PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Kidder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erick Rootmans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rootmans is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mobb Deep - Survival of The Fittest. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kidder
vs
Rootmans

169 cm
26
190 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
202 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Valhalla Q160 Nutrition

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derrick Kidder!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Erick Rootmans!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kidder closes the distance but Rootmans moves to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kidder tries to clinch up
and Rootmans makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kidder really felt that one!
Kidder tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rootmans counters with a head kick.
Kidder wants to clinch
and Rootmans counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kidder's knee momentarily.

Rootmans drives through and clinches with Kidder against the cage.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Kidder is blocking nicely.
Kidder wants to stall.
Kidder takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kidder lands with a left to the head.
Rootmans pressing his opponent against the cage.
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 throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kidder blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Kidder blocks it.
A knee to the head by Rootmans.
Stalling in the clinch from Rootmans.
Kidder doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kidder lands with a light punch inside.
Kidder tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kidder as Rootmans tries to tie him up.
Rootmans putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kidder in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kidder gets through Rootmans's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Rootmans landing knees to the head.
Rootmans is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kidder working hard to break the clinch.
Kidder swings wildly with an uppercut but Rootmans uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kidder works on Rootmans's body with a couple of short punches.
Kidder lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans looking to slow down the pace here.
Kidder has a couple of punches blocked by Rootmans.
Rootmans unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kidder lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A frustrated look appears on Kidder's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kidder doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kidder tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rootmans's elbow.
Rootmans is trying to stall.
A short right from Kidder on the inside.
Rootmans has Kidder pressed against the cage, preventing Kidder from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rootmans utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rootmans tries to stall but Kidder uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rootmans working Kidder over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Rootmans.
Rootmans connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kidder's face.
Rootmans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kidder has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kidder.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kidder softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rootmans stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A frustrated look appears on Kidder's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rootmans scores with a knee to the head.
Kidder lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A hook to the body from Kidder.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kidder misses with the head strike.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Kidder wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rootmans has him pressed against the cage.
Kidder is trying to stall.
Kidder working aggressively here.
Kidder misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kidder struggles to land a body shot inside as Rootmans controls his hands.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kidder wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kidder lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kidder is trying to maintain a safe position but Rootmans gets an underhook and turns Kidder into the cage.
Rootmans landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erick Rootmans dominated that 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.

Rootmans circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kidder tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rootmans swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kidder tries to clinch up.
Kidder is looking to clinch but Rootmans is avoiding it.
Rootmans throws a right hand that Kidder ducks under and follows up with a left that Kidder also avoids with ease.
Kidder tries to clinch but Rootmans is having none of it.

Kidder closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kidder working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rootmans lands a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Kidder fails to land.
Rootmans lands a knee to the body.
Still in the clinch, Kidder scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rootmans lands a knee to the head.
Kidder on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rootmans lands a good knee to the midsection. Kidder won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans trying to land knees to the body.
Rootmans wants to stall.
Rootmans lands a nice knee to the body.
Rootmans landing knees to the body.
Rootmans throws a knee to the head but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Kidder blocks with his arms.
Rootmans landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kidder looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kidder wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kidder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kidder tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kidder takes a knee to the side of the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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 connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kidder's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans misses with a knee strike.
Rootmans takes a shot to the head.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rootmans connects with a knee to the head.
Rootmans connects with a knee to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Kidder.
Kidder lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rootmans backwards.
Rootmans using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kidder has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rootmans takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Kidder blocks it.
Rootmans is pushing Kidder up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kidder can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidder misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rootmans blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kidder swings wildly with an uppercut but Rootmans uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Rootmans tries to land knees in the clinch but Kidder avoids the damage to the body.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Kidder is blocking nicely.
Kidder tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rootmans obliges.
Kidder lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rootmans is pushing Kidder up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rootmans lands a knee to the head.
Rootmans looking to slow down the pace here.
Kidder lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rootmans backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidder tries to break free but Rootmans pushes him back against the cage.
Kidder is pushing Rootmans up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rootmans displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kidder up against the cage.
Kidder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kidder looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kidder avoiding damage as Rootmans throws knees to the body.
Kidder throws a punch but it's blocked by Rootmans.
A frustrated look appears on Kidder's face as he tries to break the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kidder takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rootmans trying to stall but Kidder improves his position.
Kidder looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kidder lands with a short punch from the clinch.
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 minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from Rootmans.
Kidder wants to clinch.

Kidder gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rootmans tries to land knees in the clinch but Kidder avoids the damage to the body.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans lands a good knee to the midsection. Kidder won't want to take too many of those.
A short uppercut from Kidder.
Kidder takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rootmans obliges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kidder tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kidder blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rootmans.
Kidder lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rootmans or not.
A short right from Kidder on the inside.
Kidder working aggressively here.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but Kidder blocks it.
Rootmans scores with a knee to the head.
Kidder throws a punch but it's blocked by Rootmans.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kidder avoids it.
Kidder is trying to force a seperation but Rootmans has the dominant position.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Kidder blocks with his arms.
Rootmans tries to land knees in the clinch but Kidder avoids the damage to the body.
Rootmans is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kidder looking to stall.
Rootmans takes a shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans missing with knees to the body.
Rootmans is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kidder is defending well for now.
Kidder misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kidder lands a hook that snaps the head of Rootmans backwards.
Kidder can't break the clinch.
Rootmans trying to land knees to the body.
Kidder avoiding damage as Rootmans throws knees to the body.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
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 scores a nice knee to the body.
Kidder lands a body shot.
Kidder wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rootmans has him pressed against the cage.
Rootmans is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kidder is defending well for now.
Rootmans blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kidder lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rootmans backwards.
Kidder managing to block the knees to the body from Rootmans.
Kidder doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kidder wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kidder stalling in the clinch but Rootmans improves position.
Kidder fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kidder.
Kidder lands with a light punch inside.
Rootmans with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kidder tries to break free but Rootmans pushes him back against the cage.
Kidder fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kidder tries to break the clinch but Rootmans is controlling the position.
Rootmans missing with knees to the body.
Rootmans trying to control the position but instead, Kidder has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rootmans into the cage.
Kidder wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rootmans has him pressed against the cage.
Kidder swings wildly with an uppercut but Rootmans uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kidder creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Derrick Kidder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kidder tries to throw a body punch but Rootmans avoids it by throwing Kidder back against the cage.
Erick Rootmans seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rootmans trying to control the position but instead, Kidder has worked for underhooks and has pushed Rootmans into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kidder fails to land.
Rootmans blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rootmans landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kidder misses with the head strike.
Rootmans tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Rootmans with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kidder misses with the head strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kidder works on Rootmans's body with a couple of short punches.
Rootmans taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Derrick Kidder.
Well Rootmans has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erick Rootmans!
Erick Rootmans decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.