PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erick Rootmans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Spackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rootmans might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rage Against The Machine – The Ghost Of Tom Joad. Erick Rootmans has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rootmans
vs
Spackman

190 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
196 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Erick Rootmans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roger Spackman!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spackman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rootmans tries to avoid it but Spackman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rootmans to the ground. Rootmans escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Rootmans as Spackman shoots in.

Rootmans rushes Spackman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Spackman blocks it.
Rootmans looking to stall.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Spackman blocks it.
Spackman stalls.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Spackman is working Rootmans over against the cage.
Spackman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rootmans walks away with a smile on his face. Spackman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Erick Rootmans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Spackman.
Spackman throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rootmans is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Spackman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rootmans manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Spackman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roger Spackman.
Spackman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spackman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Spackman moves into the clinch successfully.
Spackman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Rootmans.
Spackman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Spackman blocks it.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans controlling the action here for a moment.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spackman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spackman tries to break the clinch but Rootmans is controlling the position.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans scores with a knee to the head.
Spackman tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Spackman manages to break the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Spackman.
Spackman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Spackman checks a leg kick nicely.
Spackman throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spackman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Spackman showed some decent athleticism there.
It looks like Spackman is going to stand back up.
Spackman keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spackman throwing shots but Rootmans is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Spackman dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Rootmans throws a right and a left that Spackman avoids nicely.

Spackman shoots in and bounces Rootmans off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Spackman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rootmans is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spackman prevents Rootmans from getting back to his feet.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rootmans is working an open guard so Spackman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rootmans lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Spackman has a takedown stuffed.
An inside leg kick from Rootmans misses.
Rootmans connects with a nice looking jab.
Spackman throws a series of punches but Rootmans avoids them all with ease.
Spackman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Spackman clinches up against the cage.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spackman stalling the fight.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans just leaning against Spackman, taking a breather.
Spackman wants a takedown.
Spackman tries to pull guard but Rootmans forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Erick Rootmans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Spackman.
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!
Spackman wants a takedown but no success here.
Rootmans is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Spackman blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Rootmans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Spackman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Spackman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Spackman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rootmanss head.
Spackman wants a takedown but no success here.
Rootmans wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Spackman blocks it with crossed arms.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Spackman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rootmans pulls his leg out and moves away.
Rootmans lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rootmans is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Rootmans. Those never looked like landing.
Rootmans doesn't manage to clinch there - Spackman circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans fails to land with a series of punches.
Spackman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Rootmans moves into the clinch.

Spackman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Spackman slows the pace down in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Erick Rootmans will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Left hook, right uppercut from Rootmans.

Rootmans clinches with his opponent.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Spackman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spackman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rootmans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Spackman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rootmans sprawls well. Rootmans wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Spackman gets slowly back to his feet.
Spackman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Spackman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rootmans sprawls well. Rootmans wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Spackman gets slowly back to his feet.
Erick Rootmans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roger Spackman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans lands a head kick!
Spackman throws a wild hook but Rootmans just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Spackman gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Rootmans raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Erick Rootmans!
Erick Rootmans very nearly forgot to thank KAISER amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.