PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Le Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fritz Haarmann (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Le Banner
vs
Haarmann

190 cm
42
217 lbs
27 - 16 - 1

190 cm
32
223 lbs
22 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
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 27 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jerome Le Banner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fritz Haarmann!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Banner. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Banner.
Banner keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Fritz Haarmann seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Haarmann decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Banner slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Haarmann drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Haarmann jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Banner looking for a sweep. Not yet Banner, not yet.

Haarmann drops back looking for a leg! Banner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Banner manages to kick Haarmann off! Haarmann jumps back into Banner's guard.
Banner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Haarmann is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haarmann thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Banner wants to get back to his feet but Haarmann is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Banner 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haarmann tries to free his leg and advance position but Banner is retaining full guard.
Banner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Haarmann's guard.

Banner postures up and lands a big shot to Haarmann's brow.

Haarmann looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Banner throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Haarmann looking for a guillotine here but Banner defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haarmann looking to control.
Haarmann keeping moving, preventing Banner from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haarmann working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Banner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Banner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Banner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Banner postures up and lands a big shot to Haarmann's brow.
Banner trying to control the position from guard on top but Haarmann is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Banner keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Haarmann's head.
Haarmann trying to keep a closed guard but Banner is proving a slippery customer.
Banner is looking to advance position but Haarmann has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haarmann moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Banner has worked his arm free - good work by Banner!
Banner tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Haarmann wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Banner, who protects the arm well.

Haarmann tries for a kimura but Banner is defending well.
Banner is pushing Haarmann's head away, looking to escape. Haarmann manages to hold on to the position though.
Haarmann working away.

Haarmann is trying to get an arm triangle but Banner is defending well.
Haarmann prevents Banner from escaping the position.

Haarmann thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haarmann goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Banner rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Haarmann's guard! Nice work there by Banner!
Banner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Banner wants to control from the top but Haarmann keeps moving.
Banner lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Haarmann wants to control but Banner passes easily into half guard.
Banner wants to control but Haarmann is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haarmann is looking to get back to full guard here but Banner has managed to pass to side control instead.
Banner working the ground and pound from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Le Banner dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Banner lands a jab to the head.
Banner connects with a good right hand that stumbles Haarmann. Haarmann circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Banner connects with a crisp jab.
Banner takes a swing at Haarmann's ribcage but misses.
Haarmann moves away from the strike by Banner.
Fritz Haarmann is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haarmann takes one to the side of the head.
Haarmann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Banner defends well and Haarmann ends up having to push Banner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Banner jabs at Haarmann's body.
Haarmann fails with a takedown attempt.
Banner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Haarmann moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Haarmann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Banner defends well and Haarmann ends up having to push Banner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Jerome Le Banner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fritz Haarmann.
Banner scores with a hook.
Haarmann shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haarmann keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Banner scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Haarmann doesn't seem bothered though.
Haarmann looks for a takedown but Banner sprawls well.
Haarmann walks into a left hand.
Haarmann dives in and grabs Banner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Banner pushes down on Haarmann's head and hops out.
Banner half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Haarmann is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Banner moves into range and connects with a jab.
Haarmann takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Haarmann takes a jab right on the kisser.
Banner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Haarmann shoots in and gets a takedown into Banner's guard.

Banner is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner misses with a punch on the inside.
Haarmann is looking for a takedown.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Banner.
Banner lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Banner lands a right hand.
Haarmann has Banner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Banner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Haarmann is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Banner is defending well.
Haarmann drops down looking for an ankle pick but Banner pulls his leg out and moves away.
Haarmann takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Haarmann shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Banner sprawls well. Banner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haarmann gets slowly back to his feet.
Banner appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haarmann gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A punch lands to the side of Haarmann 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Banner stuffs the takedown attempt from Haarmann. Haarmann gets slowly back to his feet.
Banner fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Jerome Le Banner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Banner with a nice cross.
A cross from Banner lands.
Banner misses with a hook.
Haarmann shoots in looking for a takedown. Banner tries to sprawl out of it but Haarmann keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Banner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Haarmann shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Banner defends it nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Banner, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haarmann misses with a straight right.
Banner connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Banner connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Banner thuds his right hand into Haarmann's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Haarmann goes for a double leg but Banner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Banner continues to drive forward.
Haarmann darts in looking for a takedown but Banner gets double underhooks and turns Haarmann into the cage.
Banner lands with a good body shot.
Banner lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The fighters circling - Banner throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Banner listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Banner comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jerome Le Banner is winning the standup battle so far.
Haarmann shoots in for a takedown but Banner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Banner scores with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Banner scores with a punch to the head.
Banner throws out a powerful jab.
Banner stuns Haarmann with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Banner cracks Haarmann with an open hand slap.
Haarmann gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Banner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Banner lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Nice sprawl there from Banner as Haarmann shoots in.
Banner scores with a jab to the jaw.

Haarmann is rocked!
Banner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Haarmann can do to turn this around?
Haarmann walks into a left hand.
Haarmann is still on wobbly legs! Can Banner finish him?
Haarmann takes a jab right on the kisser.
Banner is really turning it up, unleashing another crisp combination which drops Haarmann like a ton of bricks! The referee dives in to stop the fight, saving Haarmann from another fist facial!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jerome Le Banner!
During a confident post fight interview, Jerome Le Banner thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Fritz Haarmann was interviewed post fight and said 'Zum Teufel!'.