PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ukyo Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhari comes to the ring accompanied by Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Azhari
vs
Sato

171 cm
32
159 lbs
19 - 16 - 1

175 cm
36
155 lbs
32 - 19 - 2

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ebrahim Azhari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Ukyo Sato!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhari is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Azhari moves out of range of the leg kick from Sato.
Sato throws out a loose jab but Azhari uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azhari throws the left hand but Sato avoids the punch easily.
Azhari jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Azhari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Azhari connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Azhari checks a leg kick.
Azhari on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Azhari scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Sato tries to land a body kick
enabling Azhari to counter with a crisp jab.
Sato checks a low kick from Azhari.
Sato throws a jab when Azhari was well out of range.
Azhari was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sato scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhari cracks Sato with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Azhari misses with a straight right.
Sato throws a body kick that misses.
Azhari takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato slips under a jab from Azhari.
Azhari has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sato.
Azhari throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sato.

It looks like Ukyo Sato has been cut.
Azhari throws a hook to the side of Sato's head but Sato sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Azhari throws a right and a left that Sato avoids nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sato.
Sato scores with a punch to the head.
Azhari lands a nice shot that snaps Sato's head back.
Azhari loads up on a big right hand but Sato slips the punch.
Azhari throws a head kick but Sato moves out of range.
Sato lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sato lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Sato scores with a spinning back kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhari takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sato throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sato.
Azhari throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari misses with an uppercut. Sato saw that one coming.
Sato replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Azhari blocks it well.
Azhari throws a nice outside leg kick.
Azhari takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Sato pivots, looking for a leg kick but Azhari is out of range and Sato settles back down.
Azhari moves out of range as Sato throws a body kick.
Azhari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Azhari avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Azhari throws out a loose jab but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azhari throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sato throws a head kick that misses.
Sato pushes Azhari away with a front kick.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azhari throws a chopping leg kick but Sato manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Sato misses with a kick to the body.
Nice body punch from Sato.
Sato misses with a looping right.
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 cut man is working on Ukyo Sato's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Azhari misses with a leg kick.
Sato steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Sato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Azhari.
Azhari connects with a solid leg kick.
Sato tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Azhari is able to avoid easily.
Azhari fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sato just manages to avoid it.
Sato chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azhari can pounce on him.
Sato scores with a crisp jab that stopped Azhari in his tracks.
Azhari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Azhari misses with a looping left.
Sato misses with a low kick as Azhari jumps back.
Sato throws a sloppy head kick and Azhari moves out of range easily.
Azhari fires out a quick counter leg kick but Sato just manages to avoid it.
Azhari misses with a looping right.
Azhari lunges at Sato with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Sato's hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sato blocks a jab.
Azhari blocks the body kick.
Azhari ducks under a wild hook from Sato.
Sato walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari throws a chopping leg kick but Sato manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Azhari bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Azhari tries a head kick but it misses.
Azhari is looking to slow Sato down with leg kicks.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Sato sees it coming and moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Azhari.
Sato missing with a left hand there. Azhari was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sato lands with a straight right. Azhari didn't see that one coming.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Sato.
Sato walks forward, straight into a front kick from Azhari.
Sato throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Sato throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Azhari throws a jab but it's blocked by Sato.
Azhari throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sato throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
An inside leg kick from Azhari misses.
Sato lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azhari throws a jab when Sato was well out of range.
Sato connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Azhari's hands.
Sato checks a leg kick.
Sato throws out a counter right but Azhari avoids it with no problem.
Azhari misses with an uppercut
and Sato counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sato's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sato takes one to the chin there.
Sato scores with a kick to the midsection.
Azhari pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Some bone on bone action there as Sato checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Sato gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Azhari counters with a stiff right hand.
Sato with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Sato ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Azhari scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sato in his tracks.
Azhari ducks under a wild hook from Sato.
Sato lands the left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Azhari walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sato.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ebrahim Azhari will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ukyo Sato's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Azhari misses with a looping right.
Azhari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azhari misses with a hook
and Sato connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sato lands a nice looking kick to the body. Azhari takes a step back to recover.
Azhari sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sato keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Azhari.
Sato steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Sato throws a head kick that misses
and Azhari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sato keeps Azhari at a distance using the push kick.
Azhari will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Sato takes a jab right on the kisser.
Azhari is looking to score with low kicks.
Sato lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Azhari tries to land a leg kick but Sato saw it coming and moves away.
Sato lands a leg kick that knocks Azhari off balance momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sato fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Azhari attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Azhari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sato doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Azhari has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Sato.
Azhari cracks the inside of Sato's front leg.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sato.
Azhari uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sato.
Azhari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Azhari misses with a straight right.
And Sato responds with a good body kick, but Azhari manages to step out the way in time.
Azhari misses with a leg kick
and Sato makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Azhari takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Sato throws the kick towards the body but Azhari avoids it.
Nice cross by Azhari.
Azhari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Azhari fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sato.
Sato throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Azhari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sato works Azhari's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhari throws the kick towards the body but Sato avoids it.
Azhari throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sato goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Azhari lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Azhari misses with a looping right.
Sato stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azhari.
A swing and a miss from Azhari.
Sato feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Azharis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Azhari misses with a hook.
Azhari moves out of range of the body kick from Sato.
Azhari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sato sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Azhari lands a leg kick that knocks Sato off balance momentarily.
Azhari walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Sato's shoulder, as Sato tries to avoid the shot.
Sato misses with a looping right.
Sato misses with a hook
and Sato takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Ukyo Sato just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Ukyo Sato's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Azhari misses with a hook. Sato ducked under it nicely.
Azhari misses with a leg kick.
Azhari blocks a low kick nicely.
Azhari throws a quick counter head kick but Sato was just out of range.
Sato is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Azhari's Muay Thai looks sharper than normal. He has obviously been working on it in the gym.
Sato misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azhari darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sato tries a head kick but it misses.
Azhari half committed to a counter leg kick.
Azhari takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sato tries to land a front kick but Azhari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Sato's shoulder, as Sato tries to avoid the shot.
Sato thinks about the counter body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato throws a nice head kick!
Sato feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Azhari's calf.
Sato pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nice defenses there by Sato.
Azhari swings widly with a right hand
and Sato counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari tests Sato's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Sato throws a body kick that misses
and Azhari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sato scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Azhari doesn't seem bothered though.
Sato misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Azhari misses the target.
Sato throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
Sato stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azhari.
Sato is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Sato sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Azhari bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sato's head backwards.
Sato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sato throws a sloppy head kick and Azhari moves out of range easily.
Azhari throws out a loose jab but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Sato misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sato attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Azhari keeps Sato at a distance using the push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azhari avoids a kick to the body.
Sato throws a low kick but Azhari avoids it.
Azhari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sato.
Nice shot by Azhari.
Sato has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Azhari lands a high kick!
Sato lands a jab to the nose.
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.
Sato scores with the left hand. Azhari knows he should have avoided that one.
Sato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azhari misses with a body kick.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari throws a lazy right hand but Sato sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sato misses with a low kick.
Azhari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ukyo Sato dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ukyo Sato's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Azhari tries a low kick but Sato avoids it.
Sato swings for the body but Azhari moves out of range.
Sato is looking to land body kicks.
Azhari throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sato counters with a solid body kick.
Sato misses with a looping right.
Sato avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azhari misses with a leg kick
and Sato counters with a nice body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sato. Azhari shrugs it off though.
Sato needs to keep his hands up - Azhari had a free shot at his head there.
Azhari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sato, as that shot connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sato lands with an uppercut that bounces Azhari off the ropes and back into range.
Sato misses with a body kick.
Sato walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick by Sato misses
and Azhari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Azhari listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sato avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azhari throws a series of punches but Sato avoids them all with ease.
Sato thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Azhari if he has to take too many more of those.
Sato checks a leg kick.
Azhari defending well as Sato loads up on a big left hand.
Azhari swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Azhari misses.
Azhari blocks the body kick.
Sato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Azhari tries a head kick but it misses.
Sato looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Sato throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Azhari misses the target.
Azhari looks to throw the jab but Sato is out of range.
Sato looks to land a body kick but Azhari moved away.
Azhari misses with a hook.
Sato misses with a hook
enabling Azhari to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Azhari stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ukyo Sato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sato connects with a body shot that sends Azhari's belly button to the back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sato goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sato avoids the head kick by Azhari.
Sato misses with an uppercut.
An attempted straight right counter from Azhari misses the target.
Sato works the jab nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Azhari.
Azhari connects with an inside leg kick.
Sato misses with a straight right.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Sato sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Sato's shoulder, as Sato tries to avoid the shot.
Azhari moves out of range of the strikes.
Azhari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azhari avoids the head kick by Sato.
Azhari throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sato counters with a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ukyo Sato.
Well Sato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 49:48
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 49:48
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ebrahim Azhari!
As Ebrahim Azhari got his breath back, he grabbed the microphone and managed to blurt out the following: Wow didnt see that one coming! '.