PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Milovan Cirkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhari's entrance music is Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. A fine choice. Cirkovic has chosen Five Finger Death Punch - as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Azhari
vs
Cirkovic

171 cm
41
174 lbs
40 - 20 - 3

193 cm
39
203 lbs
41 - 13 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Granite chin

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 20 - 3, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ebrahim Azhari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 13 - 1, fighting out of New York, Milovan Cirkovic!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Azhari misses.
Cirkovic lets loose with a powerful body kick. Azhari will feel that in the morning.
Azhari walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Azhari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Cirkovic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Cirkovic connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Azhari thows a leg kick but Cirkovic checks it
and Cirkovic counters with a good, hard body kick but Azhari shrugs it off.
Cirkovic goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Cirkovic tries to land a front kick but Azhari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cirkovic lands a nice looking kick to the body. Azhari takes a step back to recover.
Cirkovic lands a body shot.
Cirkovic scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cirkovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cirkovic throws a looping overhand right but Azhari ducks down to avoid it.
We've been informed that Cirkovic has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azhari misses the jab.
Azhari connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Cirkovic's hands.
Azhari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cirkovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Cirkovic has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Cirkovic connects with a high kick.

It looks like Ebrahim Azhari has been cut.
Azhari throws a hook but Cirkovic avoids it easily.
Cirkovic throws a head kick but Azhari moves out of range.
Cirkovic misses with a low kick as Azhari jumps back.
Azhari looks for the body kick but Cirkovic saw that one coming.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cirkovic.
A thudding body kick lands there by Cirkovic!
Cirkovic throws a jab but it's blocked by Azhari.
A little feinted left hand from Azhari on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cirkovic throws a lazy head kick
and Azhari counters with a slapping leg kick.
Cirkovic 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.
Azhari connects with a leg kick. Cirkovic looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Cirkovic lands with an uppercut that bounces Azhari off the ropes and back into range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Cirkovic sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Cirkovic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azhari connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari connects with the punch.
Azhari takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A big left from Azhari misses.
Cirkovic throws a head kick that Azhari semi-blocks.
Azhari throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Donk. Cirkovic catches Azhari right on the button with a cross.
Azhari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Cirkovic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Cirkovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cirkovic has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Azhari on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Good exchange - Cirkovic coming out on top.
Cirkovic stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Azhari.

Cirkovic closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cirkovic lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Azhari.
Azhari using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Cirkovic tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Azhari lands a nice elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milovan Cirkovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ebrahim Azhari's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Azhari tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Azhari bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Azhari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Cirkovic scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cirkovic fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Azhari checks it well.
Azhari shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Azhari lands the left hand.
Milovan Cirkovic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cirkovic chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Azhari can pounce on him.
Azhari moves away from the strike by Cirkovic.
Cirkovic jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Cirkovic throws a nice inside leg kick.
Cirkovic throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Some bone on bone action there as Cirkovic checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Azhari swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Cirkovic steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Azhari.
Cirkovic changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bone on bone clash there as Azhari blocks the leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Cirkovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A jab lands there for Cirkovic.
Cirkovic is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Cirkovic scoring well with a low kick there.
Cirkovic slips a straight right by Azhari.
Azhari throws a hook to the side of Cirkovic's head but Cirkovic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Cirkovic throws a front kick aimed at Azhari's knee but Azhari avoids it well.
Cirkovic tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Cirkovic finds it's way through Azhari's defenses.
Cirkovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azhari throws out the jab.
Cirkovic lands a slapping body shot.
Cirkovic checks a low kick from Azhari.
Cirkovic lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Cirkovic takes the fight into the clinch.
Cirkovic lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cirkovic throws a punch but it's blocked by Azhari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirkovic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Azhari just misses with a elbow thrown towards Cirkovic's brow.

Azhari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Azhari explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Cirkovic clobbers Azhari with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Azhari will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Cirkovic throws a low kick, looking for Azhari's leg but Azhari calmly moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Azhari misses the target.
Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Cirkovic's shoulder, as Cirkovic tries to avoid the shot.
Cirkovic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azhari.
Cirkovic lands a nice shot to the body.
Cirkovic throws a sloppy head kick and Azhari moves out of range easily.
Azhari appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A big left from Cirkovic misses.
Azhari misses with a leg kick.
Cirkovic moves out of range as Azhari strikes.
Cirkovic throws a right hand that Azhari ducks under and follows up with a left that Azhari also avoids with ease.
Azhari slips a jab from Cirkovic.
Cirkovic connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milovan Cirkovic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ebrahim Azhari's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cirkovic ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Azhari fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Cirkovic checks it well.
Azhari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Cirkovic swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Azhari crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Cirkovic - the referee stops the clock and Azhari gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Cirkovic. Azhari manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Cirkovic throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Azhari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Cirkovic is out of range.
Azhari throws a wild body kick that Cirkovic sees coming a mile off.
Cirkovic lands a jab to Azhari's midsection.
Cirkovic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Cirkovic lands with an uppercut that bounces Azhari off the ropes and back into range.
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?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A jab from Azhari misses.
Cirkovic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Cirkovic stuns Azhari with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cirkovic looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Azhari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cirkovic. That one must have hurt.
Cirkovic digs a good body shot into Azhari's ribs.
Cirkovic slips a jab from Azhari.
Cirkovic lands a nice leg kick that just misses Azhari's sensitive parts.
Cirkovic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Azhari.
Azhari lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Azhari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A big right from Azhari misses.
Cirkovic throws a low kick but it's checked well by Azhari.
Azhari feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Cirkovic throws a leg kick that misses.
Cirkovic misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Cirkovic throws the kick towards the body but Azhari avoids it.
Cirkovic throws a hook but Azhari blocks it.
Cirkovic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Azhari throws a chopping leg kick but Cirkovic manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Azhari's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Cirkovic connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Azhari scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Cirkovic misses.
Nice defenses there by Cirkovic.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cirkovic. Azhari does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Azhari on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cirkovic throws a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cirkovic on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Azhari misses with a straight left.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Cirkovic moved away.
Azhari attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Cirkovic wants to counter with a clinch but Azhari pushes him away.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Azhari - that will leave a mark!
Cirkovic lands a jab to Azhari's midsection.
Azhari throws a series of punches but Cirkovic moves out of range.
Cirkovic is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Azhari is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Azhari moves forwards but Cirkovic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cirkovic fakes the leg kick and cracks Azhari in the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Azhari scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cirkovic lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Azhari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Cirkovic.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Cirkovic checks it.
Cirkovic throws a head kick that Azhari semi-blocks.
Azhari takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Cirkovic tries a head kick but it misses.
It looked like Azhari wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Cirkovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice shot by Cirkovic.
A decent looking cross lands there for Cirkovic.
Cirkovic is looking to land body kicks.
Azhari connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cirkovic. Cirkovic circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Azhari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Azhari looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cirkovic throws a leg kick
and Azhari counters with a thumping low kick.
Cirkovic misses with a low kick.
Azhari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari misses with an uppercut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Azhari.
Cirkovic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A little feinted left hand from Azhari on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Cirkovic throws a right hand that Azhari ducks under and follows up with a left that Azhari also avoids with ease.
Azhari feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cirkovic's calf.
Cirkovic scores with a body shot.
Cirkovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azhari moves away.
Azhari takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Cirkovic wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
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.
Cirkovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cirkovic blocks a jab.
Azhari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Cirkovic.
Cirkovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good shot there by Azhari.
Cirkovic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cirkovic moves out of range of the leg kick from Azhari.
An inside leg kick lands from Azhari.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cirkovic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Azhari.
Azhari moves out of range of the body kick from Cirkovic.
Cirkovic lands with a nice body kick.
Azhari throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cirkovic.
A nice leg kick lands there from Cirkovic.
Cirkovic throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Cirkovic tries to clinch but Azhari is having none of it.
Cirkovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Azhari is just out of range.
Azhari takes one to the side of the head.
Azhari thuds his right hand into Cirkovic's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Cirkovic scores with a jab to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Milovan Cirkovic dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ebrahim Azhari's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Cirkovic's shoulder, as Cirkovic tries to avoid the shot.
Cirkovic cracks Azhari with a right hand to the side of the head.
Cirkovic throws a quick inside leg kick.
Azhari lands an overhand right.
Some bone on bone action there as Cirkovic checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Azhari takes a jab right on the kisser.
Azhari ducks under a wild hook from Cirkovic.
Cirkovic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azhari moves away.
Cirkovic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Azhari.
A lazy body kick from Azhari
and Cirkovic counters with a nice low kick that buckles Azhari's knee momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cirkovic.
A little jabbing left from Cirkovic on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Cirkovic with a hook.
Cirkovic lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cirkovic swings for the body but Azhari moves out of range.
Cirkovic scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cirkovic checks a leg kick nicely.
Azhari blocks a jab.
Cirkovic pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cirkovic cracks a nice hook into Azhari's ribs.
Cirkovic chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Azhari throws a hook but Cirkovic avoids it easily.
Cirkovic with a jab.
Cirkovic pushes Azhari away with a front kick.
Ebrahim Azhari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Milovan Cirkovic is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Cirkovic throws a one two combo.
Cirkovic with a nice cross.
A shot to the body from Azhari misses
and Cirkovic counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Azhari connects with a body shot that sends Cirkovic's belly button to the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cirkovic lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Cirkovic wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cirkovic defending well as Azhari loads up on a big left hand.
Azhari moves out of range of the body kick from Cirkovic.
Cirkovic blocks a low kick nicely.
Cirkovic steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
A slapping body kick lands there for Cirkovic.
Azhari takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Azhari waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cirkovic.
Azhari looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nice defenses there by Cirkovic.
Cirkovic scores with a jab to the body.
Cirkovic feints and then cracks Azhari's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Azhari down.
Azhari looks to score with a jab to the body but Cirkovic is just out of range.
Good leg kick by Cirkovic there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Azhari shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Azhari tried to score with a low kick but Cirkovic checks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Milovan Cirkovic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cirkovic 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 Josh West scores the fight 45:50
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Milovan Cirkovic!
Milovan Cirkovic took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Arcticus University: London for their support in the buildup to the fight.
Ebrahim Azhari spoke after the fight, saying 'Well you loose some and win some, but lately i kinda loose more then win. I have to see how to continue with my career.'.