PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Humberto Manuel Arboleda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arboleda comes into the arena with ASTAROTH - GUERRA DE METAL blaring out of the sound system. Azhari comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! 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.

Manuel Arboleda
vs
Azhari

165 cm
32
157 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

171 cm
32
159 lbs
18 - 16 - 1

World class MT
Cardio machine

World class MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

DC Unrivaled

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Humberto Manuel Arboleda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ebrahim Azhari!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paulsen Ambrosius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arboleda moves in looking to clinch but Azhari pushes him off.
Arboleda moves out of range as Azhari strikes.
Arboleda blocks a head kick by Azhari.
Humberto Manuel Arboleda seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azhari avoids the head kick by Arboleda.
Arboleda tries to close the distance and clinch up but Azhari swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Arboleda darts in and clinches Azhari up against the ropes.
Azhari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Our sources have told us that Arboleda has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Azhari is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arboleda is defending well for now.

Azhari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Azhari comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Arboleda pushes Azhari up against the ropes in a clinch.
Arboleda misses with some punches.
Arboleda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Ebrahim Azhari has been cut.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Arboleda 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 takes an elbow to the forehead.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Come on Arboleda - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Azhari blocks an elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda can't find room to land a body shot as Azhari controls the action.
Arboleda pushes off an throws an elbow but Azhari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
Arboleda has Azhari pressed against the ropes, preventing Azhari from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Arboleda avoiding damage as Azhari throws knees to the body.
Arboleda landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Azhari misses with some punches.
Arboleda tries a body shot but Azhari blocks it.
Arboleda crunches a lovely knee into Azhari's ribcage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Azhari.
Arboleda tries a body shot but Azhari blocks it.
A left hand lands to the body for Arboleda.
Azhari lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Humberto Manuel Arboleda has been cut.
Arboleda tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azhari's elbow.
Azhari throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Arboleda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari tries a knee to the head but Arboleda blocks it.
Azhari lands a nice elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azhari takes an elbow to the temple.
Arboleda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Arboleda throws an elbow that misses.
Arboleda pushes off an throws an elbow but Azhari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Azhari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Azhari told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Arboleda presses Azhari against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Arboleda lands a knee to the head.
Azhari is trying to break the clinch but Arboleda is controlling him.

Azhari breaks from the clinch.

Arboleda rushes Azhari and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Arboleda lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Azhari blocks an elbow strike from Arboleda.
Azhari is trying to break the clinch but Arboleda has him pressed against the ropes.
Arboleda misses with a body punch.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azhari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Humberto Manuel Arboleda dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Arboleda throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
Arboleda blocks a head kick by Azhari.

Arboleda darts in and clinches Azhari up against the ropes.
Arboleda throws an elbow that misses.

Azhari breaks the clinch.
Arboleda bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Azhari circles away from the clinch attempt.

Arboleda forces Azhari back against the ropes and clinches.
Azhari is trying to force a seperation but Arboleda has the dominant position.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Azhari avoids it.
Arboleda tries to work over Azhari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Arboleda letting Azhari take a breather here.
Arboleda trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Azhari throws an elbow but it misses.
Humberto Manuel Arboleda has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Arboleda lands a body shot in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Arboleda.
Arboleda scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Arboleda as Azhari tries to tie him up.
Azhari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but Azhari is blocking nicely.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but Azhari is blocking nicely.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Azhari lands with a right to the head.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Azhari with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Azhari misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arboleda.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Azhari scores with a nice hook to the head.
Azhari lands an elbow just above Arboleda 's eye.
Azhari crunches a lovely knee into Arboleda's ribcage.
Azhari blocks the elbow strike.
Arboleda landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Azhari scores a nice knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhari creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Arboleda's defenses.

Humberto Manuel Arboleda's cut is getting worse.
Arboleda is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azhari can do to turn this around?
Arboleda misses with a knee to the head.
Azhari managing to block the knees to the body from Arboleda.
Azhari wants to stall.
Arboleda is looking to control Azhari's arms but Azhari gets an underhook and turns him. Now Arboleda has his back to the ropes.
Azhari looking to stall.
Azhari lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Azhari lands with a short shot to the head.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Azhari avoids the damage to the body.
Arboleda 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.
Arboleda misses with a knee strike.
Azhari scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Azhari lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
Arboleda avoiding damage as Azhari throws knees to the body.
Arboleda misses with a knee to the head.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Arboleda throws an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

A combination from Azhari does no damage.
Azhari throws a jab but it's blocked by Arboleda.

Arboleda drives through and clinches with Azhari against the ropes.
Azhari pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Azhari wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arboleda throws an elbow that misses.
Azhari misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Arboleda.

Azhari breaks from the clinch.
Jab by Arboleda.
Arboleda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Azhari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Azhari feints a counter leg kick.
Arboleda avoids the body shot from Azhari.
Arboleda is looking to clinch.
Azhari feints a jab promting Arboleda to slip. Azhari then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Arboleda slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Arboleda gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Azhari.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees to the body from Azhari.
Azhari working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Azhari blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari lands a nice knee to the body.
Azhari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Azhari.
Azhari is trying to stall.
Knees to the body from Azhari.
Azhari is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Arboleda on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda throws an elbow that misses.
Azhari lands a right hand that snaps the head of Arboleda backwards.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Arboleda throws an elbow but misses.
Arboleda blocks an elbow strike.
Arboleda tries to land knees in the clinch but Azhari avoids the damage to the body.
Arboleda blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arboleda blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda looking to throw knees to the head but Azhari is blocking nicely.
Azhari working aggressively here.
Azhari lands an elbow that stopped Arboleda in his tracks for a moment.
Arboleda throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Azhari blocks it with crossed arms.
Arboleda taking a breather.
Azhari misses with the head strike.
Arboleda lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arboleda throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Azhari blocks it with crossed arms.
Azhari looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
Azhari working aggressively here.
Azhari blocks an uppercut.
Azhari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Arboleda tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Azhari avoids it.
Azhari tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Arboleda tries a knee to the head but Azhari blocks it.
Arboleda using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Azhari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Arboleda blocks a jab.
Azhari goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Arboleda fails in his attempt to clinch.
Arboleda tries to clinch up but Azhari circles away and keeps his distance.

Arboleda gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Arboleda misses with a knee strike.
Arboleda stalling in the clinch.
Arboleda is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Azhari connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Azhari.

Azhari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azhari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Arboleda.
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 blocks a head kick by Arboleda.
Arboleda misses with a head kick.
Azhari goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Arboleda stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azhari.
Azhari throws a lazy right hand but Arboleda sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Azhari misses with an uppercut.
Azhari connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Arboleda's hands.
Azhari thumps Arboleda with a low kick.
Azhari lands with a slapping head kick.
Arboleda moves out of range of the body kick from Azhari.
Azhari connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Arboleda momentarily.
Arboleda throws a body punch but Azhari moves out of range.
Arboleda tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Azhari scores with a punch to the head.
Arboleda is looking to clinch.
Arboleda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari throws a body shot but no joy.
Azhari throws a front kick aimed at Arboleda's knee but Arboleda avoids it well.
Arboleda tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Azhari manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Azhari is looking to slow Arboleda down with leg kicks.
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!
A head kick misses from Arboleda.
Azhari stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Arboleda.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arboleda closes the distance and clinches.
Azhari trying to stall but Arboleda improves his position.
Arboleda throws a knee to the head but misses.
Azhari has a couple of punches blocked by Arboleda.

Azhari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arboleda tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Azhari counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Arboleda doesn't manage to clinch there - Azhari circles away.
Azhari lands a nice shot that snaps Arboleda's head back.

Humberto Manuel Arboleda's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Azhari throws a head kick that Arboleda semi-blocks.
Ebrahim Azhari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Arboleda keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Azhari.
Azhari loads up on a big right hand but Arboleda slips the punch.
Arboleda walks into a left hand.
Arboleda tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azhari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Arboleda sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Arboleda moves into the clinch.
Arboleda lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Arboleda misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Azhari.
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.
That's time! Arboleda's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Arboleda looks to land a body kick but Azhari moved away.
Arboleda tries to clinch but Azhari is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Arboleda.

Arboleda moves into the clinch.
Azhari misses with some punches.
Azhari doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arboleda avoids the elbow strike from Azhari, against the ropes.
Arboleda lands an elbow inside that Azhari shrugs off.
Azhari blocks a body shot from Arboleda.
A short right from Azhari.
Arboleda lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Azhari lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari tries a body shot but Arboleda blocks it.
Azhari is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Arboleda missing with knees to the body.
Arboleda takes an elbow to the temple.
Arboleda looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arboleda lands a nice knee to the body.
Azhari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Arboleda has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Azhari avoiding damage as Arboleda throws knees to the body.
Azhari is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Arboleda is defending well for now.
Arboleda throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Azhari misses with the head strike.
Azhari gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Arboleda doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arboleda works on Azhari's body with a couple of short punches.

Azhari breaks the clinch.
Azhari catches Arboleda with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Arboleda tries to clinch up.
Azhari throws out a counter right but Arboleda avoids it with no problem.
Arboleda takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Azhari with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Azhari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Arboleda is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arboleda slips a jab from Azhari.
Arboleda throws a big counter combination but Azhari scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Arboleda tries to clinch up.
Azhari circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab lands there for Azhari.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arboleda moves out of range of the body kick from Azhari.
Azhari avoids the head kick by Arboleda.
Azhari swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Arboleda tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Azhari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Azhari swats away the attempt to clinch by Arboleda.
Azhari cracks Arboleda with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The fight stays on the outside here - Arboleda looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Humberto Manuel Arboleda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azhari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Azhari plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Azhari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Arboleda misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ebrahim Azhari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Azhari has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 46:49
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 46:49
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ebrahim Azhari!