Jérôme Le Banner

Jérôme Le Banner is a French kickboxer, mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, born in Le Havre in Normandy on December 26, 1972. He fought for most of his career in the Japanese K-1 promotion, where his aggressive style and knockout power made him one of the best known heavyweights of his era. He was twice a runner-up in the K-1 World Grand Prix, twice won the K-1 Preliminary Grand Prix, and held world titles in kickboxing and Muay Thai. His martial arts background began with judo as a child, moved to Kyokushin karate as a teenager, and took in Muay Thai at about eighteen. He holds black belts in Kyokushin Kaikan karate and in judo, and fights from a southpaw stance although he is right-handed.