PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Koos Van Asch (ranked 1027 p4p, 1474 weight class) and Bardia Farrokhzad (ranked 81 p4p, 116 weight class). Farrokhzad is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rastak - Hele Mali (Iranian Fisherman Folk Song). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Van Asch
vs
Farrokhzad

167 cm
33
143
23 - 14 - 1

170 cm
38
148
33 - 27 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

Brooklyn Apothecary
Tempo Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Koos Van Asch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bardia Farrokhzad!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farrokhzad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Asch moves away.
Farrokhzad waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Asch.
Farrokhzad misses with a straight left.

Farrokhzad takes the fight into the clinch.
Farrokhzad lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Farrokhzad lands a body punch in the clinch.
Farrokhzad using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Van Asch has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Van Asch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Farrokhzad misses with a wild body shot.
Van Asch half committed to a counter leg kick.
Van Asch misses with a low kick.
Farrokhzad tries to clinch but Van Asch moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farrokhzad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Van Asch has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Both fighters circling a little - Van Asch finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Farrokhzad throws a big shot that misses.
Farrokhzad lands a nice looking body shot.
Van Asch throws a hook to the side of Farrokhzad's head but Farrokhzad sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Asch waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Farrokhzad.
A left lands for Van Asch.
Farrokhzad wants to clinch.
Farrokhzad swings away with a body shot that misses
and Van Asch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Farrokhzad tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Farrokhzad lands a nice shot that snaps Van Asch's head back.
Farrokhzad lands a body shot.
Van Asch moves out of range as Farrokhzad strikes.
Van Asch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Farrokhzad sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Farrokhzad looks to land a right hand but Van Asch moved out of range.
Farrokhzad throws a jab when Van Asch was well out of range.
Farrokhzad scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Van Asch lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farrokhzad throws a big shot that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Asch walks into a jab.
The crowd cheers as Farrokhzad lands an impressive looking overhand right. Van Asch doesn't seem phased though.
Van Asch sizes up Farrokhzad with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Van Asch uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad misses with a hook
and Van Asch makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Decent striking displayed by Farrokhzad there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Asch. Farrokhzad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Farrokhzad swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Van Asch ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Asch went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Farrokhzad misses with a double jab
and Van Asch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Farrokhzad uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Van Asch.
Van Asch is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Farrokhzad.
Van Asch throws a leg kick but Farrokhzad moved away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bardia Farrokhzad dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Farrokhzad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Farrokhzad slips under a jab.
Van Asch takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Farrokhzad misses with a shot to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Farrokhzad walks into a stiff left hand from Van Asch.
Van Asch uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Van Asch is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Van Asch lands with a shot to the body.
Farrokhzad scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Van Asch with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Farrokhzad digs a good body shot into Van Asch's ribs.
Bardia Farrokhzad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Van Asch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Farrokhzad appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Farrokhzad checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Farrokhzad throws an overhand right that lands on Van Asch's shoulder, as Van Asch tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farrokhzad misses with a series of wild punches.
Farrokhzad paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Van Asch misses with an uppercut. Farrokhzad saw that one coming.
Van Asch misses with a left hand
and Farrokhzad counters with a stiff right hand.
The fighters circling - Van Asch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Farrokhzad closes the distance and clinches.
Van Asch scores with a hook to the body.
Van Asch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Asch controlling the action here for a moment.
Farrokhzad has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Asch tries to throw a body punch but Farrokhzad avoids it by throwing Van Asch back against the ropes.
Van Asch lands with a short shot to the head.
Farrokhzad lands a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Farrokhzad with a knee to the head.
Farrokhzad blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Farrokhzad lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Van Asch backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Farrokhzad obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Farrokhzad tries to land a knee to the head but Van Asch blocks with his arms.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Farrokhzad creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Farrokhzad tries to land knees in the clinch but Van Asch avoids the damage to the body.
Van Asch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Van Asch misses with a hook to the ribs.
Farrokhzad lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Van Asch manages to break the clinch.
Farrokhzad looks to land a left hand but Van Asch moved out of range nicely.
Van Asch with the inside leg kick.
Van Asch uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Farrokhzad.
Van Asch pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Farrokhzad doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Van Asch chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Farrokhzad waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Van Asch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bardia Farrokhzad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Farrokhzad paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Van Asch moves out of range of the strikes.
Van Asch misses with a looping right.
Farrokhzad swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Van Asch counters with a quick kick to the body but Farrokhzad blocks it.
Van Asch connects with a body shot that sends Farrokhzad's belly button to the back.
Farrokhzad tries to clinch
and Van Asch cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bardia Farrokhzad seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice shot by Farrokhzad.
Nice defenses there by Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Asch swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Van Asch misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Asch throws a low kick but Farrokhzad avoids it.
Farrokhzad slips under a jab.
Van Asch misses with a low kick.
Farrokhzad swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Asch slips under a jab from Farrokhzad.
Van Asch feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Farrokhzads jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Farrokhzad throws a hook but Van Asch blocks it.
Farrokhzad keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A jab from Farrokhzad misses.
Farrokhzad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Van Asch moves away.
Farrokhzad swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Farrokhzad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Van Asch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Farrokhzad misses with a hook. Van Asch ducked under it nicely.
Van Asch walks into a straight right hand from Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Van Asch sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Farrokhzad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Farrokhzad swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farrokhzad misses with a looping left.
Van Asch half committed to a counter leg kick.
Van Asch cracks Farrokhzad with an open hand slap.
Farrokhzad loads up on a big right hand but Van Asch slips the punch.
Van Asch swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Farrokhzad bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Farrokhzad throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Van Asch.
Van Asch appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Farrokhzad misses with a wild body shot.
Van Asch dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Farrokhzad. That did some damage!
Van Asch scores with a nice head shot.
Van Asch misses with a hook. Farrokhzad ducked under it nicely.
Van Asch lands the left hand.
A big left from Farrokhzad misses.
Farrokhzad tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Van Asch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Asch was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Farrokhzad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Van Asch wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Van Asch steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Farrokhzad.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Bardia Farrokhzad just about did enough to take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Farrokhzad throws an off balance right hand
and Van Asch makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Van Asch lands a front kick.
Farrokhzad slips a straight right by Van Asch.
Van Asch feints and then cracks Farrokhzad's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Farrokhzad down.
Van Asch slips a jab and a cross from Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad throws a shot from downtown. Van Asch moves away and avoids it.
Farrokhzad misses with a wild body shot.
Van Asch looks to land a right hand but Farrokhzad moved out of range.
Farrokhzad lands an overhand right.
Van Asch throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farrokhzad throws a big shot that misses.
Van Asch fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Van Asch scores with a jab to the head.
Van Asch looks to throw the jab but Farrokhzad is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farrokhzad throws a big shot that misses.
Farrokhzad on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Farrokhzad tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Van Asch throws a shot from downtown. Farrokhzad moves away and avoids it.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Asch.
Farrokhzad misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Asch counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A big right from Farrokhzad misses.
A little feinted left hand from Van Asch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Van Asch defending well as Farrokhzad loads up on a big left hand.
Van Asch looks to score with a jab to the body but Farrokhzad is just out of range.
Farrokhzad throws out a counter right but Van Asch avoids it with no problem.
Van Asch moves away from the strike by Farrokhzad.
A slapping leg kick lands for Van Asch.
Van Asch scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Farrokhzad tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Van Asch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Van Asch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Asch paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Farrokhzad takes the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Asch can't find room to land a body shot as Farrokhzad controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Van Asch fails to land.
Van Asch lands a right hand.
Van Asch lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Farrokhzad prevents a body shot from Van Asch.
Farrokhzad tries a knee to the head but Van Asch blocks it.

Van Asch breaks from the clinch.
Van Asch tries to land a leg kick but Farrokhzad saw it coming and moves away.
Farrokhzad cracks Van Asch with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Van Asch throws a nice outside leg kick.
Farrokhzad misses with a hook.
Van Asch with a jab.
Van Asch thows a leg kick but Farrokhzad checks it
and Farrokhzad counters with a nice uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Koos Van Asch had his way with Bardia Farrokhzad in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Van Asch goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Farrokhzad walks into a straight right hand from Van Asch.
Van Asch throws the left hand but Farrokhzad avoids the punch easily.
Van Asch swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice side step and Farrokhzad releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Farrokhzad getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Van Asch is rocked!
Van Asch connects with a looping right hand.
Van Asch tries to move into range but Farrokhzad moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koos Van Asch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Oh Van Asch is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Van Asch misses with a right hand
and Farrokhzad counters with a straight right hand.
Van Asch throws a jab but it's blocked by Farrokhzad.
Farrokhzad fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Asch manages to avoid it.
Van Asch seems to have got his legs back now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farrokhzad misses with an uppercut. Van Asch saw that one coming.
Farrokhzad moves out of range as Van Asch strikes.
Van Asch displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Farrokhzad throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farrokhzad displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Farrokhzad digs a good hook to Van Asch's body.
Farrokhzad throws a jab when Van Asch was well out of range.
Van Asch throws a jab when Farrokhzad was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Van Asch. Farrokhzad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Farrokhzad defending well as Van Asch loads up on a big left hand.
Van Asch misses with a looping right.
The fight stays on the outside here - Farrokhzad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Farrokhzad connects with a right hand. Van Asch shakes it off.
Van Asch throws a body shot but no joy.
Van Asch drops his hands momentarily and Farrokhzad takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farrokhzad throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Asch throws a hook to the side of Farrokhzad's head but Farrokhzad sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Van Asch looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Van Asch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Van Asch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Farrokhzad moves out of range of the body kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Asch misses with a shot to the body
and Farrokhzad counters with a nice uppercut.
Farrokhzad fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bardia Farrokhzad is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Farrokhzad's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Farrokhzad digs a good body shot into Van Asch's ribs.
Van Asch tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Farrokhzad was well out of range. Poor timing from Van Asch.
A lazy left from Farrokhzad finds it's target.
Farrokhzad scores with a hook.
Farrokhzad tries to clinch there but Van Asch circles away.
Farrokhzad works Van Asch's body with a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bardia Farrokhzad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Farrokhzad 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 46:49
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 46:49
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bardia Farrokhzad!
Bardia Farrokhzad is the new bantamweight champion!
Our winner, Bardia Farrokhzad, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.