PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erick Rootmans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell's entrance music is It's Dark and Hell Is Hot. A fine choice. Rootmans is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Busta Rhymes - Put your hands where my eyes can see. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Erick Rootmans was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Liddell
vs
Rootmans

190 cm
44
207 lbs
31 - 40 - 0

190 cm
31
225 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 40 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chuck Liddell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erick Rootmans!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paulsen Ambrosius and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rootmans with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rootmans tests Liddell's chin there with a solid looking shot.

It looks like Chuck Liddell has been cut.

Rootmans clinches up with Liddell and pushes him back against the cage.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
Rootmans blocks the elbow strike.
Rootmans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liddell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Liddell throws a knee to the head but misses.

Liddell breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell moves forwards but Rootmans connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Rootmans has managed to clinch.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.
Liddell avoiding damage as Rootmans throws knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rootmans is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Liddell is defending well for now.
Rootmans tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Liddell takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Liddell working hard to break the clinch.
Rootmans tries a body shot but Liddell blocks it.
Rootmans with a knee to the head.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Rootmans goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans keeps control of Liddell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
Rootmans looks winded!
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Liddell avoiding damage as Rootmans throws knees to the body.
Liddell is trying to break free.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
Liddell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
Liddell avoiding damage as Rootmans throws knees to the body.
Liddell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rootmans blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Liddell looking to throw knees to the head but Rootmans is blocking nicely.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Liddell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rootmans.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Liddell tries to pull guard but Rootmans forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rootmans misses with a punch to the body.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Liddell fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Liddell tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rootmans smiles and moves away.
Rootmans throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Rootmans has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Liddell is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Rootmans rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Liddell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell tries to clinch up but Rootmans circles away and keeps his distance.
Rootmans is looking for the big counter here.
Rootmans throws a series of punches but Liddell avoids them all with ease.

Rootmans clinches.
Liddell working hard to break the clinch.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Liddell on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rootmans keeps control of Liddell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Liddell is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.
Rootmans blocks the elbow strike.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
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 Chuck Liddell's cut.
That's time! Liddell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rootmans swats away the attempt to clinch by Liddell.
Liddell 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.
Rootmans connects with an inside leg kick.
Rootmans lands a lovely overhand right.
Rootmans swats away the attempt to clinch by Liddell.
Rootmans has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rootmans lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Liddell circles away quickly and effectively.
Liddell tried to counter with a leg kick but Rootmans avoided it.
Rootmans looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rootmans throws a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Liddell takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A left and a right from Rootmans both land. Nice combination.
Rootmans throws a nice looking combination but Liddell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rootmans throws a head kick that misses
and Liddell counters with a straight right hand.
Rootmans is breathing heavily.
Rootmans misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rootmans duly obliges.
Rootmans throws a body punch but Liddell moves out of range.
Liddell half committed to a counter leg kick.
Rootmans throws a solid leg kick but Liddell takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Rootmans.
Rootmans looks to land a combination but Liddell avoids it well.
As Rootmans backs away, Liddell returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
No luck for Liddell with that takedown attempt.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.

Rootmans forces Liddell back against the cage and clinches.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell throws a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
Rootmans missing with knees to the body.
Rootmans unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liddell displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rootmans up against the cage.
Rootmans connects with a nasty looking knee right to Liddell's face.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Liddell turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Liddell manages to end up in side control.
Liddell wants to control but Rootmans is keeping him busy.

Liddell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rootmans, who protects the arm well.
Rootmans seems a little lost for a moment, as Liddell dominates the positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Rootmans, who protects the arm well.
Liddell wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rootmans keeps working.
Rootmans wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rootmans throws a right hand that Liddell ducks under and follows up with a left that Liddell also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rootmans darts in and clinches Liddell up against the cage.
Liddell wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rootmans has him pressed against the cage.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Erick Rootmans seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Liddell jumps guard but Rootmans stands there with Liddell around his waist. Liddell gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Rootmans crunches a lovely knee into Liddell's ribcage.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Liddell blocks with his arms.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Liddell.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Liddell gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Rootmans showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Chuck Liddell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Liddell avoids a punch combination nicely.

It looks like Erick Rootmans has been cut.
Rootmans throws a combination that misses

and Liddell moves into the clinch.

Liddell breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick by Rootmans misses
and Liddell counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rootmans looks to score with a jab to the body but Liddell is just out of range.
Liddell turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Liddell looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Liddell connects with a solid leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rootmans jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Rootmans rushes Liddell and presses him up against the cage.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Rootmans blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Rootmans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Liddell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rootmans scores a nice knee to the body.
Rootmans has Liddell pressed against the cage, preventing Liddell from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A knee to the head by Rootmans.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Liddell misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Liddell blocks it with crossed arms.
Liddell avoiding damage as Rootmans throws knees to the body.
Liddell prevents a body shot from Rootmans.
Liddell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Liddell throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Liddell throws an elbow but misses.
Liddell throws a punch but it's blocked by Rootmans.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Liddell blocks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Liddell stalling against the cage.
Rootmans trying to land knees to the body.
Liddell is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rootmans pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Chuck Liddell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Liddell just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rootmans's brow.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Liddell is blocking nicely.
The referee is keeping an eye on Liddell - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Liddell is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rootmans gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chuck Liddell. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans trying to land knees to the body.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Liddell misses with the head strike.

Liddell pulls guard successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Liddell looking for a sweep. Not yet Liddell, not yet.
Liddell is trying to control the position but Rootmans postures up.

Liddell working for submissions but it's allowed Rootmans to get to half guard.
Rootmans tries to stand and escape but Liddell is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddell is looking to improve his position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Rootmans comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rootmans 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erick Rootmans!
Erick Rootmans was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.