PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naughtius Maximus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhari's entrance music is Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. A fine choice. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Naughtius Maximus was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Azhari
vs
Maximus

171 cm
33
159 lbs
21 - 18 - 1

173 cm
40
168 lbs
36 - 14 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

MMA Hype Apparel
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 21 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ebrahim Azhari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Naughtius Maximus!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maximus misses with a two punch combination.
Azhari blocks a head kick by Maximus.
Maximus on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Azhari throws a jab when Maximus was well out of range.
Azhari scores with a crisp jab that stopped Maximus in his tracks.

It looks like Naughtius Maximus has been cut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Azhari.
Azhari gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Azhari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Maximus throws a jab when Azhari was well out of range.
Maximus throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A jab from Azhari misses.
Azhari misses with a straight left.
Maximus moves away from the strike by Azhari.
Maximus is trying to counter with his kicks.
Maximus misses with a low kick.
Azhari waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Maximus.
Maximus throws a sloppy head kick and Azhari moves out of range easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maximus feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Azhari's calf.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximus plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Azhari throws a body shot but no joy.
Azhari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Maximus is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Maximus 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 lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Maximus at a distance.
Azhari lands with a straight right. Maximus didn't see that one coming.
Azhari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maximus feints a counter leg kick.
Azhari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Azhari tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Maximus is able to avoid easily.
Azhari misses with a body shot.
A swing and a miss from Azhari.
Azhari misses with a hook.
Azhari throws a low kick but Maximus moves out of range easily.
Maximus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maximus closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azhari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maximus manages to avoid it.
Maximus plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Azhari looks to land a combination but Maximus avoids it well.
Azhari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Azhari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maximus checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Azhari tries to move into range but Maximus moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Azhari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Azhari throws a shot from downtown. Maximus moves away and avoids it.
Azhari bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Maximus's head.
Azhari slips under a jab from Maximus.
Maximus with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Azhari to score with a decent uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maximus throws a lazy uppercut
and Azhari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Maximus moves into the clinch successfully.
Maximus scores with a shoulder strike.
Maximus dodges an elbow strike from Azhari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Naughtius Maximus's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice body kick there by Azhari.
Maximus tries a head kick but it misses.
Azhari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick by Maximus misses
letting Azhari counter with a right hand.
Azhari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maximus can do to turn this around?
Azhari looks to land a left hand but Maximus moved out of range nicely.
It seemed like Maximus was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Azhari thumps Maximus with a low kick.
Maximus avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azhari connects with a single shot there.
Azhari throws a quick inside leg kick.
Azhari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Maximus connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nice body kick there by Maximus.
Maximus lands the left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhari looks to land a right hand but Maximus moved out of range.
Azhari connects with a leg kick. Maximus looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Azhari misses the shot to the body.
Ebrahim Azhari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari with a jab.
Azhari lands a head shot.
A head kick misses from Azhari.
Maximus blocks a head kick by Azhari.
Azhari works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Maximus checks it.
Maximus throws a leg kick but Azhari moved away.
Azhari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Maximus checks it well.
Azhari misses with a kick to the body.
Maximus misses with an attempted mid kick.
Maximus jabs at Azhari's body.
Maximus moves out of range as Azhari strikes.
A big right from Azhari misses.
Azhari takes a swing at Maximus's ribcage but misses.
Maximus's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Maximus duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maximus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Azhari. Azhari obviously looking to wear him down.
Azhari looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Azhari avoids a kick to the body.
Azhari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azhari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Maximus was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maximus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Maximus is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Azhari fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Azhari takes one to the chin there.
Maximus misses with an uppercut. Azhari saw that one coming.
Azhari misses with a shot to the body
and Maximus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azhari throws a body punch but Maximus moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azhari throws a looping overhand right but Maximus ducks down to avoid it.
Maximus checks the leg kick nicely there.
Maximus takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Naughtius Maximus'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 a combination but it was largely blocked by Maximus.
Azhari throws a shot from downtown. Maximus moves away and avoids it.
Maximus dodges the punch combination from Azhari.
Azhari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Maximus throws an overhand right that lands on Azhari's shoulder, as Azhari tries to avoid the shot.
Maximus throws a shot from downtown. Azhari moves away and avoids it.
Azhari was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Azhari swings for the body but Maximus moves out of range.
Azhari looks to land a left hand but Maximus moved out of range nicely.
Azhari sets himself, and Maximus steps forward looking for the clinch! Azhari avoids it this time.
Ebrahim Azhari is winning the standup battle so far.
Maximus throws a right and a left that Azhari avoids nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Azhari misses.
Azhari throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Azhari thuds a left hand into Maximus's body.
Maximus misses with a looping left.
Azhari throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximus takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Maximus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maximus keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Azhari.
Maximus thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maximus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maximus throws a shot to the body.
Maximus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Maximus throws a leg kick but Azhari sees it coming and moves out of range.
Azhari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maximus.
A little jabbing left from Maximus on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Maximus's shoulder, as Maximus tries to avoid the shot.
Azhari throws an off balance right hand
and Maximus counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Azhari takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Azhari scores with a three punch combo!
Azhari scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azhari misses with a series of wild punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Maximus loads up on a big right hand but Azhari slips the punch.
Azhari looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Maximus chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azhari can pounce on him.
Maximus blocks a jab.
Maximus looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Azhari loads up on a big right hand but Maximus slips the punch.
A countering left hand to the body from Maximus misses.
Maximus connects with a body shot.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Azhari smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Azhari looks to land a right hand but Maximus moved out of range.
Maximus cracks Azhari with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Azhari checks the leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Azhari misses the target.
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 Naughtius Maximus's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Maximus ducks under a wild hook from Azhari.
Maximus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Maximus looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Maximus throws a head kick but Azhari moves out of range.
An inside leg kick from Azhari misses.
Maximus follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Azhari crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Maximus - the referee stops the clock and Azhari gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Maximus. Azhari manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Maximus misses with a body shot.
Azhari throws a leg kick which misses Maximus's front leg but catches the back leg as Maximus tries to avoid it.
Maximus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maximus avoids the head kick by Azhari.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari tries a head kick but it misses.
Maximus looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Maximus throws a shot to the body.
Azhari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maximus checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maximus flicks out a counter leg kick but Azhari steps away.
Azhari connects with a jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Maximus checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maximus closes the distance and clinches.
Azhari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Maximus just misses with a elbow thrown towards Azhari's brow.
Maximus tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azhari's elbow.
Azhari tries a body shot but Maximus blocks it.
Maximus trying to land knees to the body.
Maximus's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Azhari tries to throw a body punch but Maximus avoids it by throwing Azhari back against the ropes.

Maximus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azhari tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Maximus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Azhari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maximus walks into a stiff left hand from Azhari.
Azhari moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Maximus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Maximus avoids the body shot from Azhari.
Azhari swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Maximus.
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!
Maximus misses with a head kick.
Azhari half committed to a counter leg kick.
Azhari throws a low kick but Maximus avoids it.
Azhari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maximus.
Maximus scoring well with a low kick there.
Maximus lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Maximus works Azhari's body with a nice hook.
Nice body kick from Maximus.
Maximus throws a sloppy body shot
and Azhari counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Azhari lands with an overhand left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari had his way with Naughtius Maximus in that round.
The cut man is working on Naughtius Maximus's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Azhari misses with a hook
and Maximus counters with a low kick, right behind Azhari 's knee.
Azhari throws a hook but Maximus blocks it.
Maximus slips a jab from Azhari.
Maximus throws a leg kick which misses Azhari's front leg but catches the back leg as Azhari tries to avoid it.
Azhari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Maximus sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Azhari feints and then cracks Maximus's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Maximus down.
Azhari throws a quick inside leg kick.
Azhari tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Maximus throws a head kick but Azhari moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Azhari misses with a straight left.
Maximus lands a head kick!
Azhari takes a swing at Maximus's ribcage but misses.
Azhari lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maximus lands a leg kick that knocks Azhari off balance momentarily.
Azhari just misses with a punch to the body.
Azhari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Maximus checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Maximus misses with a head kick.
Azhari throws a leg kick
enabling Maximus to counter with a crisp jab.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Maximus wants to counter the offense by Azhari and move into the clinch position.
Maximus throws a body shot but no joy.
Azhari takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Maximus scores with a head kick. Azhari tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
An inside leg kick from Azhari misses.
Azhari throws a hook but Maximus avoids it easily.
Azhari missing with a left hand there. Maximus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Maximus flicks out a counter leg kick but Azhari steps away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maximus throws a quick inside leg kick.
Maximus throws a sloppy head kick and Azhari moves out of range easily.
Azhari half committed to a counter leg kick.
Azhari misses with a body kick.
Azhari drops his hands momentarily and Maximus takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maximus throws a half hearted mid kick.
Maximus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azhari.
Maximus connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ebrahim Azhari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azhari lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Azhari.
Azhari throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maximus stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Azhari keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Maximus misses with a hook.
It looked like Azhari wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Naughtius Maximus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Maximus tries to score with a low kick but Azhari moves his leg out of the way.
Azhari paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Maximus takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

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.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Azhari, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 50:45
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 50:45
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ebrahim Azhari!
Ebrahim Azhari thanked the fans post fight for their support.