PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Norbert Schwager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Bannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Schwager
vs
Bannon

175 cm
33
149 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

160 cm
28
140 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
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 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Norbert Schwager!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jeremy Bannon!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schwager throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bannon counters with a straight right hand.
Jeremy Bannon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bannon misses the shot to the body.
Bannon wants to clinch.
Bannon scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Schwager slips a straight right by Bannon.
Bannon connects with a body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Schwager.
Schwager scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Schwager has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Schwager's corner calls for a 1-2. Schwager obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Schwager uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bannon.
Jab by Bannon.
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!
Bannon throws out a loose jab but Schwager uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Schwager on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Schwager moves out of range of the strikes.
Schwager with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schwager throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Schwager cracks Bannon with a right hand to the side of the head.
Schwager swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bannon throws a sloppy head kick and Schwager moves out of range easily.
Bannon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Schwager was well out of range. Poor timing from Bannon.
Bannon wants to clinch.
Bannon wants to clinch.
Bannon staying out of range there.
Bannon tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Schwager counters with a straight right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Schwager, as that shot connected.
Bannon tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Schwager manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bannon loads up on a big right hand but Schwager slips the punch.
Schwager scores with a shot to the body.
A nice combination there by Schwager.

Bannon is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
A head kick from Bannon lands but Schwager takes it in his stride.
Bannon is still on wobbly legs! Can Schwager finish him?
Bannon throws a body shot but no joy.
A counter left hand to the body from Schwager misses its target.
Bannon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bannon seems to have recovered his senses.
Schwager moves away from the strike by Bannon.
Schwager is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bannon misses with an uppercut
enabling Schwager to counter with a crisp jab.
Bannon takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bannon slips a jab and a cross from Schwager.
Schwager misses with a two punch combination.
As Schwager backs off Bannon throws a huge counter combo but Schwager manages to avoid it all.
A cross from Bannon lands.
Bannon throws a body kick that misses.
Schwager throwing a counter right hand but Bannon manages to avoid it.
Schwager is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
The fighters circling - Bannon throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Schwager ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bannon moves away.
Schwager has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Schwager there as he acknowledges the shot.
Schwager lands with a shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bannon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannon swings for the body but Schwager moves out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Schwager scores with a four punch combination!
Schwager blocks a head kick by Bannon.
Bannon misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Schwager.
Schwager throws a big counter combination but Bannon scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bannon staying out of range there.
Schwager ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bannon moves away.
Bannon misses with a looping left.
Bannon with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Schwager to score with a decent uppercut.
Donk. Bannon catches Schwager right on the button with a cross.
Decent striking displayed by Schwager there.
Bannon scores with a kick to the body.
Schwager tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bannon was well out of range. Poor timing from Schwager.
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!
Schwager connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Jeremy Bannon has been cut.
Schwager ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bannon moves away.
Bannon throws a front kick that sends Schwager stumbling back into the cage.
Schwager looks to score with a jab to the body but Bannon is just out of range.
Bannon takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schwager throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A punch combination from Schwager misses.
Bannon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Schwager appears to be looking for a big counter.

Bannon rushes Schwager and presses him up against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bannon - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Schwager has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bannon taking a breather.
Schwager is trying to break the clinch but Bannon is controlling him.
Schwager letting Bannon take a breather here.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norbert Schwager dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jeremy Bannon's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A punch combination from Schwager misses.
Schwager fails to land with a series of punches.
Bannon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Schwager tries to bum rush Bannon with a series of wild strikes but Bannon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Schwager swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A countering left hand to the body from Bannon misses.
Bannon wants to clinch.
Norbert Schwager is winning the standup battle so far.
Bannon takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Schwager scores with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schwager misses with the combination.
Bannon takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Bannon closes the distance and clinches.
Bannon has Schwager pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bannon has Schwager pressed against the cage.
Bannon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Schwager walks away with a smile on his face. Bannon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Schwager just misses with a punch to the body.
Schwager throws a combination. Bannon tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bannon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Schwager swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Bannon closes the distance and clinches.
Bannon is struggling to control the position.
Bannon leaning his opponent against the cage.
Bannon is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bannon taking a breather.
Schwager looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bannon stalling in the clinch but Schwager improves position.
Bannon is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jeremy Bannon.
Schwager lands a nice hook to Bannon's body. Bannon takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Schwager misses with a jab, cross combination.
Schwager takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Schwager tries to bum rush Bannon with a series of wild strikes but Bannon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Schwager tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bannon was well out of range. Poor timing from Schwager.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannon throws a quick inside leg kick.
Schwager misses with a two punch combination.
Schwager slips a straight right by Bannon.
Schwager shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bannon eats them both and turns towards Schwager to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Schwager cracks Bannon with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bannon tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Schwager cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bannon tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bannon takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bannon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Schwager tries to bum rush Bannon with a series of wild strikes but Bannon uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bannon ducks under a wild hook from Schwager.
Bannon throws a sloppy head kick and Schwager moves out of range easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bannon wants to clinch up but Schwager keeps it at a distance.
Schwager rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bannon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A little jabbing left from Bannon on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bannon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Schwager was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bannon connects with a leg kick. Schwager looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Schwager is looking to wear down Bannon with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bannon is looking to clinch.

Bannon clinches with his opponent.
Schwager is trying to force a seperation but Bannon has the dominant position.
Bannon looking to stall.
Bannon stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Bannon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Schwager avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Norbert Schwager has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeremy Bannon.
Bannon misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bannon goes for a takedown attempt but Schwager pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Schwager gets tackled into the cage by Bannon. Bannon maintains the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Norbert Schwager dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jeremy Bannon's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Schwager takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Bannon clinches up with Schwager and pushes him back against the cage.
Bannon lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bannon is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Schwager is keeping busy.
Schwager is pressed up against the cage. Bannon has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Schwager down to the mat. Schwager avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Schwager walks into a stiff left hand from Bannon.
Schwager thuds a left hand into Bannon's body.
Bannon fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bannon takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bannon is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bannon moves to clinch but Schwager breaks away
and Schwager counters with a nice body shot.
Schwager throws a right and a left that Bannon avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bannon moves into the clinch.
Bannon has Schwager pressed against the cage.
Schwager looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Bannon wants to take the fight to the mat but Schwager manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bannon content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Bannon wants to take the fight to the mat but Schwager manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Norbert Schwager has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeremy Bannon.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Schwager wants to break free but Bannon has control.
Bannon looking to slow down the pace here.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Schwager as Bannon tries to tie him up.
Bannon is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bannon is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jeremy Bannon.

Bannon has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jeremy Bannon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bannon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Schwager walks away with a smile on his face. Bannon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bannon moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Schwager looks to score with a jab to the body but Bannon is just out of range.
Bannon is looking to clinch but Schwager is avoiding it.
Bannon looks to clinch
and Schwager counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bannon showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Schwager.

Bannon instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bannon is working for takedown but Schwager is calmly controlling the position for now.
Bannon is looking to control Schwager's arms but Schwager gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bannon has his back to the cage.
Bannon slowing the pace effectively.
Bannon stalls.
Bannon receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Bannon is pushing Schwager up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jeremy Bannon.
Schwager lands a really nice looking cross but Bannon seems unphased.

Oooh a lovely combination from Schwager sends Bannon down but not out. Schwager dives into side control looking to finish.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Schwager tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Schwager decides to stand back up.

Bannon closes the distance and pushes Schwager back into the cage.

Bannon breaks from the clinch.
Bannon takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Bannon instigates a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Bannon has Schwager pressed against the cage.
Bannon is pushing Schwager up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Bannon can't find room to land a body shot as Schwager controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Norbert Schwager showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Schwager, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Norbert Schwager!
During a confident post fight interview, Norbert Schwager thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.