PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Li Xiaodong (ranked 484 p4p, 633 weight class) and Rukter Demenok (ranked 49 p4p, 67 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Demenok's choice of entrance music: The Moby Dick Speech. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xiaodong
vs
Demenok

165 cm
29
143
19 - 8 - 0

168 cm
30
145
21 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conquer

HELLBENT

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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Li Xiaodong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rukter Demenok!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xiaodong cracks Demenok with a good jab.
Demenok lands with a thumping leg kick.
Demenok throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Xiaodong swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Xiaodong looks to land a right hand but Demenok moved out of range.
A nice side step and Demenok releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Xiaodong is looking to chop away at Demenok's legs.
Xiaodong tries to clinch but Demenok moves away
enabling Demenok to counter with a crisp jab.
Xiaodong avoids the body shot from Demenok.
Xiaodong lands a jab.
Xiaodong misses with an uppercut.

Xiaodong closes the distance and clinches.

Demenok pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Demenok blocks a jab.
Nice body kick there by Demenok.
Demenok fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Xiaodong misses with a wild body shot.
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 chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Xiaodong can pounce on him.
Xiaodong connects with an inside leg kick.
Xiaodong misses the shot to the body.
Xiaodong tried to score with a low kick but Demenok checks it.
Demenok keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Xiaodong missing with a left hand there. Demenok was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Demenok was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Demenok tries to work over Xiaodong's front leg with a kick but Xiaodong checks it.
It looked like Xiaodong wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A big left from Demenok misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demenok defending well as Xiaodong loads up on a big left hand.
Demenok throws out a loose jab but Xiaodong uses good head movement to avoid it.
Demenok will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Demenok connects with a solid leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Xiaodong 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 Demenok has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Demenok and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Xiaodong throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice defenses there by Demenok.
Demenok feints a counter leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Demenok darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Xiaodong throws a nice inside leg kick.
Xiaodong throws a shot from downtown. Demenok moves away and avoids it.
Xiaodong misses with a low kick.
Xiaodong scores with a jab to the jaw.
Demenok tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Xiaodong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Demenok throws out the jab.
A leg kick checked by Demenok.
Demenok avoids the body shot from Xiaodong.
Demenok ducks under a wild hook from Xiaodong.
Demenok looks for the body kick but Xiaodong saw that one coming.
Xiaodong is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Xiaodong cracks Demenok with an open hand slap.
Xiaodong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xiaodong's jab looks to have found its range, popping Demenok under the eye.
Demenok ducks under a wild hook from Xiaodong.
Demenok walks into a jab.
Xiaodong misses the shot to the body.
Demenok jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Li Xiaodong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Demenok misses the target.
Demenok misses with a low kick.
Demenok throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Xiaodong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Demenok swats away the attempt to clinch by Xiaodong.
Demenok appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Demenok. Xiaodong does a little dance to reset his feet.
Xiaodong wants to land a leg kick but Demenok is out of range.
Xiaodong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Demenok manages to avoid it.
A low kick lands for Demenok.
Demenok misses with a hook. Xiaodong ducked under it nicely.
Demenok misses with a looping right.
Xiaodong tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A slapping body kick lands there for Demenok.
Xiaodong missing with a left hand there. Demenok was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Xiaodong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Xiaodong pivots, looking for a leg kick but Demenok is out of range and Xiaodong settles back down.
Demenok lands a right hook to the body.
Xiaodong moves away from the strike by Demenok.
Xiaodong fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A telegraphed right hand from Xiaodong misses the target.
Despite the aggression on Demenok's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Demenok with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Demenok takes a swing at Xiaodong's ribcage but misses.
A nice leg kick from Xiaodong, right into the meat of the thigh.
Demenok cracks a nice hook into Xiaodong's ribs.
Xiaodong blocks a low kick nicely.
Demenok punishes Xiaodong's body with a nice straight punch.
Demenok smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Demenok tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Xiaodong forces Demenok back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Demenok tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Demenok tries to work over Xiaodong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
I was talking to Xiaodong's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Xiaodong lands a hook that snaps the head of Demenok backwards.
Xiaodong scores with a nice hook to the head.
Demenok tries to throw a body punch but Xiaodong avoids it by throwing Demenok back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Demenok fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong can't find room to land a body shot as Demenok controls the action.
Xiaodong misses with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok blocks a body shot from Xiaodong.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Demenok.
Xiaodong blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Demenok breaks from the clinch.
Xiaodong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Demenok throws a leg kick but Xiaodong sees it coming and moves out of range.
Demenok swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Xiaodong slips a straight right by Demenok.
Demenok throws a jab but it's blocked by Xiaodong.
Xiaodong throws a looping overhand right but Demenok ducks down to avoid it.
Demenok lands the left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Xiaodong attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Xiaodong misses with a straight left.
Some bone on bone action there as Xiaodong checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Xiaodong throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Demenok dips to his left and cracks Xiaodong with an uppercut!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Li Xiaodong will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Xiaodong moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Demenok clobbers Xiaodong with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Xiaodong works the jab nicely.
Xiaodong throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Demenok turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Xiaodong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Demenok throws out the jab.
Xiaodong throws a hook to the side of Demenok's head but Demenok sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Demenok misses with a straight right.
Xiaodong looks to land a right hand but Demenok moved out of range.
Xiaodong misses with a wild body shot.
Xiaodong throws a right and a left that Demenok avoids nicely.
Demenok keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Xiaodong tests Demenok's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Li Xiaodong is winning the standup battle so far.
Xiaodong ducks under a wild hook from Demenok.
Xiaodong 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.
Demenok looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Xiaodong throwing a counter right hand but Demenok manages to avoid it.
Demenok throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Xiaodong lands a lovely overhand right.
Xiaodong tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Xiaodong lands with a good body shot.
Demenok misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Xiaodong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demenok connects with a leg kick.
Xiaodong checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Xiaodong looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Demenok uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Xiaodong.

Xiaodong closes the distance and clinches.
Xiaodong blocks the elbow strike.
Demenok lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Demenok fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok misses with a hook from the clinch.
Demenok goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Xiaodong lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Demenok backwards.
Xiaodong throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Demenok scores with a hook to the body.
Demenok misses with a body punch.
Demenok lands a body shot in the clinch.
Xiaodong misses with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok struggles to land a body shot inside as Xiaodong controls his hands.
Demenok blocking some punches.
Xiaodong swings wildly with an uppercut but Demenok uses good head movement to avoid it.
Demenok lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Xiaodong or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Still in the clinch, Demenok scores with a nice short uppercut.
Demenok is looking to control Xiaodong's arms but Xiaodong gets an underhook and turns him. Now Demenok has his back to the cage.
Xiaodong struggles to land a body shot inside as Demenok controls his hands.
Demenok misses with a hook to the ribs.
Demenok tries a body shot but Xiaodong blocks it.
Demenok lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Xiaodong.
Demenok tries to work over Xiaodong's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Li Xiaodong has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Demenok working aggressively here.
Demenok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Demenok misses with a body punch.
Demenok is looking to control Xiaodong's arms but Xiaodong gets an underhook and turns him. Now Demenok has his back to the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xiaodong.
Xiaodong lands with a light punch inside.
Xiaodong misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Demenok throws an elbow but misses.
Xiaodong is looking to control Demenok's arms but Demenok gets an underhook and turns him. Now Xiaodong has his back to the cage.
Demenok tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Xiaodong's elbow.
Demenok blocks a body shot from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong can't find room to land a body shot as Demenok controls the action.
Xiaodong is looking to control Demenok's arms but Demenok gets an underhook and turns him. Now Xiaodong has his back to the cage.
Demenok misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Demenok taking a breather.
Xiaodong scores with a hook to the body.
Xiaodong cracks Demenok with a nice body shot.
Xiaodong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Demenok's elbow.
Xiaodong scores with a nice hook to the head.
Xiaodong struggles to land a body shot inside as Demenok controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Xiaodong fails to land.
Demenok can't find room to land a body shot as Xiaodong controls the action.
Xiaodong works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Demenok is breathing heavily.
Xiaodong tries to throw a body punch but Demenok avoids it by throwing Xiaodong back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Demenok as the two fighters clinch.
Demenok goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Xiaodong scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Xiaodong on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Demenok fails to land.
Demenok lands with a short shot to the head.
Demenok has a couple of punches blocked by Xiaodong.
Xiaodong lands a hook to the side of the head.
Demenok misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong lands a shoulder strike.
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!
Xiaodong misses with a body punch.
Xiaodong makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Demenok working hard to break the clinch.
Xiaodong has a couple of punches blocked by Demenok.
Demenok can't find room to land a body shot as Xiaodong controls the action.
Xiaodong misses with a hook from the clinch.
Demenok tries to throw a body punch but Xiaodong avoids it by throwing Demenok back against the cage.
Demenok lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Xiaodong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Xiaodong tries to throw a body punch but Demenok avoids it by throwing Xiaodong back against the cage.
Xiaodong cracks Demenok with a nice body shot.
Xiaodong lands a hook to the side of the head.
Xiaodong misses with a punch to the body.
Demenok working aggressively here.
Xiaodong lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Demenok fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Demenok doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Xiaodong misses with some punches.
Xiaodong has a couple of punches blocked by Demenok.
Demenok takes a shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Li Xiaodong dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Demenok takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Xiaodong ducks under a wild hook from Demenok.
Xiaodong misses with a hook.
A solid leg kick lands there for Demenok.
A swing and a miss from Demenok.
A chopping leg kick lands by Demenok.
Xiaodong loads up on a big right hand but Demenok slips the punch.
Demenok jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Xiaodong connects with a looping right hand.
Demenok lands an overhand right.
Xiaodong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Demenok.
Demenok throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A right-left combo lands from Xiaodong.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xiaodong has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Demenok.
Demenok ducks under a wild hook from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong thows a left - swing and a miss!
Xiaodong misses with a wild body shot.
Demenok uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Xiaodong.
Nice defenses there by Demenok.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiaodong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Demenok drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A decent looking cross lands there for Demenok.
Demenok drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Demenok throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Xiaodong moves out of range as Demenok strikes.
Xiaodong looks to throw the jab but Demenok is out of range.
A slow jab from Xiaodong misses its intended target.
A countering left hand to the body from Demenok misses.
Demenok needs to keep his hands up - Xiaodong had a free shot at his head there.
Demenok misses the jab.
Demenok throws a hook but Xiaodong blocks it.
Xiaodong is looking to counter punch.
Xiaodong is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Xiaodong uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Xiaodong pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Xiaodong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice inside leg kick there by Demenok. That's going to slow Xiaodong down.
Demenok goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A nice leg kick from Xiaodong, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xiaodong jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Xiaodong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rukter Demenok has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiaodong throws out a loose jab but Demenok uses good head movement to avoid it.
Demenok throws a body punch but Xiaodong moves out of range.
Xiaodong misses the shot to the body.
Xiaodong throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Demenok sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Demenok slips under a jab.
Xiaodong throws out a loose jab but Demenok uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xiaodong ducks under a wild hook from Demenok.
Demenok throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fighters circling - Demenok throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Xiaodong throwing a counter right hand but Demenok manages to avoid it.
Demenok looks to throw the jab but Xiaodong is out of range.
Demenok looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A low kick lands for Xiaodong.
Xiaodong misses with a few strikes there.
Demenok displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Xiaodong throws out the jab.
Xiaodong checks a leg kick nicely.
Xiaodong tried to counter with a leg kick but Demenok avoided it.
Demenok scoring well with a low kick there.
A clash of legs there as Demenok blocks the low kick.
Xiaodong bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Demenok's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demenok finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Xiaodong blocks a low kick nicely.
Demenok swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Xiaodong appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Xiaodong jabs Demenok right on the nose. Demenok blinks but takes it well.
Demenok swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Xiaodong misses.
Good leg kick by Xiaodong.
Xiaodong throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Demenok stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Xiaodong sizes up Demenok with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Demenok throws a push kick but Xiaodong slaps the foot to one side.
Xiaodong throws a leg kick but Demenok sees it coming and moves out of range.
Demenok misses with a looping left.
Demenok shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A cross from Xiaodong lands.
Xiaodong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Demenok.
Xiaodong throws a nice outside leg kick.
Xiaodong connects with a body shot.
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 slips under a jab from Xiaodong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Xiaodong.
A swing and a miss from Xiaodong.
Xiaodong tries to land a leg kick but Demenok saw it coming and moves away.
Demenok scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Demenok ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Xiaodong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Demenok will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Demenok gets tackled into the cage by Xiaodong. Xiaodong maintains the clinch.
Xiaodong tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Demenok can't find room to land a body shot as Xiaodong controls the action.
A frustrated look appears on Demenok's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A short left from Xiaodong.
Demenok misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Xiaodong lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Xiaodong misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Demenok blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xiaodong blocks a body shot from Demenok.
Li Xiaodong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Demenok working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Xiaodong blocks a body shot from Demenok.

And that's the end of the fight!
Li Xiaodong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Xiaodong 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Li Xiaodong!
Li Xiaodong looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'Gracie, I want that rematch for your belt, or come for mine. We have to fight now.'.