PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Aalto (ranked 1100 p4p, 1399 weight class) and Rukter Demenok (ranked 88 p4p, 111 weight class). Demenok is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Moby Dick Speech. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Aalto
vs
Demenok

177 cm
35
157
25 - 22 - 0

168 cm
35
151
28 - 17 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

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 25 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Aalto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rukter Demenok!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aalto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A big left from Demenok misses.
Aalto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Demenok can pounce on him.
Aalto has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Alpha Brasil in the buildup to the fight.
Demenok jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Demenok misses the target.
Demenok avoids a kick to the body.
Aalto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Aalto walks into a straight right hand from Demenok.
Demenok scores with a jab to the body.
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.
A slow jab from Demenok misses its intended target.
Aalto walks forward, straight into a front kick from Demenok.
Aalto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Crunch! Demenok slams his shin into Aalto's torso.
Aalto cracks Demenok with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aalto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Aalto appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Aalto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Demenok as he jumps to the side.
Aalto looks for the body kick but Demenok saw that one coming.
Aalto throws a head kick but Demenok moves out of range.
Aalto slips under a jab from Demenok.
Aalto moves out of range of the body kick from Demenok.
A slapping leg kick lands for Demenok.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demenok pivots, looking for a leg kick but Aalto is out of range and Demenok settles back down.
Good shot there by Aalto.
Demenok throws a big shot that misses.
Demenok checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aalto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Demenok let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Demenok connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Aalto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Demenok gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Aalto.
Aalto tries to clinch there but Demenok circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aalto.
Aalto throws a head kick that half lands.
Demenok moves out of range as Aalto strikes.
Demenok misses with a looping left.
Demenok drops his hands momentarily and Aalto takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Demenok is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Aalto.
Aalto pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Demenok looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aalto swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Demenok throws a jab but it's blocked by Aalto.
Demenok throws an overhand right that lands on Aalto's shoulder, as Aalto tries to avoid the shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Aalto looks to throw a body kick
and Demenok counters with a low kick, right behind Aalto 's knee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aalto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Demenok chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Demenok misses with an uppercut. Aalto saw that one coming.
Demenok scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Demenok is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Demenok scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rukter Demenok is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Demenok uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aalto.
Demenok bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Aalto's head backwards.
Demenok throws out a leg kick but Aalto moves out of range and Demenok only half commits.
Demenok avoids the head kick by Aalto.
Aalto slips under a jab from Demenok.
Demenok looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Demenok throws a leg kick that misses.
Good exchange - Aalto coming out on top.
Aalto tries to clinch up.
Aalto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Aalto wants to clinch up but Demenok keeps it at a distance.
Aalto is looking to chop away at Demenok's legs.

Aalto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Aalto trying to mount his opponent but Demenok defends it.
Demenok wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demenok is looking to escape.
Demenok really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aalto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Demenok trying to control but Aalto postures up.

Demenok is defending against the submission attempts here by Aalto.

Aalto is working for a submission of some sort.

Aalto is looking for a kimura here.
Aalto is keen to just control but Demenok is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aalto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Aalto is pressing down on Demenok's thigh, looking to free his foot. Demenok is holding on for now.
Demenok regains full guard. Nicely done.
Aalto throws a big right hand that misses.

Aalto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Demenok preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Aalto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Aalto throws a big right hand that misses.
Aalto trying to control the position from guard on top but Demenok is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Demenok can do anything to dispel that myth.
Demenok looking for a sweep. Not yet Demenok, not yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rukter Demenok will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Demenok throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Demenok takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Aalto forces Demenok back against the cage and clinches.
Aalto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Demenok prevents it.
Aalto can't find room to land a body shot as Demenok controls the action.
Aalto has a couple of punches blocked by Demenok.
A hook to the body from Demenok.
Demenok misses with a short punch on the inside.
Aalto blocks an uppercut.
Demenok working aggressively here.
Demenok fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Aalto has a couple of punches blocked by Demenok.
Aalto lands a nice uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Demenok scores with a nice short uppercut.
Demenok fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Demenok throws a punch but it's blocked by Aalto.
Demenok lands a left hand that snaps the head of Aalto backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aalto tries a body shot but Demenok blocks it.
Demenok stalls.

Aalto lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Demenok manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demenok gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Aalto throws a lazy uppercut
and Demenok counters with a stiff right hand.
Demenok throws a leg kick but Aalto checks it.
Demenok scores with a jab to the head.
Demenok showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aalto.
Demenok thows a body kick. Aalto tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Aalto just misses with a punch to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Aalto blocks the leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Aalto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Demenok swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Aalto tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Demenok tries to throw a body punch but Aalto avoids it by throwing Demenok back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aalto throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Demenoks head.
A short body shot lands from Demenok as the two fighters clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aalto.
Demenok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Demenok misses with a hook to the ribs.
Demenok makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Demenok tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Aalto.
Aalto wants a takedown.
Demenok lands a body punch in the clinch.
Demenok working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Aalto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Aalto misses with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aalto wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Aalto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Demenok scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Aalto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Aalto is trying to push Demenok away but Demenok has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Aalto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Demenok pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Demenok goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rukter Demenok seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Demenok pushes Aalto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Demenok breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Demenok throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demenok misses with an attempted mid kick.
Aalto fails with the takedown
and Demenok counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Demenok with a nice cross.
Nice body punch from Demenok.
Demenok loads up on a big right hand but Aalto slips the punch.
Demenok throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Demenok connects with a leg kick.
Demenok lands a nice looking body kick.
Demenok scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Aalto moves out of range of the leg kick from Demenok.
Aalto throws a quick counter head kick but Demenok was just out of range.
Demenok fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Aalto.

Aalto drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Demenok not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Demenok scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Aalto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Demenok has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Aalto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aalto avoids the body shot from Demenok.

Aalto closes the distance and clinches.
Demenok misses with the head strike.
Aalto struggles to land a body shot inside as Demenok controls his hands.
A short body shot lands from Demenok as the two fighters clinch.
Aalto is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Demenok goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Aalto swings wildly with an uppercut but Demenok uses good head movement to avoid it.

Aalto gets control of Demenok's arms and successfully pulls guard. Aalto will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Aalto will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Aalto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Demenok keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Demenok trying to hold on to Aalto's head to control him but Aalto postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rukter Demenok showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Aalto looks to land a right hand but Demenok moved out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Demenok! But no joy.
Aalto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Demenok.
Demenok lands a nice leg kick that just misses Aalto's sensitive parts.
Demenok fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aalto manages to avoid it.
Demenok swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Aalto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Demenok.
Aalto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Demenok scores with a jab.
Rukter Demenok seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Aalto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Demenok.
Aalto tries to clinch but Demenok moves out of range.
Demenok jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aalto scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Demenok.
Aalto wants to clinch up but Demenok keeps it at a distance.
Aalto takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Demenok smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A jab from Aalto misses.
Aalto backing away here, and Demenok unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Demenok's corner calls for a 1-2. Demenok obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Aalto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Demenok.
Aalto throws a head kick but Demenok moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aalto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Demenok.
Demenok connects with a body shot that sends Aalto's belly button to the back.
Demenok tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Aalto was well out of range. Poor timing from Demenok.
Nice defenses there by Demenok.
Demenok gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Demenok throws a leg kick which misses Aalto's front leg but catches the back leg as Aalto tries to avoid it.
Demenok buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Aalto feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Demenok wants to sweep here but Aalto controlling him for the moment.
Aalto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aalto wants to control from the top but Demenok keeps moving.
Demenok avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aalto wants to control from the top but Demenok keeps moving.
Demenok is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Demenok keeping moving, preventing Aalto from controlling successfully.
Michael Aalto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Demenok working a defensive guard here.

Aalto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Demenok looking for a sweep. Not yet Demenok, not yet.
Demenok trying to keep a closed guard but Aalto is proving a slippery customer.

Aalto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Michael Aalto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demenok pulls Aalto in close to his closed guard and prevents Aalto from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Demenok walks into a left hand.
Demenok misses with an uppercut.
Aalto is looking to counter punch.
Aalto shoots in looking for a takedown. Demenok tries to sprawl out of it but Aalto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Demenok manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rukter Demenok is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Demenok throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Demenok misses with a hook.
Demenok throws a big shot that misses.
Aalto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Demenok.
Aalto connects with a single shot there.
Nice sprawl there from Demenok as Aalto shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Aalto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aalto slips a straight right by Demenok.
Demenok lands a slapping body shot.
Jab from Demenok.
Aalto ducks right into an uppercut from Demenok.
Aalto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Demenok.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Demenok moves out of range of the body kick from Aalto.
Aalto throws a head kick but Demenok moves out of range.
Demenok scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Aalto takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Aalto on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A nice leg kick from Demenok, right into the meat of the thigh.
Aalto takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Demenok comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Aalto on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Aalto takes the fight into the clinch.
Demenok scores with a nice hook to the head.
Aalto scores with an uppercut up the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rukter Demenok comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Demenok winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rukter Demenok!
Rukter Demenok seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.