PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Ebrahim Azhari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ukyo Sato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azhari's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Jedi Mind Tricks - Blood in Blood out. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Azhari
vs
Sato

171 cm
28
152 lbs
12 - 10 - 1

175 cm
32
140 lbs
24 - 14 - 1

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ebrahim Azhari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ukyo Sato!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sato uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Sato scores with a crisp jab that stopped Azhari in his tracks.
Azhari swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sato.
Sato fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Azhari is out of range.
Sato misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Azhari connects with a looping right hand.

It looks like Ukyo Sato has been cut.
Sato looks to land a body kick but Azhari moved away.
Sato defending well as Azhari loads up on a big left hand.
Sato throws a hook but Azhari blocks it.
Sato swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sato keeps Azhari at a distance using the push kick.
Azhari takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sato checks the leg kick.
Sato throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Azhari staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato lands with a slapping head kick.
Azhari looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sato throws a nice looking combination but Azhari bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sato uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Azhari misses with a body kick.
A big left from Sato misses.
Sato connects with the punch.
Sato lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Azhari takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Azhari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.
Azhari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.
Ukyo Sato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sato throws a leg kick that misses.
Sato looks to throw a body kick

and Azhari counters with a right, a left and a big uppercut that drops Sato to the mat! Azhari runs to a neutral corner to get the count going quickly. 3,4,5,6 and Sato is back to his feet. He seems ready to continue - the ref agrees so we're back at it!

Sato is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhari throws out a loose jab but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azhari takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Azhari moves out of range of the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari takes one to the side of the head.
Sloppy strikes from Azhari. Those never looked like landing.
Some wild striking there from Sato.
Azhari takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sato throws a body kick that misses
and Azhari counters with an outside leg kick.
Jab from Azhari.
Sato misses with a few strikes there.
Sato throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Azhari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sato misses with an uppercut.
Sato finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Azhari tries a head kick but it misses.
Sato looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhari throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A jab from Sato finds it's way through Azhari's defenses.
Sato moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Azhari takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Azhari catches Sato with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Azhari moves out of range of the body kick from Sato.
Sato misses with a hook.
Some wild striking there from Sato.
Sato tries to land a front kick but Azhari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sato takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A big right from Sato misses.
Azhari takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Sato misses with a left hand
and Azhari counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Azhari misses with a low kick.
Sato checks the leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Azhari.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azhari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sato connects with a jab.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sato checks a leg kick.
Azhari throws a front kick aimed at Sato's knee but Sato avoids it well.
Sato is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Azhari had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Sato waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Azhari.
Sato throws a big shot that misses.
Sato lands a leg kick that knocks Azhari off balance momentarily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azhari takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Azhari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sato ducks under a wild hook from Azhari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari should take that round, based on the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Ukyo Sato's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Azhari pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Azhari misses with the combination.
Azhari uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sato.
Sato pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Azhari checks a low kick from Sato.
Sato throws a leg kick that is checked
and Azhari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sato throws a right and a left that both miss.
Azhari scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Azhari goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Sato scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Azhari throws a hook but Sato avoids it easily.
Azhari buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sato tries to land a front kick but Azhari steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Sato. That snapped Azhari's head back.
Sato throws a jab when Azhari was well out of range.
Sato rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Azhari counters with a nice uppercut.
Azhari blocks a head kick by Sato.
Azhari takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Azhari will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Sato tries to land a body kick
and Sato takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Sato dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Azhari scores a knockdown with a big right hand! Sato beats the count and gets back to his feet. The referee asks him to walk forwards and it appears he is OK so we'll continue the bout.
Ebrahim Azhari is winning the standup battle so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sato misses with a lunging right hand
and Azhari counters with a stiff right hand.
Sato is still on wobbly legs! Can Azhari finish him?

That has opened up Ukyo Sato's cut even more.
Sato staying out of range there.
Azhari throws a jab when Sato was well out of range.
Azhari is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Sato 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari throws an overhand right that lands on Sato's shoulder, as Sato tries to avoid the shot.
Sato seems to have recovered his senses.
Sato looks to land a body kick but Azhari moved away.
Sato moves away from the strike by Azhari.
Sato sizes up Azhari with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Sato moves out of range of the body kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sato.
Azhari scores with a decent looking hook.
Sato takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sato scores with a jab to the jaw.
Azhari bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sato looks to throw the jab but Azhari is out of range.
Azhari takes a jab right on the kisser.
Sato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azhari closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhari lands a jab to the head.
Azhari throws a poor cross that misses
and Sato counters with a one-two to the body.
Good exchange - Sato coming out on top.
Azhari looks to land a right hand but Sato moved out of range.
Sato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Azhari.
Sato throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Azhari counters with a solid body kick.
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.
Sato lands with a kick to the ribs.
Azhari fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sato has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sato misses with a body shot.
Sato pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sato with a hook.
Azhari is looking to land body kicks.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Sato misses with a straight right.
Sato moves away from the strike by Azhari.
Sato misses with a body kick.
Sato looks to land a body kick but Azhari moved away.
Azhari takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Azhari is looking to score with low kicks.
Sato throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Azhari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Azhari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Azhari ducks under a wild hook from Sato.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sato lands with an overhand left.
That kick from Sato tenderised Azhari's leg. Azhari is trying to keep his angry face on.
Azhari swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sato loads up on a big right hand but Azhari slips the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari will take that round after scoring the only knockdown of the round.
The cut man is working on Ukyo Sato's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Azhari lands a glancing blow to the side of Sato's head.
Azhari checks a leg kick.
Sato uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Azhari.
Azhari on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sato avoids a punch combination nicely.
Sato takes a swing at Azhari's ribcage but misses.
Sato feints and then cracks Azhari's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Azhari down.
Azhari throws a push kick but Sato slaps the foot to one side.
Sato throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Sato throws a body punch but Azhari moves out of range.
Sato misses with an attempted mid kick.
Azhari misses with a body kick.
Sato looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhari looks to land a left hand but Sato moved out of range nicely.
Azhari will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Sato moved away.
Azhari misses with a straight left.
Azhari is looking to land body kicks.
Azhari avoids the body shot from Sato.
Azhari slips under a jab.
Azhari gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Sato lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Azhari circles away quickly and effectively.
Azhari slips a jab from Sato.
Sato throws a hook to the side of Azhari's head but Azhari sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sato looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sato checks a leg kick.
Azhari throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari throws a wild body kick that Sato sees coming a mile off.
Azhari moves out of range as Sato throws a body kick.
Azhari takes one on the button.
Sato lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Azhari throws a leg kick
and Sato counters with a right hand to the body.
Sato looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Azhari scores with a kick to the midsection.
Sato misses with an uppercut. Azhari saw that one coming.
Azhari turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sato misses with a leg kick.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azhari scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Sato throws a leg kick but Azhari sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Azhari.
Sato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A jab from Sato misses.
Azhari avoids the head kick by Sato.
Sato throws a body kick that misses
and Azhari counters with an outside leg kick.
Sato moves out of range of the strikes.
Azhari lands with an overhand left.
Azhari scores with a jab.
Sato scores with a punch to the head.
Sato moves out of range of the strikes.

Azhari drops a shoulder and throws a biiiig uppercut that drops Sato onto his butt! Sato pops straight back to his feet to convince the referee that he's OK to continue.

The cut above Ukyo Sato's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azhari moves out of range as Sato strikes.
Sato looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A leg kick checked by Sato.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sato throws a head kick but Azhari moves out of range.
Sato misses with an attempted mid kick.
A low kick from Azhari is predictable there
and Sato counters with a flying knee. Nice.

It looks like Ebrahim Azhari has been cut.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sato.
A jab from Azhari misses.
Sato pushes Azhari away with a front kick.
Azhari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sato.
A bone on bone clash there as Sato blocks the leg kick.
Azhari with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sato to score with a decent uppercut.
Sato cracks a nice hook into Azhari's ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sato avoids a kick to the body.
Azhari lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sato lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ebrahim Azhari takes that one, having scored the knockdown.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Azhari stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sato.
Sato throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Azhari counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Some wild striking there from Sato.
Azhari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sato throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sato loads up on a big right hand but Azhari slips the punch.
Sato blocks a jab.
Azhari lands a nice looking body kick.
Sato throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Azhari blocks the body kick.
Sato connects with a nice looking jab.
Azhari throws the kick towards the body but Sato avoids it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Azhari.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sato throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Azhari counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sato checks the leg kick nicely there.
Azhari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sato misses with a body kick.
Jab, jab by Sato - just one landing.
Azhari throws out a loose jab but Sato uses good head movement to avoid it.
Azhari throws a left and a right that both miss
and Sato makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sato thows a body shot but no joy.
Azhari pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Sato throws a wild body kick that Azhari sees coming a mile off.
Azhari scores with a kick to the body.
Sato tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhari finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sato scores with a push kick.
Azhari throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sato throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Azhari counters with a low kick, right behind Sato 's knee.
Sato is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Azhari tries to work over Sato's front leg with a kick but Sato checks it.
Sato misses with an uppercut
and Azhari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sato swings widly with a right hand
enabling Azhari to counter with a crisp jab.
Azhari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sato.
Azhari uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sato.
Sato throws a low kick but Azhari moves out of range easily.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Azhari.
Sato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azhari manages to avoid it.
Sato tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhari misses with a head kick.
Azhari keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sato scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Azhari dodges the punch combination from Sato.
Azhari gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Azhari ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Azhari throws a push kick but Sato slaps the foot to one side.
Azhari slips under a jab from Sato.
Sato's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sato.
Sato throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Azhari counters with a good, hard body kick but Sato shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azhari tried to score with a low kick but Sato checks it.
Sato has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Azhari.
Sato scores with a shot to the body.
Azhari tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sato is able to avoid easily.
Sato connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Azhari moves away from the strike by Sato.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sato checks a leg kick.
A cross from Sato lands.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sato throws a body punch but Azhari moves out of range.
Sato stuns Azhari with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azhari takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Azhari lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sato looks to throw a body kick
and Azhari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Ebrahim Azhari will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sato scores with a jab to the head.
Sato throws a jab but it's blocked by Azhari.
Azhari misses with a double jab.
Azhari misses the jab.
Sato looks for the body kick but Azhari saw that one coming.
Azhari throws the left hand but Sato avoids the punch easily.
Sato throws a hook to the side of Azhari's head but Azhari sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sato drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sato throws a shot from downtown. Azhari moves away and avoids it.
Sato looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Azhari throws a head kick but Sato moves out of range.
Azhari throws a wild body kick that Sato sees coming a mile off.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Azhari, right into the meat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
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 misses with an uppercut. Azhari saw that one coming.
Sato fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Azhari throws a leg kick but Sato checks it.
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 throws a leg kick
and Sato counters with a stiff right hand.
Azhari misses with an attempted mid kick.
Sato moves away from the strike by Azhari.
Azhari bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Azhari throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Crunch! Sato slams his shin into Azhari's torso.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sato connects with a single shot there.
A clash of legs there as Azhari blocks the low kick.
Azhari moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Azhari throws a front kick aimed at Sato's knee but Sato avoids it well.
Azhari throws a right and a left that Sato avoids nicely.
Azhari pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sato checks a low kick from Azhari.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sato blocks the body kick.
Sato throws a shot from downtown. Azhari moves away and avoids it.
Azhari shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Azhari steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Sato. That one must have hurt.
Sato tries a head kick but it misses.
Sato cracks Azhari with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ebrahim Azhari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhari steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sato.
Sato checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sato lands a nice looking kick to the body. Azhari takes a step back to recover.
Sato throws an off balance right hand
and Azhari counters with a low kick, right behind Sato 's knee.
Azhari doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Azhari tries a head kick but it misses.
Azhari's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Sato connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Azhari scrambles back to his feet.
Sato jabs Azhari to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Azhari.
Sato lands a glancing blow to the side of Azhari's head.
Sato misses with a body kick.
A slow jab from Azhari misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Azhari crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Sato - the referee stops the clock and Azhari gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Sato. Azhari manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Sato lands a body shot.
Azhari lands a leg kick that knocks Sato off balance momentarily.
Azhari throws the left hand but Sato avoids the punch easily.
Azhari looks to land a right hand but Sato moved out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Azhari takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Azhari misses with a head kick.
Sato throws a push kick but Azhari slaps the foot to one side.
Sato connects with a right hand. Azhari shakes it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sato throws a shot from downtown. Azhari moves away and avoids it.
Sato throws a poor cross that misses
and Azhari counters with a nice uppercut.
Sato looks to land a right hand but Azhari moved out of range.
Ukyo Sato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azhari's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sato under the eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ukyo Sato.
Well Azhari has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 49:43
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 49:43
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 49:43

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ebrahim Azhari!
A relieved looking Ebrahim Azhari thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.