves out of range of the body kick from Xiaolong.
Xiaolong misses with an uppercut. Azhari saw that one coming.
Azhari moves away from the strike by Xiaolong.
Azhari thumps Xiaolong with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Xiaolong misses the target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhari tries to clinch but Xiaolong moves out of range.
Azhari stuns Xiaolong with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Xiaolong misses with a hook. Azhari ducked under it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Li Xiaolong had his way with Ebrahim Azhari in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Xiaolong.
Ebrahim Azhari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Li Xiaolong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azhari is looking to chop away at Xiaolong's legs.
Xiaolong goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Xiaolong tries to clinch there but Azhari circles away.
Azhari's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Azhari lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Xiaolong with a jab.
Xiaolong throws a low kick but Azhari moves out of range easily.
Xiaolong fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Azhari on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Xiaolong. Xiaolong obviously looking to wear him down.
An inside leg kick lands from Xiaolong.
Azhari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Azhari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaolong throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Xiaolong looks to land a body kick but Azhari moved away.
Xiaolong just misses with a punch to the body.
Xiaolong lands a nice leg kick that just misses Azhari's sensitive parts.
Azhari takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Xiaolong looks to land a left hand but Azhari moved out of range nicely.
Xiaolong throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Azhari closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Xiaolong uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Xiaolong missing with a left hand there. Azhari was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Xiaolong throws a leg kick but Azhari sees it coming and moves out of range.
Xiaolong lands a nice leg kick that just misses Azhari's sensitive parts.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Xiaolong, right into the meat.
Azhari has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Xiaolong swings away with a body shot that misses
and Azhari counters with an inside leg kick.
Xiaolong dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Azhari. That did some damage!
Azhari takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Good exchange - Xiaolong coming out on top.
Good standup being displayed there by Azhari as he connects with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Xiaolong misses with an uppercut. Azhari saw that one coming.
Xiaolong punishes Azhari's body with a nice straight punch.
A lazy left from Xiaolong finds it's target.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhari bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Xiaolong's head.
Xiaolong connects with the punch.
Xiaolong throws a chopping leg kick but Azhari manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Xiaolong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Xiaolong 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 50:45
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 50:45

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