PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Lenny Nero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helmut Doerner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Doerner has chosen Balls to the Wall by Accept as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Nero
vs
Doerner

175 cm
27
146 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

170 cm
32
140 lbs
14 - 18 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Lenny Nero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Helmut Doerner!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Doerner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Nero.
Doerner shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Doerner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nero throws a lazy uppercut

and Doerner counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Doerner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Doerner drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Doerner jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nero is looking for a triangle but Doerner pushes his legs off easily.
Doerner is looking to work some ground and pound but Nero has wrist control.

Doerner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nero has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Doerner has managed to get both his arms back between Nero's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Nero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nero utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Doerner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nero is keeping the position for now.
Doerner throws a big elbow that misses.
Nero wants to sweep here but Doerner controlling him for the moment.
Doerner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doerner is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Doerner lands a couple of elbows.
Doerner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Nero looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Doerner has picked Nero up and slammed him! Nero can't keep hold of the triangle and Doerner manages to pass to side control!
Doerner has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Doerner looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Doerner working the head with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Nero is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Doerner is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Nero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nero wants to control but Doerner postures up.
Nero takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Doerner grinds an elbow into Nero's temple.
Nero takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Doerner working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doerner landing a few strikes.

Doerner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nero knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Doerner scores with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Nero's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Doerner is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Nero has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nero gets back to half guard.

Nero is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Doerner pulls his head out easily.
Nero on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Doerner seems to be looking for submissions.

Doerner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Doerner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nero sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nero taking some punishment here, with Doerner in his half guard.
Doerner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nero's head.

Doerner is trying to work for a kimura but Nero is defending well.

Doerner is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Doerner thows a huge punch but Nero dodges it nicely.

Nero actively working from the bottom here.

Nero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Doerner is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nero has managed to free his arm - good work.

Nero is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Doerner pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doerner prevents Nero from improving his position.
We've been hearing good reports from Nero's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Nero looking for submissions off his back.

Nero looking for submissions off his back.
Nero trying to control from the bottom.

Doerner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ground and pound from Doerner.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Nero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Doerner is working for a kimura but Nero is defending it quite comfortably.

Nero actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Doerner.
Nero rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Doerner counters with a head kick.
Nero lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Doerner backs up against the cage.
Nero throws a poor cross that misses

and Doerner counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nero's guard now.

Nero has his foot on Doerner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Doerner works his way back into a safe position though.
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!

Nero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Doerner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Doerner tries to free his leg and advance position but Nero is retaining full guard.
Doerner working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nero's head.

Doerner drops back looking for a leg! Nero is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nero manages to kick Doerner off! Doerner jumps back into Nero's guard.
Doerner landing with the ground and pound.

Nero working for a triangle but Doerner defends it easily.
Doerner lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Doerner passes Nero's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Doerner prevents Nero from improving his position.
Nero gets full guard.

Nero has his foot on Doerner's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Doerner works his way back into a safe position though.
Helmut Doerner has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Doerner works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Doerner is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nero doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Doerner.
Ground and pound from Doerner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nero trying to control but Doerner postures up.

Doerner seems to be looking for submissions.
Nero wants to control but Doerner is keeping busy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nero actively working from the bottom here.
Doerner passes to full mount!
Nero is looking to get to half guard.

Doerner is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Nero is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Helmut Doerner!
A relieved looking Helmut Doerner thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.