PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Azinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhamad Alli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Azinger kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Racoon - No mercy. Alli comes into a darkened arena with his song building. De la Souls, by POS kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Paul Azinger had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Azinger
vs
Alli

204 cm
27
220 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

200 cm
36
214 lbs
28 - 21 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Azinger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 21 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Muhamad Alli!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azinger's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Azinger duly obliges.
Azinger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azinger throws a half hearted mid kick.
Azinger tries a head kick but it misses.
Alli closes this distance looking for a takedown but Azinger circles away.
Alli misses with a wild body shot.
Azinger throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Alli stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azinger throws a lazy uppercut
and Alli counters with a right hand to the body.
Azinger wants to clinch
and Alli counters with a stiff right hand.
Paul Azinger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azinger missing with a left hand there. Alli was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Alli uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Azinger.
Azinger throws a right hand that misses

and Alli moves into the clinch.

Alli manages to break the clinch.
Azinger misses with a kick to the body
and Alli counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Azinger. Alli does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azinger feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Allis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Azinger throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Azinger takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Alli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azinger manages to avoid it.
Alli moves out of range as Azinger strikes.
Alli motions for Azinger to come forward. Alli throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Azinger lands a big head kick that sends Alli tumbling to the mat! Azinger takes a step backwards and waves Alli back to his feet - he wants the finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azinger throws a jab but it's blocked by Alli.
Azinger throws a push kick but Alli slaps the foot to one side.
Paul Azinger is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Alli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Azinger throws out the jab.
Azinger misses with a body shot.
Azinger swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azinger clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Azinger.
The referee is keeping an eye on Azinger - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Alli jumps guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Alli controls Azinger momentarily but Azinger frees himself.
Alli is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Azinger's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Alli had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azinger defends it easily.
Azinger content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Paul Azinger wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Azinger.
Alli takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Azinger swings for the body but Alli moves out of range.

Azinger instigates a clinch.
Alli blocking some punches.
Alli on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Azinger wants to break free but Alli has control.
Azinger is struggling to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azinger misses with an elbow over the top.

Alli breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Alli moves out of range as Azinger strikes.
Azinger closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Alli changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Azinger looks to score with a jab to the body but Alli is just out of range.
Azinger takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Azinger just misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Azinger looks to score with a jab to the body but Alli is just out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Azinger scoring well with a low kick there.
Azinger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azinger throws a lazy uppercut
and Alli counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Azinger dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Alli throws a jab when Azinger was well out of range.
Alli closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Azinger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Azinger lands a lovely overhand right.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Alli lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Azinger has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Azinger and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Azinger misses with a double jab.
Azinger throws a body punch but Alli moves out of range.
Azinger misses with a looping left.
Azinger connects with a high kick.
Azinger misses with an uppercut
and Alli counters with a right hand to the body.

Alli takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Azinger misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Azinger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azinger creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Alli jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Azinger walks away with a smile on his face. Alli gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Azinger throws a body kick that misses.
Azinger throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Azinger misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Alli.
Nice sprawl there from Azinger as Alli shoots in.
Azinger misses the shot to the body.
Azinger walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Alli checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Alli thows a left - swing and a miss!

Azinger moves into the clinch successfully.
Alli tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Paul Azinger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muhamad Alli.
A short right from Azinger.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azinger wants to get back to striking at distance but Alli won't allow it.
Azinger tries to land knees in the clinch but Alli avoids the damage to the body.
Alli has a couple of punches blocked by Azinger.
Alli blocks an elbow strike.
Azinger leaning against his opponent.
Alli blocks an uppercut.

Alli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alli misses with a straight right.
Azinger throws a head kick but Alli moves out of range.
Alli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Azinger as he jumps to the side.
Azinger throws an off balance right hand
and Alli counters with a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Alli. Azinger does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azinger fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Alli manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azinger throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Paul Azinger is winning the standup battle so far.
Azinger tries to clinch up but Alli circles away and keeps his distance.
Alli takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Alli takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Azinger connects with a good right hand that stumbles Alli. Alli circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A shot to the body from Azinger misses

and Alli counters with a single leg into guard. Azinger didn't expect that.
Alli is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alli throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azinger has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Alli wants to pass the guard but Azinger is keeping the position.
Azinger is trying to control the position but Alli postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alli trying to control but Azinger is working from the bottom.
Azinger is controlling Alli's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Paul Azinger just wasn't active enough.
Alli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Decent striking displayed by Azinger there.
Azinger stuffs the takedown attempt from Alli. Alli gets slowly back to his feet.
A cross from Azinger lands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Alli just misses with a punch to the body.
Alli misses with a body shot.
Azinger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Alli moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Azinger dominated that second round.
That's time! Azinger's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Azinger drives through and clinches with Alli against the cage.
Azinger stalling in the clinch but Alli improves position.
Azinger working aggressively here.
Alli fails to pull guard.
Alli is trying to pull guard but Azinger turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Alli is trying to stall.
Azinger lands a hook that snaps the head of Alli backwards.
Azinger lands a left hand that snaps the head of Alli backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Azinger.
Alli looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The referee calls for Azinger to work.
Alli lands a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azinger throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Azinger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Alli blocks the elbow strike.
Azinger doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Azinger lands a nice uppercut.
Alli blocks a body shot from Azinger.
Azinger prevents a body shot from Alli.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Alli.
Azinger tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Azinger.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Azinger just misses with a elbow thrown towards Alli's brow.
Azinger misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azinger stalling.
Azinger throws an elbow that misses.
Azinger scores with a hook to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Azinger.
Alli avoids a wild elbow strike from Azinger.
Alli blocks an elbow strike.
Azinger tries to throw a body punch but Alli avoids it by throwing Azinger back against the cage.
Alli on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Alli blocks an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Azinger.
Azinger pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azinger tries to circle away but Alli has him pinned against the cage.
Azinger working aggressively here.
Azinger misses with a punch on the inside.
Paul Azinger has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Alli throws a punch but it's blocked by Azinger.
Alli tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Alli blocks the elbow strike.
Azinger working aggressively here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Alli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azinger throws a right hand that misses
and Azinger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Azinger throws a big shot that misses.
Alli wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Azinger throws a body punch but Alli moves out of range.
Alli blocks a jab.
Alli blocks the body kick.
Paul Azinger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Azinger with a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alli is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azinger.
Azinger swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Alli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Azinger showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Azinger, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Azinger!
During a confident post fight interview, Paul Azinger thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.