PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jihadi Joseph (ranked 722 p4p, 1179 weight class) and Rukter Demenok (ranked 59 p4p, 92 weight class). Demenok has chosen The Moby Dick Speech as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Joseph
vs
Demenok

175 cm
33
145
24 - 13 - 1

168 cm
34
151
27 - 16 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

Conviction
© Trap House

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 24 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jihadi Joseph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rukter Demenok!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Sosuke Kotani and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph ducks under a wild hook from Demenok.
Demenok takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A shot to the body from Joseph misses
and Demenok cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Joseph scores with a push kick.
Joseph misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It seemed like Demenok was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Demenok slips under a jab.
Jihadi Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Joseph tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Demenok with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Joseph to score with a decent uppercut.
Demenok throws a hook but Joseph avoids it easily.
Joseph scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Demenok has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Good exchange - Joseph coming out on top.
Joseph tries to clinch but Demenok is having none of it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Joseph darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
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 leg kick.
Joseph displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Demenok throws out the jab.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up but Demenok swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It seemed like Demenok was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Joseph fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Demenok manages to avoid it.
Demenok swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Demenok jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joseph throws a series of punches but Demenok moves out of range.
Joseph connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Joseph throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Demenok counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Demenok blocks a leg kick.
Joseph avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Joseph jabs Demenok to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Demenok doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Demenok tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joseph was well out of range. Poor timing from Demenok.
Joseph tries to bum rush Demenok with a series of wild strikes but Demenok uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Demenok looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Joseph works Demenok's body with a nice hook.
Joseph lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joseph throws a combination that misses
and Demenok counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice leg kick from Demenok, right into the meat of the thigh.
Demenok showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Joseph.
Demenok throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Demenok 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.
Demenok throws a lazy right hand but Joseph sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Joseph lands with a nice body punch.
Joseph is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Joseph misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Demenok.
Joseph throws a nice looking combination but Demenok bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Joseph staying out of range there.
Nice straight punches there by Joseph. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Joseph.
Joseph tries to clinch there but Demenok circles away.
Joseph throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Demenok sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jab, jab by Joseph - just one landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph misses the shot to the body.
Joseph lands a leg kick that knocks Demenok off balance momentarily.
Joseph tries to clinch up but Demenok circles away and keeps his distance.
Joseph fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Demenok has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Demenok throws the left hand but Joseph avoids the punch easily.
Joseph is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Demenok takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Joseph connects with the punch.
Joseph looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Demenok throws a shot from downtown. Joseph moves away and avoids it.
Demenok scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Joseph doesn't seem bothered though.
Joseph scores with a jab to the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Joseph. Demenok does a little dance to reset his feet.
Demenok slips a jab from Joseph.
Joseph lands a right hook to the body.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Demenok paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph throws a hook but Demenok blocks it.
Joseph throws a right and a left that Demenok avoids nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Demenok avoids the body shot from Joseph.
It seemed like Demenok was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Demenok tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joseph was well out of range. Poor timing from Demenok.
Joseph misses with a double jab.
Joseph clobbers Demenok with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Joseph throws a body punch but Demenok moves out of range.
Joseph closes the distance looking to clinch
and Demenok connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Demenok misses with a wild body shot.
Joseph misses with a few strikes there.
Demenok looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Demenok tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joseph was well out of range. Poor timing from Demenok.
Joseph scores with a nice strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jihadi Joseph dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joseph gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Demenok struggles to land a body shot inside as Joseph controls his hands.
Demenok takes a shot to the head.
Demenok misses with a hook from the clinch.
Joseph lands a left hand.
Demenok's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Joseph taking a breather.
Demenok lands with a short shot to the head.
Joseph lands a left hand.
Joseph misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Demenok.
Joseph misses with a short punch on the inside.
Joseph misses with the head strike.
Demenok doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Demenok scores with a nice hook to the head.
Joseph makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Demenok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Demenok misses with a hook to the ribs.
Demenok doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Joseph has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A head punch on the inside from Joseph fails to land.
Joseph lands with a left to the head.
Demenok misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Joseph.
Demenok misses with the head strike.
Demenok tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.
Demenok tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.

Joseph breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A slapping leg kick lands for Joseph.
Joseph misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Demenok.
Joseph jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Demenok throws a leg kick but Joseph sees it coming and checks it nicely.
As Demenok tries to get set, Joseph tries to push him back and clinch up but Demenok manages to avoid the attempt.
Joseph is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Demenok can do to turn this around?
Demenok throws a nice looking combination but Joseph bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A low kick from Joseph misses
and Joseph takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Demenok misses with an uppercut. Joseph saw that one coming.
Joseph scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Joseph fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Demenok, pushing him back against the cage.
Demenok lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body punch from Joseph.
A short uppercut from Demenok.
Joseph scores with a shoulder strike.
Joseph lands a nice shot to the body.
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.
Joseph lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Jihadi Joseph has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Joseph blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Joseph prevents a body shot from Demenok.
Joseph lands a left hand that snaps the head of Demenok backwards.
Demenok doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Demenok swings wildly with an uppercut but Joseph uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joseph lands a right hand.
A short body shot lands from Joseph as the two fighters clinch.
Joseph lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A left hand lands to the body for Joseph.
Joseph lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Demenok doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Demenok blocks a body shot from Joseph.

Joseph's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Demenok misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demenok is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Jihadi Joseph is winning the standup battle so far.
Joseph catches Demenok with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Good work by Joseph as he checks the leg kick.
Joseph misses with a double jab.
Joseph swings for the body but Demenok moves out of range.
Joseph lets loose with a powerful body kick. Demenok will feel that in the morning.
Joseph lands a leg kick that knocks Demenok off balance momentarily.
Joseph with a jab.
Joseph throws a right hand that Demenok ducks under and follows up with a left that Demenok also avoids with ease.
Joseph swings for the body but Demenok moves out of range.
Demenok takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Joseph swings for the body but Demenok moves out of range.
A punch combination from Joseph misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Demenok! But no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demenok with a body punch. A glancing blow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Joseph lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Joseph clinches up with Demenok and pushes him back against the cage.
Demenok lands with a right to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Demenok.
Demenok has a couple of punches blocked by Joseph.

Joseph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Joseph moves to clinch but Demenok breaks away
and Demenok counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Demenok shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Demenok walks into a straight right hand from Joseph.
Demenok bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joseph throws a left and a right that both miss
and Demenok counters with a nice body shot.
Joseph lands with a shot to the body.

Joseph takes the fight into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jihadi Joseph dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Joseph misses with a hook to the body
and Demenok counters with a straight right hand.
Joseph throws a shot to the body.

Joseph closes the distance and pushes Demenok back into the cage.
Demenok misses with a hook from the clinch.
Demenok blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Demenok's elbow.
Demenok works on Joseph's body with a couple of short punches.
A short left from Demenok.
A short right from Joseph.
Joseph tries to work over Demenok's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Demenok can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.
Joseph working aggressively here.
Demenok misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joseph lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Demenok backwards.
Joseph scores with a nice hook to the head.
Demenok presses Joseph against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Demenok misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Demenok fails to land.
Demenok lands with a right to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Demenok fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demenok tries to work over Joseph's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joseph scores with a nice hook to the head.
Demenok lands with a light punch inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Joseph.
Joseph lands a nice shot to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Demenok.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Demenok.
Still in the clinch, Demenok scores with a nice short uppercut.
Demenok blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Demenok lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Joseph doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A shot in the inside from Joseph.
Joseph struggles to land a body shot inside as Demenok controls his hands.
A nice right hand lands inside from Demenok.
Demenok swings wildly with an uppercut but Joseph uses good head movement to avoid it.
A hook to the body from Joseph.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Demenok throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Demenok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Joseph throws a punch but it's blocked by Demenok.
Joseph tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Joseph blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Demenok doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Demenok's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Demenok lands a shoulder strike.
Demenok tries to work over Joseph's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Demenok struggles to land a body shot inside as Joseph controls his hands.
Joseph lands a body shot in the clinch.
Demenok tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A frustrated look appears on Demenok's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Demenok lands a left hand.

Joseph manages to break the clinch.
Demenok drops his hands momentarily and Joseph takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Joseph misses with a body punch
and Demenok counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Joseph throws a combination. Demenok tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Joseph throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jihadi Joseph is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph scores with a punch to the head.
Joseph misses the shot to the body.
Joseph misses with an uppercut.
Demenok takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Joseph connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rukter Demenok has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joseph lands a slapping body shot.
Joseph throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Joseph scores with a jab. Demenok acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Joseph throws a right and a left that Demenok avoids nicely.
Joseph dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Some wild striking there from Joseph.
It seemed like Demenok was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Demenok checks a low kick from Joseph.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demenok misses with an uppercut.
Joseph lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Demenok at a distance.
Demenok connects with a single shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Demenok misses with a looping right.
Demenok checks a leg kick.
Demenok 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.
Joseph with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Demenok throws a nice outside leg kick.
Joseph lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Joseph drives through and clinches with Demenok against the cage.
Joseph misses with a punch to the body.
Joseph lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joseph lands with a right to the head.
Demenok swings away with an uppercut that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jihadi Joseph showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Joseph 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jihadi Joseph!
A very excited looking Jihadi Joseph made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.