PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Death Row (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaban Demidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Row comes to the cage accompanied by Who Da Champion. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Row
vs
Demidov

200 cm
25
272 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

210 cm
24
297 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Death Row!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kaban Demidov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Row misses with a takedown attempt - Demidov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Demidov tries to score with a low kick but Row moves his leg out of the way.
Demidov tries to clinch there but Row circles away.
Demidov tries to clinch but Row is having none of it.
Demidov moves in looking to clinch but Row pushes him off.
Demidov misses with a head kick.
Demidov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Row's sensitive parts.

Row shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Demidov blocking the ground and pound.

Row has hold of Demidov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Demidov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Row working for a guillotine from mount but Demidov is in no mood to give up.
Demidov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Row wants to take his opponent's back but Demidov doesn't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demidov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Row working the ground and pound effectively.

It looks like Kaban Demidov has been cut.
Demidov wants to hold on but Row pushes him away.
Demidov regains half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Demidov is looking for a sweep. Row is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Row wants to work for an arm triangle but Demidov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Demidov is trying to stand.
Demidov wants to improve his position but Row is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demidov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Row tries to free his leg and advance position but Demidov is retaining full guard.
Demidov is pulling down on Row's head. It's preventing any offense from Row, at least for the moment.
Row throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Demidov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Demidov wants to sweep here but Row controlling him for the moment.
Demidov trying to keep a closed guard but Row is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Row won't allow Demidov to sweep him here.
Row trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Row avoids the head kick by Demidov.
Demidov lands a high kick!
Kaban Demidov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Demidov slips under a jab.

Row closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Demidov to the mat! Demidov manages to get full guard.
Demidov is trying to keep Row in close.
Row stands and throws Demidov's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Row is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Demidov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Demidov is trying to control Row's posture but Row avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demidov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Row's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Demidov is holding on to half guard well.
Demidov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Row drops back looking for a leg! Demidov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Demidov manages to kick Row off! Row jumps back into Demidov's guard.
Row forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Death Row dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kaban Demidov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Row throws a jab but it's blocked by Demidov.
Demidov ducks under a wild hook from Row.
Demidov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Row.
Row swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Demidov.
Demidov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Row.
Demidov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Row has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Demidov.
Demidov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Row's head.
Row avoids a kick to the body.
Demidov throws a head kick but Row moves out of range.
A slow jab from Row misses its intended target.
Demidov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Demidov misses with a kick to the body.
Row looks for a takedown but Demidov sprawls well.
Demidov slips a jab from Row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demidov lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Death Row has been cut.
Demidov throws a leg kick which misses Row's front leg but catches the back leg as Row tries to avoid it.
Row is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Demidov's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Demidov thows a body shot but no joy.
Demidov tries a head kick but it misses.

Demidov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Row to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Demidov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Demidov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Demidov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Row's guard.

Row is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Demidov is aware though and is defending well.
Demidov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demidov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Demidov wanted to stand there but Row had control of the position.
Demidov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Demidov stands up from Row's guard - Demidov perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demidov lands a nice leg kick that just misses Row's sensitive parts.
Demidov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kaban Demidov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Demidov tries to clinch there but Row circles away.
Demidov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Demidov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Row.
Row throws a hook to the side of Demidov's head but Demidov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Row shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Demidov 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Demidov misses with a body shot.
Demidov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Row swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Demidov stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Death Row. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Row chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Demidov can pounce on him.
Demidov scores with a head kick.
Demidov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A thudding body kick lands there by Demidov!
Row takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Demidov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Demidov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Row takes one on the button.
Row takes a kick to the side of the head.
Demidov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Demidov clobbers Row with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Demidov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Demidov lands with a kick to the temple. Row shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Good exchange - Demidov coming out on top.
Demidov scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Demidov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Row in his tracks.
Row takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Demidov moves in looking to clinch but Row pushes him off.
Demidov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaban Demidov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Demidov is looking to slow Row down with leg kicks.
Demidov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Row throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Demidov.
Demidov shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Demidov dips to his left and cracks Row with an uppercut!
An inside leg kick lands from Demidov.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Demidov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Demidov sizes up Row with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Demidov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Good standup being displayed there by Demidov as he connects with a hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Row takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Demidov tries a knee to the head but Row blocks it.
Demidov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demidov connects with a knee to the head.
Still in the clinch, Demidov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Knees to the body from Demidov.
A left hand lands to the body for Demidov.
Demidov landing knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Demidov obliges.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Demidov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Demidov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Row has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Demidov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short body shot lands from Demidov as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Demidov.
Row's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Row blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Demidov trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Demidov - that landed with a thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demidov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kaban Demidov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Demidov with a knee to the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Demidov.
Demidov tries to land a knee to the head but Row blocks with his arms.
Row looking for a takedown.
Row takes a knee right on the jaw!
Demidov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Row.
Demidov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Demidov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Row lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Demidov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Row lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Demidov misses with a knee strike.
Demidov lands an uppercut.
Knees in the clinch landing for Demidov.
Demidov lands a knee to the head.
A short right from Demidov on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demidov looking to throw knees to the head but Row is blocking nicely.
Demidov missing with knees to the body.
Row tries to pull guard but Demidov won't allow it.
Demidov tries to land knees in the clinch but Row avoids the damage to the body.
Demidov trying to land knees to the body.

Row drags the fight down to the ground.

Row looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Row keeping moving, preventing Demidov from controlling successfully.
Demidov pushes down on Row's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Demidov wants to stand up but Row has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Row is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Demidov pulls his head out easily.
Demidov controlling the action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Demidov stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Row to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaban Demidov really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Row looks to land a left hand but Demidov moved out of range nicely.
Kaban Demidov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Row misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Demidov. That's going to slow Row down.
Demidov throws a low kick but Row avoids it.
Demidov throws a leg kick but Row checks it.
Demidov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Row at a distance.
Row on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Demidov. Demidov obviously looking to wear him down.

Demidov moves into the clinch successfully.
Demidov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Demidov scores with a shot to the side of Row's head.
Demidov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Row is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Demidov tries to land a knee to the head but Row blocks with his arms.
Demidov lands a shot to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Demidov obliges.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demidov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Row backwards.
Demidov lands a shot to the body.
Demidov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Demidov misses with a knee strike.
Demidov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Demidov digs a right hand underneath Row's ribcage. Row let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Demidov lands an uppercut.
Demidov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Row blocks it with crossed arms.
Demidov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Demidov scores with a knee to the head.
Demidov connects with a knee to the head.
Demidov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Demidov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Demidov swings wildly with an uppercut but Row uses good head movement to avoid it.
Demidov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demidov misses with a knee to the head.
Demidov landing knees to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Demidov.
Demidov misses with a knee to the head.
Row jumps guard but Demidov stands there with Row around his waist. Row gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Demidov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Row is defending well for now.
Row fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Demidov with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Demidov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Demidov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Row's elbow.
Demidov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Row tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Demidov just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Death Row. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A body shot lands from Demidov.
Demidov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Row has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demidov trying to land knees to the body.
Demidov tries to land knees in the clinch but Row avoids the damage to the body.
Row tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Demidov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Demidov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Demidov looking to throw knees to the head but Row is blocking nicely.
Row tries to pull guard but Demidov won't allow it.
Demidov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Row avoids it.
Row jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Demidov walks away with a smile on his face. Row gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Row avoids the head kick by Demidov.
Row connects with a looping right hand.
Row misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Demidov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Demidov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Row shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Row is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Demidov is pressing down on Row's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Demidov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Row missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Demidov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Demidov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaban Demidov dominated that fourth round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Demidov throws a good cross that connects.
Demidov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Row's head.
Row tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Demidov swivels and escapes.

Row closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Demidov did well to prevent Row getting side control.

Row is looking for a kimura here.
Demidov manages to get to full guard.
Demidov wants to sweep here but Row controlling him for the moment.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Row drops back, looking for a kneebar! Demidov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Demidov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Demidov!
Row is looking to regain half guard here but Demidov keeps moving and retains side control.
Row gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Demidov controlling from the full mount.
Kaban Demidov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Demidov wants to control the pace but Row is squirming around nicely.
Death Row has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demidov controlling the position easily from mount.

Demidov stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Row checks a low kick from Demidov.
Demidov throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Row.
A thudding body kick lands there by Demidov!
A slow jab from Demidov misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demidov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Demidov moves into the clinch.
Demidov lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Demidov tries to land knees in the clinch but Row avoids the damage to the body.
Row is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Demidov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Row avoiding damage as Demidov throws knees to the body.
Demidov scores a nice knee to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaban Demidov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Demidov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 44:49
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 44:49
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 44:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaban Demidov!
Kaban Demidov is the new super heavyweight champion!