PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Erick Rootmans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rootmans comes into the arena with Busta Rhymes - Put your hands where my eyes can see blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Rootmans
vs
Jones

190 cm
29
217 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

193 cm
25
220 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erick Rootmans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Jones!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rootmans throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.
Rootmans closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jones takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Jon Jones has been cut.

Jones has managed to clinch.

Rootmans manages to break the clinch.
Jones slips a jab and a cross from Rootmans.

Jones rushes Rootmans and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Jones with an attempt at a knee that misses.
I was talking to Rootmans's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Jones with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Rootmans.
Jones throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Rootmans breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jones walks into a stiff left hand from Rootmans.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rootmans fails to land with a series of punches.
Jones misses with a wild body shot.

Jones instigates a clinch.
Jones lands a good knee to the midsection. Rootmans won't want to take too many of those.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Jones with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Rootmans breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones darts in and clinches Rootmans up against the ropes.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jones managing to block the knees to the body from Rootmans.
Rootmans scores a nice knee to the body.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but Rootmans blocks with his arms.
Jones missing with knees to the body.
Jones tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rootmans's elbow.
Rootmans landing knees to the head.

Rootmans breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rootmans looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Jones has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Rootmans throws a sloppy head kick and Jones moves out of range easily.

Jones moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jones misses with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Jones.
A short right from Jones.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jones lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones looking to stall.
Jones takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jones misses with a knee strike.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rootmans.
Rootmans lands a nice knee to the body.
Jones looks winded!
Rootmans scores with a knee to the head.

Rootmans breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rootmans fails to land with a series of punches.

Jones gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rootmans connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jones's face.

Rootmans breaks from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones slips a straight right by Rootmans.
Rootmans lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jones. Rootmans does a little dance to reset his feet.
Erick Rootmans seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jones has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Rootmans dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jon Jones's cut.
That's time! Rootmans's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rootmans darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Rootmans lands with a right, followed by a left to the temple and Jones goes down! The ref sends Rootmans to a neutral corner so he can begin the count. 3,4,5,6 and Jones is back to his feet. He seems a little groggy but the referee thinks he's OK to continue, so we're back to the action!
Jones takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Rootmans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rootmans wants to land a leg kick but Jones is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jones moves into the clinch successfully.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Rootmans avoids the damage to the body.

Rootmans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rootmans tries to work over Jones's front leg with a kick but Jones checks it.
Erick Rootmans is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rootmans throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jones.
Rootmans looks to throw the jab but Jones is out of range.
Rootmans throws a jab but it's blocked by Jones.

Jones gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jones pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Rootmans is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jones is defending well for now.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Rootmans blocks an elbow strike.
Jones takes a knee right on the jaw!

Rootmans pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Rootmans - just one landing.
That kick from Rootmans tenderised Jones's leg. Jones is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jones fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rootmans manages to avoid it.
Rootmans misses with a two punch combination.

Jones clinches.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Jones blocks it.
Jones tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans landing knees to the head.
Jones throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rootmans blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans avoiding damage as Jones throws knees to the body.

Rootmans's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rootmans throws a nice looking combination but Jones bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jones avoids the head kick by Rootmans.

Jones darts in and clinches Rootmans up against the ropes.
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!
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Jones blocks it.
Jones with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Erick Rootmans has been cut.
Jon Jones seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans unloads a knee to the mid-section.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Jones throws an elbow but misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jones taking a breather.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jones landing knees to the head.

Rootmans's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rootmans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rootmans fails to land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jones with a nice cross.
Rootmans throws a half hearted mid kick.

Jones rushes Rootmans and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rootmans blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rootmans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rootmans scores with a knee to the head.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Rootmans will take that round after scoring the only knockdown of the round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Rootmans's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jones darts in and clinches Rootmans up against the ropes.

Rootmans pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Erick Rootmans is winning the standup battle so far.
Rootmans misses with a body kick.
Jones avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rootmans looks to land a combination but Jones avoids it well.
Rootmans throws a lazy right hand but Jones sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rootmans uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jones.
Rootmans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rootmans misses with a few strikes there.

Jones gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones has a couple of punches blocked by Rootmans.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans takes an elbow to the temple.
Rootmans lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Knees in the clinch landing for Jones.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Jones is blocking nicely.
Jones landing knees to the body.
Jones misses with an elbow over the top.
Rootmans is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jones can do to turn this around?
Rootmans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jones has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jones crunches a lovely knee into Rootmans's ribcage.
Jones using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rootmans has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jones.
Jones scores with a nice hook to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones scores a nice knee to the body.
Rootmans takes a knee right on the jaw!
Jones misses with a knee to the head.
Jones pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Rootmans looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Rootmans manages to break the clinch.
Rootmans misses with the combination.
Rootmans throws a right and a left that both miss.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Rootmans back into the ropes.
Jones creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans prevents a body shot from Jones.
Rootmans takes an elbow to the temple.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Jones blocks with his arms.
Rootmans working hard to break the clinch.
Jones creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rootmans's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jon Jones just about did enough to take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jones wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rootmans throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rootmans throws a series of punches but Jones moves out of range.

Jones closes the distance and pushes Rootmans back into the ropes.
Rootmans is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jones is defending well for now.
Jones misses with a knee strike.
Jones avoiding damage as Rootmans throws knees to the body.

Rootmans breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones looks to land a right hand but Rootmans moved out of range.
A left and a right from Rootmans both land. Nice combination.

Jones clinches.
Jones tries a knee to the head but Rootmans blocks it.
Rootmans on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jones scores a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rootmans missing with knees to the body.
Rootmans unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jones lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rootmans avoiding damage as Jones throws knees to the body.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
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.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones throws a punch but it's blocked by Rootmans.
Still in the clinch, Jones scores with a nice short uppercut.
Jones misses with a knee to the head.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Rootmans avoids the damage to the body.
Rootmans avoids a wild elbow strike from Jones.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Rootmans pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jones misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rootmans lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jones pushes off an throws an elbow but Rootmans leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rootmans is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Jones blocks it.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.
Jones is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rootmans is defending well for now.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Jones blocks with his arms.
Rootmans connects with a nasty looking knee right to Jones's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans with a knee to the head.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Jones blocks it.
Jones on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rootmans prevents a body shot from Jones.
Jones wants to stall.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Jones blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Rootmans had his way with Jon Jones in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. This is the final round!

Jones throws a predictable looking body shot
and Rootmans counters with a good, hard body kick but Jones shrugs it off.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rootmans.

Jones has managed to clinch.
Jones missing with knees to the body.
Jones with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Rootmans breaks from the clinch.
Rootmans throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jones misses with a hook.

Jones gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jones crunches a lovely knee into Rootmans's ribcage.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rootmans.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jones blocks it with crossed arms.

Rootmans escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Jones takes the fight into the clinch.
Rootmans tries to land knees in the clinch but Jones avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rootmans's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones checks the leg kick.
Rootmans falls off balance throwing a combination

and Jones holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jones lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rootmans backwards.
Rootmans blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rootmans lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but Rootmans blocks with his arms.
Jones takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Jones takes a knee right on the jaw!

Rootmans breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rootmans misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rootmans lands with a kick to the temple. Jones shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Rootmans.

Rootmans tries to keep at a distance but Jones has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Rootmans manages to break the clinch.
Jones throws a big shot that misses.
Jones takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Jones moves out of range of the body kick.
Rootmans throws a head kick but Jones moves out of range.

Jones moves into range and clinches up with Rootmans.

Rootmans pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rootmans tries to keep at a distance but Jones has taken the fight into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Rootmans.
Jon Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones tries to land knees in the clinch but Rootmans avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Rootmans showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rootmans has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 49:45
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 49:45
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 49:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erick Rootmans!
In his post fight interview, Erick Rootmans started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.