PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erick Rootmans (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Musial Stanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rootmans comes to the cage accompanied by Busta Rhymes - Put your hands where my eyes can see. Musial Stanson has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Erick Rootmans's chin.

Rootmans
vs
Stanson

190 cm
34
218 lbs
17 - 13 - 0

190 cm
28
204 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 17 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Erick Rootmans!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musial Stanson!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanson closes the distance and clinches up with Rootmans, looking for a takedown. Stanson pushes Rootmans against the cage but Rootmans circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Stanson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rootmans as he avoids it easily.
Stanson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rootmans appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Rootmans throws a series of punches but Stanson avoids them all with ease.
Stanson dives in for a single leg takedown but Rootmans sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Erick Rootmans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Musial Stanson.
Rootmans misses with a double jab.
Stanson avoids a kick to the body.
Rootmans throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

so Stanson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stanson wants to control from the top but Rootmans keeps moving.

Stanson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Rootmans is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stanson is aware though and is defending well.
Stanson preventing the sweep.

Rootmans looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Stanson has picked Rootmans up and slammed him! Rootmans can't keep hold of the triangle and Stanson manages to pass to side control!
Rootmans defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans can't do much from the bottom here.
Rootmans is not content to let Stanson control the position.
Rootmans struggling a bit here.
Stanson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Stanson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rootmans wants to control but Stanson postures up.
Stanson controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rootmans tries to buck Stanson off but Stanson is having none of it.
Stanson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rootmans sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Stanson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Stanson wants to control but Rootmans is keeping him busy.
Stanson throws an elbow but Rootmans slips to the side and avoids it well.
Rootmans wants to get back to his feet.
Stanson wants to take a breather but Rootmans manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Stanson.
Rootmans is looking to stand back up but Stanson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rootmans.
Rootmans is trying to stand up here but Stanson is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanson wants to take a breather but Rootmans is having none of it.
Rootmans tries to get to full guard but Stanson has control of the leg.
Rootmans moves into full guard.
Rootmans is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rootmans is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Rootmans looking for a guillotine here but Stanson defends easily.
Stanson wants to control from the top but Rootmans keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Rootmans trying to keep a closed guard but Stanson is proving a slippery customer.

Stanson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Stanson trying to control but Rootmans is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stanson with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Musial Stanson will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rootmans misses with a hook. Stanson ducked under it nicely.

Stanson moves into the clinch.
Rootmans wants a takedown but no success here.
Stanson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stanson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.
Stanson can't find room to land a body shot as Rootmans controls the action.

Stanson pulls guard.
Rootmans throws a big right hand that misses.
Stanson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Rootmans passes Stanson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stanson trying to control but Rootmans postures up.
Rootmans trying to control the action but Stanson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rootmans is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Stanson trying to control from the bottom.
Rootmans thows a huge punch but Stanson dodges it nicely.
Rootmans lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rootmans trying to control from half guard but Stanson is working away.
Rootmans is stalling here. Stanson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Rootmans seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Stanson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Stanson is trying to get an arm triangle but Rootmans is defending well.
Stanson working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans is looking to get back to his feet here but Stanson is keeping cool and he's managed to take Rootmans's back.
Rootmans is trying to get back to his feet but Stanson has full control of the position and if anything, Rootmans has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Rootmans trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Stanson not allowing Rootmans to control his hands.
Rootmans wants to get back to his feet.
Rootmans trying to control but not successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans is trying to break free.
Stanson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Rootmans.
Stanson throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Rootmans is trying to stand back up.
Rootmans tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Stanson looking to finish with strikes here!
Stanson throws some wild stikes that Rootmans manages to avoid easily.
Stanson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stanson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Rootmans is in a horrible position here. Stanson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rootmans trying desperately to get to his feet.
Rootmans is squirming around, avoiding Stanson's attempts to control the action.
Rootmans holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Stanson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stanson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rootmans is looking to escape.
Rootmans is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musial Stanson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Stanson has his takedown stuffed
and Rootmans counters with a one-two to the body.
Rootmans scores with a sloppy right hand. Stanson should have avoided that one.
Rootmans circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rootmans scores with a spinning back kick!
Stanson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Rootmans throws a series of punches but Stanson avoids them all with ease.
Rootmans throws a head kick but Stanson moves out of range.
Stanson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rootmans manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stanson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rootmans counters with a left and a right that stings Stanson.
Erick Rootmans has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Musial Stanson.
Stanson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rootmans paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stanson shoots in but Rootmans avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rootmans went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
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 a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rootmans lands a nice looking kick to the body. Stanson takes a step back to recover.
Stanson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rootmans.
Erick Rootmans is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rootmans. That's going to slow Stanson down.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stanson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rootmans gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rootmans thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stanson trying to hold on to Rootmans's head to control him but Rootmans postures up.

Rootmans is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stanson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stanson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Stanson is staying active underneath Rootmans, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stanson pushes Rootmans off looking to stand but Rootmans dives back in and keeps control.
Stanson tries to get to full guard but Rootmans has control of the leg.

Rootmans seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Stanson has recovered full guard.
Rootmans throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Stanson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stanson throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Stanson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Stanson trying to control but Rootmans is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rootmans preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rootmans wants to stand but Stanson is controlling the position.
Stanson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stanson trying to control but Rootmans is working from the bottom.

Rootmans working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Stanson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Stanson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Stanson wants to control from the top but Rootmans keeps moving.
Musial Stanson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rootmans wants to get back to his feet but Stanson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rootmans circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rootmans throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rootmans scoring well with a low kick there.
Rootmans stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rootmans wants it to stay on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stanson is defended easily by Rootmans.
Stanson wants to clinch up but Rootmans keeps it at a distance.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rootmans lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Rootmans.
Erick Rootmans has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stanson darts in looking for a takedown but Rootmans gets double underhooks and turns Stanson into the cage.
Stanson tries to clinch there but Rootmans circles away.
Rootmans throws a big counter combination but Stanson scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Stanson tries to clinch there but Rootmans circles away.

Stanson moves into the clinch.
Rootmans looking to throw knees to the head but Stanson is blocking nicely.
Stanson takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rootmans tries to land a knee to the head but Stanson blocks with his arms.
Musial Stanson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Rootmans misses with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erick Rootmans showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stanson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musial Stanson!
A victorious Musial Stanson thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.