PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Johns (ranked 2305 p4p, 277 weight class) and Howard Stern (ranked 2553 p4p, 315 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Stern's choice of entrance music: The Great American Nightmare. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Johns
vs
Stern

191 cm
28
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

184 cm
41
205 lbs
33 - 28 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Don Johns!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Howard Stern!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stern walks into a jab.
Stern slips under a jab from Johns.
Stern swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Stern is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Johns.
Stern avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stern misses with a straight right.
Stern misses with a straight right.
Stern ducks under a wild hook from Johns.
Stern swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stern on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Stern bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johns's head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Stern has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Stern shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johns moves away from the strike by Stern.
An attempted straight right counter from Johns misses the target.
Johns avoids the body shot from Stern.
Johns scores with a nice head shot.
Johns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stern manages to avoid it.
Johns misses the jab.

Stern gets the takedown into side control.

Johns explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Stern scoring well with a low kick there.
Johns looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Stern connects with a solid leg kick.
Johns keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stern.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns moves out of range of the body kick.
Don Johns is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stern cracks Johns with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Johns throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Johns takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Johns swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little jabbing left from Stern on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Stern throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johns throws out a loose jab but Stern uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johns waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stern.
Stern misses with a hook. Johns ducked under it nicely.
Johns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stern.
Johns is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Stern misses with a right hand
letting Johns counter with a right hand.
Johns misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stern lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Johns changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Johns loads up on a big right hand but Stern slips the punch.
Johns takes a swing at Stern's ribcage but misses.
No joy there for Johns, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
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!
Johns slips a straight right by Stern.
Johns swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stern now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jab from Johns.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Johns moves away from the strike by Stern.
Stern scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Stern fails with an attempt to clinch.
A big left from Johns misses.
Johns punishes Stern's body with a nice straight punch.
Howard Stern seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stern throws a shot from downtown. Johns moves away and avoids it.
Johns lands with an overhand left.
Johns throws a series of punches but Stern moves out of range.
A big right from Johns misses.
Johns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stern.
Johns throws a series of punches but Stern moves out of range.
Johns throws a jab when Stern was well out of range.
Some wild striking there from Stern.
A little feinted left hand from Johns on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stern fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Johns manages to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Johns on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johns moves away from the strike by Stern.
Johns throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stern was well out of range. Poor timing from Johns.
Johns displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stern throws out the jab.
Johns lands a nice shot that snaps Stern's head back.
Decent striking displayed by Johns there.
Johns throws a jab but it's blocked by Stern.
Stern lands with an overhand left.
Stern misses with a looping right.
Johns staying out of range there.
Stern ducks under a wild hook from Johns.
Stern thinks about the counter body kick.
Stern misses with a hook.
Jab by Stern.
Stern lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Stern throws a lazy right hand but Johns sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johns misses with a wild body shot.
Stern takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice jab there from Johns.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from Stern.
Stern throws a jab when Johns was well out of range.
Johns throws a big counter combination but Stern scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Stern throws a shot from downtown. Johns moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns thuds a left hand into Stern's body.
Stern defending well as Johns loads up on a big left hand.
Johns lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stern circles away quickly and effectively.
Stern connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Stern loads up on a big right hand but Johns slips the punch.
Stern fails to land with a series of punches.
Johns moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Johns swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Johns lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Stern at a distance.
Johns ducks under a wild hook from Stern.
Stern throws a body shot but no joy.
Stern lands with a shot to the body.
Nice defenses there by Johns.
A big left from Stern misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stern slips a jab and a cross from Johns.
Stern connects with a crisp jab.
A combination from Johns does no damage.
Stern misses with a hook.
A nice leg kick lands there from Stern.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Johns 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.

Johns lands with a nice combination. Stern backs away looking to recover.
Stern misses the jab.
Stern dives in for a single leg takedown but Johns sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stern, as that shot connected.
Johns with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stern to score with a decent uppercut.
Stern throws an off balance right hand
and Johns counters with a left to the body.
Stern lands with an overhand left.
Stern throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stern thows a left - swing and a miss!
Johns seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Johns is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stern can do to turn this around?
Stern connects with a looping right hand.
Sloppy strikes from Johns. Those never looked like landing.
Johns scores with a one two! Stern had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like Howard Stern has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stern bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Johns tries to clinch but Stern moves out of range.
Stern showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johns.
Johns keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Stern.
Don Johns is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Johns moves into range and clinches up with Stern.
A frustrated look appears on Stern's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern tries to land a knee to the head but Johns blocks with his arms.
Stern misses with a punch on the inside.
Johns lands a left hand that snaps the head of Stern backwards.

Stern breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johns slips under a jab from Stern.
A quick step to the side and Johns tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johns moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Johns swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Stern.
Johns throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stern throws out a counter right but Johns avoids it with no problem.
Johns loads up on a big right hand but Stern slips the punch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Johns shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Johns moves out of range as Stern strikes.
Stern scores with a body shot.
Stern steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Johns.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stern darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stern scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Johns doesn't seem bothered though.
Nice defenses there by Johns.
Johns blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern connects with a crisp jab.
Nice sprawl there from Johns as Stern shoots in.
Johns dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Stern throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johns seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Johns throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stern sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stern tries to clinch but Johns is having none of it.
Stern scores with a punch to the head.
Stern throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stern connects with a nice looking jab.
Stern shoots in and drives through. Johns sprawls well.
Don Johns has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Stern.
Johns throws a wild body kick that Stern sees coming a mile off.
Stern looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Johns throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stern is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Johns.
Donk. Johns catches Stern right on the button with a cross.
Stern ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Stern avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stern throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Johns moves into range and connects with a jab.
Stern takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johns jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Johns looks to land a left hand but Stern moved out of range nicely.
Johns misses with an uppercut. Stern saw that one coming.
Johns misses with a looping right.
Johns lands a nice looking body shot.
Stern avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stern looks to land a right hand but Johns moved out of range.
Stern ducks under a wild hook from Johns.
Stern connects with a single shot there.
Johns throws a jab but it's blocked by Stern.
Johns misses with a body shot.
Stern lands the left hand.
Stern lands with a right hand.
Stern throws a body punch but Johns moves out of range.
Stern throws a hook to the side of Johns's head but Johns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Johns on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johns misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stern.
Johns moves out of range of the body kick from Stern.
Stern lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johns slips a straight right by Stern.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johns checks the leg kick nicely there.
Johns throws a body punch but Stern moves out of range.
Stern showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Johns.
Good shot there by Stern.
A clash of legs there as Johns blocks the low kick.
Johns stalks Stern and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Stern's face. Stern staggers backwards, shaken.
Stern shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Johns as he jumps to the side.
Johns is looking to counter punch.
Stern with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stern moves out of range of the strikes.
Johns connects with a body shot.
Johns tests Stern's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stern misses with a looping right.
Stern is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Don Johns will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Howard Stern's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Stern's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Johns connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Stern scrambles back to his feet.
Johns doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Don Johns is winning the standup battle so far.
Johns takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Stern scores with a nice head shot.
Stern lunges at Johns with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Johns's hand.
Johns throws a wild body kick that Stern sees coming a mile off.
Stern explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Johns swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johns throws a hook to the side of Stern's head but Stern sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johns tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stern was well out of range. Poor timing from Johns.
Stern waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Johns.
A telegraphed right hand from Stern misses the target.
Stern lands with a cross.
Johns steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stern.
Stern has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Stern there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stern is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stern throws out a loose jab but Johns uses good head movement to avoid it.
Johns tries to clinch there but Stern circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johns lands with an uppercut that bounces Stern off the cage and back into range.
Johns uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stern.
Johns uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stern.
As Stern looks to move away, Johns throws a big counter combo but Stern just gets out of the way.
Johns 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.
Stern defending well as Johns loads up on a big left hand.
Johns steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stern.
Stern slips a jab and a cross from Johns.
Johns takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Johns throws a right and a left that Stern avoids nicely.
Johns throws a front kick aimed at Stern's knee but Stern avoids it well.
Stern is looking to chop away at Johns's legs.
Stern defending well as Johns loads up on a big left hand.
Stern lands with an uppercut that bounces Johns off the cage and back into range.
Stern slips a jab and a cross from Johns.
Stern lands a head shot.
Johns misses the shot to the body.
It seemed like Stern was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stern throws a big shot that misses.
Johns throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Howard Stern has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johns moves out of range of the strikes.
Stern jabs Johns right on the nose. Johns blinks but takes it well.
Stern bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johns's head.
Johns scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Stern doesn't seem bothered though.
Stern dodges the punch combination from Johns.
Stern missing with a left hand there. Johns was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stern ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Johns moves away.
Johns paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stern with a poor takedown
letting Johns counter with a right hand.
Johns fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stern manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Stern.
Stern uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Johns.
Stern loads up on a big right hand but Johns slips the punch.
Stern tries to score with a low kick but Johns moves his leg out of the way.
Johns throws a body punch but Stern moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern ducks under a wild hook from Johns.
A telegraphed right hand from Stern misses the target.
Johns will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stern misses with a body shot.
Stern throws a nice looking combination but Johns bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stern throws a leg kick that is checked
and Johns counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stern scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Don Johns is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johns throws a lazy right hand but Stern sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johns goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Johns slips under a jab.
Stern staying out of range there.
Stern clobbers Johns with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Johns bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johns is looking for a counter combo.
Stern throws a poor cross that misses
and Johns cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stern misses with a hook.
As Stern backs away, Johns returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Stern misses with a double jab.
A little feinted left hand from Johns on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Johns cracks a nice hook into Stern's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stern takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Stern swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stern throws the left hand but Johns avoids the punch easily.
Stern slips a straight right by Johns.
Johns lands a lovely overhand right.
Johns misses with a body shot.
Johns lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Johns scores with a nice strike.
Johns digs a good body shot into Stern's ribs.
Johns takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Stern throws a hook to the side of Johns's head but Johns sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Johns avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Johns cracks Stern with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stern misses with a left hand
and Johns counters with a nice uppercut.
Johns looks to land a combination. Stern sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Stern loads up on a big right hand but Johns slips the punch.
Stern looks to throw the jab but Johns is out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Don Johns.
Well Johns has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Don Johns!
The defeated Howard Stern had this to say: 'I blame Robin and those big G's.'.