PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rukter Demenok (ranked 953 p4p, 1911 weight class) and Rikiya Goromaru (ranked 108 p4p, 190 weight class). Demenok comes to the cage accompanied by The Lighthouse Speech. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Demenok
vs
Goromaru

168 cm
24
147
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
145
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rukter Demenok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Rikiya Goromaru!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Goromaru takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Demenok takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Demenok wants to slow Goromaru down by chopping away at his legs.
Goromaru stuns Demenok with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Demenok.
Goromaru scores with a crisp jab that stopped Demenok in his tracks.
Goromaru avoids the head kick by Demenok.
Demenok takes a swing at Goromaru's ribcage but misses.
Demenok throws a shot from downtown. Goromaru moves away and avoids it.
Demenok looks to throw the jab but Goromaru is out of range.
Demenok tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Goromaru was well out of range. Poor timing from Demenok.

Goromaru has Demenok up against the cage in a clinch.
Goromaru working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Goromaru misses with a hook to the ribs.
Goromaru misses with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Goromaru lands a right hand.
Goromaru goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goromaru working aggressively here.
Nice elbow from Demenok.

It looks like Rikiya Goromaru has been cut.
Goromaru lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Demenok backwards.
Goromaru lands with a left to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Goromaru fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Demenok.
A nice right hand lands inside from Goromaru.
Demenok tries to throw a body punch but Goromaru avoids it by throwing Demenok back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Goromaru fails to land.
Goromaru gets through Demenok's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Goromaru lands a left hand that snaps the head of Demenok backwards.
Demenok scores with a nice hook to the head.
Demenok blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Demenok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Demenok misses with a hook to the ribs.
Demenok lands with a light punch inside.
A short right from Goromaru.
Still in the clinch, Demenok scores with a nice short uppercut.
Demenok misses with a body punch.
Demenok takes a shot to the head.
Demenok working aggressively here.
Goromaru is trying to break the clinch but Demenok has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demenok lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Goromaru backwards.
Demenok swings wildly with an uppercut but Goromaru uses good head movement to avoid it.
Demenok lands an uppercut.
Goromaru drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Demenok gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Goromaru goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Goromaru doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Goromaru is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Demenok is keeping busy.
A short body shot lands from Goromaru as the two fighters clinch.
Goromaru misses with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok pushes Goromaru back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Demenok working aggressively here.
Goromaru scores with a shot to the side of Demenok's head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Goromaru prevents a body shot from Demenok.
Demenok tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Demenok breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Demenok. Goromaru does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Goromaru has closed the distance and engaged Demenok in a clinch.
Demenok working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Demenok struggles to land a body shot inside as Goromaru controls his hands.
Demenok misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Goromaru.
Goromaru blocks a body shot from Demenok.
Demenok misses with a hook to the ribs.
Demenok swings wildly with an uppercut but Goromaru uses good head movement to avoid it.
Goromaru wants to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Goromaru.
Demenok goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Goromaru pulls guard effortlessly.

Goromaru has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Demenok can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Goromaru can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Demenok controls the pace.
Demenok is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Chakuriki LA Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demenok has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Demenok trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Goromaru manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Demenok bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Goromaru's guard.

Goromaru keeping full guard, as Demenok tries to pass.

Goromaru is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Demenok stays in close to Goromaru's body and controls the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rikiya Goromaru will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rikiya Goromaru's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Demenok jabs Goromaru right on the nose. Goromaru blinks but takes it well.

Goromaru clinches up against the cage.
Demenok blocks an uppercut.
Demenok lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Goromaru backwards.
Goromaru misses with a hook from the clinch.
Demenok digs a right hand into Goromaru's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Goromaru's gas tank.
Goromaru lands a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Demenok.
Goromaru stalling in the clinch but Demenok improves position.
Goromaru misses with a hook from the clinch.
Demenok makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Demenok.
Demenok lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Goromaru is trying to maintain a safe position but Demenok gets an underhook and turns Goromaru into the cage.
Nice body punch from Demenok.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Demenok scores with a shot to the side of Goromaru's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Goromaru.
Goromaru throws a head punch that misses.
Goromaru tries to work over Demenok's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Demenok swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demenok lands a nice uppercut.
Goromaru struggles to land a body shot inside as Demenok controls his hands.
Goromaru lands with a right to the head.
Demenok lands a left hand.

Demenok breaks the clinch.
Goromaru tries to clinch up.
Goromaru shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Demenok pinned against the cage. Demenok gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Demenok keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Demenok on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Goromaru on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Demenok keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Goromaru shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Demenok defends it nicely.
Demenok throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demenok misses with an attempted mid kick.
Goromaru misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Demenok.
Demenok uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Goromaru.
Demenok throws a hook but Goromaru avoids it easily.
Goromaru jabs at Demenok's body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Demenok looks to land a body kick but Goromaru moved away.
Goromaru misses with a hook
and Demenok counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Demenok doesn't manage to clinch there - Goromaru circles away.
Goromaru throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Demenok throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Goromaru was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Demenok swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rikiya Goromaru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Demenok there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demenok steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Goromaru.
Goromaru throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Goromaru's corner calls for a 1-2. Goromaru obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Goromaru tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Demenok paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Goromaru looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Demenok throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Goromaru rushes Demenok and presses him up against the cage.
Goromaru stalls.
Goromaru blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Goromaru fails to land.
Demenok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Goromaru takes a shot to the head.
Goromaru jumps guard but Demenok stands there with Goromaru around his waist. Goromaru gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rukter Demenok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rikiya Goromaru.
Demenok doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Demenok lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rukter Demenok has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goromaru pushes Demenok back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Demenok working aggressively here.
Demenok cracks Goromaru with a nice body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Demenok blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Goromaru lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Goromaru fails to land.
Goromaru lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Demenok works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Demenok is leaning against Goromaru and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Goromaru is breathing heavily.
Goromaru scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Demenok lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Goromaru swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Demenok lands a left hand that snaps the head of Goromaru backwards.
Goromaru has a couple of punches blocked by Demenok.
Demenok tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Goromaru's elbow.
Goromaru has a couple of punches blocked by Demenok.
Goromaru misses with a punch on the inside.
Demenok blocks an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Demenok.
Demenok presses Goromaru against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Goromaru wants to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rukter Demenok dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rikiya Goromaru's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Demenok throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Goromaru stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Demenok swings for the body but Goromaru moves out of range.
Demenok takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Demenok takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Demenok throws a body shot but no joy.
Demenok throws a looping overhand right but Goromaru ducks down to avoid it.
Demenok clobbers Goromaru with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Demenok sizes up Goromaru with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A nice leg kick from Demenok, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goromaru rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Demenok moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Demenok misses the target.
Demenok looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Horrible takedown attempt by Goromaru or perhaps it was just good defense by Demenok, which made it look bad.
Demenok feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goromaru cracks Demenok with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Demenok on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Goromaru misses with the combination.
Goromaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Demenok throws a big counter combination but Goromaru scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Demenok throws a jab but it's blocked by Goromaru.
Demenok misses with a jab to the body
and Goromaru counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Goromaru moves into range and clinches up with Demenok.
Demenok blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Demenok lands with a right to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Goromaru fails to land.
Demenok goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Demenok lands a hook to the side of the head.
Demenok misses with a punch to the body.
Goromaru prevents a body shot from Demenok.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demenok goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Demenok's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
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!
Demenok misses with a body punch.
Goromaru throws a punch but it's blocked by Demenok.
Goromaru fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Goromaru working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Goromaru doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Goromaru breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Goromaru falls off balance throwing a combination
and Demenok cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Demenok's jab looks to have found its range, popping Goromaru under the eye.
Goromaru throws a big shot that misses.
Goromaru throws a solid leg kick but Demenok takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Goromaru.
Rukter Demenok is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Demenok smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Goromaru is rocked!
Goromaru has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Both fighters circling a little - Demenok finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Goromaru is still on wobbly legs! Can Demenok finish him?
Goromaru walks straight into a right hand from Demenok - that's dropped him! Demenok jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Goromaru from any more punishment! Goromaru complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Rukter Demenok!
During a confident post fight interview, Rukter Demenok thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.