PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Caio Cardoso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cardoso comes into the arena with Duro de Cair blaring out of the sound system. Azhari has chosen Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cardoso
vs
Azhari

182 cm
37
155 lbs
25 - 14 - 0

171 cm
36
159 lbs
24 - 19 - 2

World class MT
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

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 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Caio Cardoso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ebrahim Azhari!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhari throws a body kick that misses
and Cardoso counters with a leg kick.
Azhari connects with a right hand. Cardoso shakes it off.
Azhari throws a leg kick
and Cardoso counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ebrahim Azhari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azhari pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cardoso feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Azhari misses with a hook. Cardoso ducked under it nicely.
Cardoso drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Cardoso uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azhari.

Azhari moves into range and clinches up with Cardoso.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari tries a body shot but Cardoso blocks it.
Cardoso misses with a knee strike.
Azhari trying to land knees to the body.
Cardoso tries to work over Azhari's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Azhari.
Cardoso taking a breather.
Azhari has Cardoso pressed against the ropes, preventing Cardoso from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Azhari tries to work over Cardoso's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Cardoso lands a hook to the side of the head.
Azhari digs a right hand into Cardoso's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cardoso's gas tank.
Cardoso scores with a shot to the side of Azhari's head.
Azhari misses with a punch on the inside.
Cardoso scores with a nice hook to the head.

Cardoso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A low kick from Azhari misses
and Cardoso counters with a series of strikes. Azhari will be more careful next time no doubt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Azhari.
Azhari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cardoso throws a big counter combination but Azhari scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Azhari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cardoso takes a knee to the side of the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Cardoso with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Azhari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cardoso is trying to push Azhari away but Azhari has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Azhari swings wildly with an uppercut but Cardoso uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch on the inside from Azhari fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Azhari.
Azhari throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Azhari avoids the elbow strike from Cardoso, against the ropes.
Azhari throws a head punch that misses.
Cardoso takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Cardoso just misses with a elbow thrown towards Azhari's brow.
Azhari lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cardoso backwards.
Cardoso blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Azhari lands a hook to the side of the head.
Azhari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cardoso blocks it with crossed arms.
Cardoso lands a body shot.
Azhari blocking some punches.
Cardoso throws a punch but it's blocked by Azhari.
Cardoso throws an elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Azhari.
A quick step to the side and Cardoso tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azhari throws a low kick, looking for Cardoso's leg but Cardoso calmly moves out of range.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Azhari, right into the meat.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Cardoso checks it.
Azhari throws a solid leg kick but Cardoso takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Azhari.
Azhari is looking to score with low kicks.
Cardoso is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Azhari swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Cardoso counters with a nice uppercut.
Azhari looks for the body kick but Cardoso saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Cardoso throwing a counter right hand but Azhari manages to avoid it.
Azhari throws a chopping leg kick but Cardoso manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Cardoso throws a counter high kick but Azhari was just alert enough to avoid it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Azhari on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari unloads a knee to the mid-section. Cardoso lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Cardoso lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Azhari tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cardoso avoids it.
Azhari digs a right hand into Cardoso's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cardoso's gas tank.
Cardoso misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ebrahim Azhari seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cardoso wants to get back to striking at distance but Azhari won't allow it.
Cardoso blocks the elbow strike.

Azhari breaks from the clinch.
That kick from Azhari tenderised Cardoso's leg. Cardoso is trying to keep his angry face on.
Azhari throws out a loose jab but Cardoso uses good head movement to avoid it.
Cardoso is looking for a counter combo.
Ebrahim Azhari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cardoso takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Azhari misses with a straight right.
Cardoso looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Cardoso swats away the attempt to clinch by Azhari.
Cardoso was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Azhari.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Azhari.
Cardoso uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azhari.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azhari throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Azhari misses with a hook
and Cardoso connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Azhari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Cardoso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Azhari looks to move away, Cardoso throws a big counter combo but Azhari just gets out of the way.
Azhari looks for the body kick but Cardoso saw that one coming.
Azhari misses with a leg kick
and Cardoso counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Azhari throws a low kick, looking for Cardoso's leg but Cardoso calmly moves out of range.
Cardoso tried to counter with a leg kick but Azhari avoided it.
Azhari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Azhari throws a head kick that misses
and Cardoso counters with a left to the body.
Azhari misses with a lunging right hand
and Cardoso counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Azhari throws a poor cross that misses
and Cardoso counters with a slapping leg kick.

Azhari has managed to clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Cardoso fails to land.
Cardoso pushes Azhari back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Azhari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azhari has a couple of punches blocked by Cardoso.
Azhari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Azhari blocks the elbow strike.
Azhari comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardoso throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Cardoso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azhari misses with a leg kick.
Cardoso was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cardoso takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Good exchange - Azhari coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari thows a left - swing and a miss!
It looked like Cardoso was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Azhari.
Azhari looks to throw the jab but Cardoso is out of range.
Azhari throws a right hand that misses
and Azhari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azhari misses with an uppercut
and Cardoso cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Azhari attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Azhari throws a chopping leg kick but Cardoso manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Azhari looks to land a left hand but Cardoso moved out of range nicely.
Cardoso half committed to a counter leg kick.
Cardoso keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Azhari.
Some wild striking there from Azhari.
Cardoso throws a counter high kick but Azhari was just alert enough to avoid it.
Cardoso keeps the fight on the outside.
Cardoso appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Azhari 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 attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cardoso went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Azhari drives through and clinches with Cardoso against the ropes.
Cardoso tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Azhari's elbow.
Azhari scores with a shot to the side of Cardoso's head.
Cardoso fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Azhari tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azhari putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cardoso in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Cardoso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azhari lands a leg kick that knocks Cardoso off balance momentarily.
Azhari misses with a leg kick
and Cardoso counters with a one-two to the body.
Azhari tries to clinch up but Cardoso circles away and keeps his distance.
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.
That's time! Back to the action!

Azhari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Azhari tries to land a body kick
and Cardoso counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Azhari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cardoso.
Cardoso is looking to counter with a body kick.
Azhari connects with a leg kick. Cardoso looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Azhari misses with a body kick.
Azhari throws a lazy uppercut
and Cardoso counters with a nice uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Azhari.
Cardoso is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Azhari buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari tries to clinch but Cardoso is having none of it.
Cardoso was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Cardoso circles away from the clinch attempt.
Azhari looks to clinch
and Cardoso counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Azhari looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cardoso went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Azhari throws a body punch but Cardoso moves out of range.
Cardoso appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Azhari pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Azhari misses the jab.
Cardoso uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Cardoso is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Azhari swings for the body but Cardoso moves out of range.
Cardoso is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Azhari lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cardoso slips under a jab from Azhari.
A counter left hand to the body from Cardoso misses its target.
Azhari misses with a body shot.
Cardoso is looking for a counter combo.
Azhari throws a big shot that misses.
Azhari just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromCardoso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari misses with a double jab.
Cardoso throws a big counter combination but Azhari scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Azhari throws a jab when Cardoso was well out of range.
Cardoso looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Cardoso walks into a left hand.
Azhari missing with a left hand there. Cardoso was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cardoso half committed to a counter leg kick.
Azhari throws a wild body kick that Cardoso sees coming a mile off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azhari fakes the leg kick and cracks Cardoso in the body.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Cardoso moved away.
Cardoso went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cardoso uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Azhari.
It looked like Cardoso was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Azhari.
The crowd cheers as Azhari lands an impressive looking overhand right. Cardoso doesn't seem phased though.
Azhari misses with a telegraphed body shot
letting Cardoso counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Cardoso's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Azhari throws an off balance right hand
and Cardoso counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Azhari throws a leg kick which misses Cardoso's front leg but catches the back leg as Cardoso tries to avoid it.
Azhari misses with a body kick.
Azhari throws a lazy uppercut
and Cardoso counters with a straight right hand.
Azhari throws out a leg kick but Cardoso moves out of range and Azhari only half commits.
Cardoso sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Azhari. Cardoso shrugs it off though.
Azhari misses with a lunging right hand
and Cardoso counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Azhari lands a jab to the nose.
Azhari throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari misses with a leg kick
and Cardoso counters with a thumping low kick.
Azhari fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cardoso.
Caio Cardoso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Cardoso tries to keep at a distance but Azhari has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cardoso looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cardoso with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Cardoso is trying to maintain a safe position but Azhari gets an underhook and turns Cardoso into the ropes.
Azhari blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cardoso with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Azhari lands a body shot.
A short right from Azhari on the inside.

Azhari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Azhari throws a lazy body kick
and Cardoso counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Azhari misses with a straight right.
Cardoso looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Cardoso counters with a good low kick that Azhari was not able to check.
Azhari scores with a decent looking hook.
Azhari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhari throws a leg kick which misses Cardoso's front leg but catches the back leg as Cardoso tries to avoid it.
Cardoso moves out of range of the leg kick from Azhari.
Ebrahim Azhari is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nice jab there from Azhari.
Jab by Azhari.
Azhari tries to land a front kick but Cardoso steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cardoso thinks about countering with a body kick.

Azhari gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cardoso using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Azhari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ebrahim Azhari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Azhari 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 45:50
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 45:50
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ebrahim Azhari!
Ebrahim Azhari seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.