PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergej Valentinovich (ranked 2921 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Stern (ranked 3450 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentinovich comes to the cage accompanied by Defeatist. Stern has chosen The Great American Nightmare as his entrance music. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Valentinovich
vs
Stern

186 cm
42
212 lbs
31 - 10 - 0

184 cm
42
205 lbs
33 - 30 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

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 31 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sergej Valentinovich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 30 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Howard Stern!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valentinovich catches Stern with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Stern fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Valentinovich manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Stern misses its intended target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stern. Valentinovich does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stern throws a good cross that connects.
Valentinovich connects with a leg kick. Stern looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Stern shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Stern was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Valentinovich is pushing Stern's head away, looking to escape. Stern manages to hold on to the position though.
The ground and pound from Stern seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Stern wants to control but Valentinovich is keeping him busy.
Stern has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Valentinovich avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Stern.
Stern misses with the ground and pound.
Stern in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stern misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern cracks Valentinovich with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentinovich can't do much from the bottom here.
Stern taking a breather here.
Stern trying to control the action but Valentinovich is working from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Stern.
Stern misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stern working the ground and pound but Valentinovich is defending the strikes.
Stern sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Valentinovich is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Stern throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Stern lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Valentinovich tries to improve position but can't.
Valentinovich wants to get back to his feet.
Stern working the ground and pound.
Stern creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The strikes coming from Stern are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Stern remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Stern thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Stern works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern trying to control the action but Valentinovich is working from the bottom.
Stern looking to control but instead Valentinovich has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Stern throwing shots but Valentinovich is blocking nicely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Valentinovich is not content to let Stern control the position.
Valentinovich taking some punishment here, with Stern in his half guard.
Stern is thwarting Valentinovich's attempts to control the position.
Valentinovich is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Stern wants to control but Valentinovich is keeping him busy.
Valentinovich is trying to stand.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Stern lands a nice short elbow.
Ground and pound from Stern.
Stern scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stern thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stern controlling the action here.
Stern thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stern seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Valentinovich is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard Stern dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stern takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Valentinovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice jab there from Stern.
Valentinovich lands with a hook. Stern tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Valentinovich ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Stern lands a nice looking body shot.
Stern connects with a looping right hand.
A big left from Valentinovich misses.
Stern stuns Valentinovich with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Stern tries a low kick but Valentinovich avoids it.
Stern scores with a jab to the jaw.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Valentinovich lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Stern has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Stern and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Stern misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Valentinovich.
A little feinted left hand from Valentinovich on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stern lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Stern moves into range and clinches up with Valentinovich.
Valentinovich lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valentinovich.
Valentinovich misses with a body punch.
Valentinovich misses with a punch on the inside.
Valentinovich misses with a hook to the ribs.

Valentinovich's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stern smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Valentinovich has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Valentinovich there as he acknowledges the shot.
Howard Stern seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stern throws a hook but Valentinovich blocks it.
Stern throws a hook but Valentinovich blocks it.
A counter left hand to the body from Valentinovich misses its target.
Stern fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Valentinovich is out of range.
A jab from Stern misses.
Stern lands with a nice body punch.
Stern throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stern waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valentinovich.
Nice uppercut there from Stern.
Valentinovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stern throws a hook to the side of Valentinovich's head but Valentinovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Valentinovich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Stern throws a shot to the body.
Stern with a nice cross.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valentinovich scores with a hook to the body. Stern takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Stern connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Valentinovich needs to keep his hands up - Stern had a free shot at his head there.
Valentinovich ducks under a wild hook from Stern.
Some bone on bone action there as Valentinovich checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stern tests Valentinovich's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Valentinovich throws a hook but Stern avoids it easily.
Valentinovich sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Stern keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Valentinovich.
Jab from Stern.
A jab from Stern misses.
Sergej Valentinovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Valentinovich throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern throws a hook but Valentinovich avoids it easily.
Stern looks to score with a jab to the body but Valentinovich is just out of range.
Stern misses with a body kick.
Howard Stern seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valentinovich scores with a hook to the body. Stern takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Valentinovich takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stern throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
An attempted straight right counter from Valentinovich misses the target.
Valentinovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like Stern was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Valentinovich tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stern was well out of range. Poor timing from Valentinovich.
Stern uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Valentinovich.
Valentinovich misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stern.
Valentinovich throws a low kick but Stern avoids it.
Stern misses with an uppercut. Valentinovich saw that one coming.
Valentinovich gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stern slips under a jab.
Valentinovich uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stern.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick from Stern misses.
Stern swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Valentinovich.
Stern listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Stern connects with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stern lands a jab to Valentinovich's midsection.
Stern stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Stern moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Valentinovich.
Stern fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Valentinovich on the side of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Stern checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stern scoring well with a low kick there.
Stern walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Stern moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valentinovich misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Valentinovich breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard Stern showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stern waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valentinovich.
Valentinovich looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Stern misses with a hook. Valentinovich ducked under it nicely.
Valentinovich lands a glancing blow to the side of Stern's head.
Stern throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stern waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Valentinovich.
Stern lands with an overhand left.
Valentinovich bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Valentinovich takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stern uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Valentinovich.
Valentinovich with a jab.
Stern moves in looking to clinch but Valentinovich pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stern with a jab.
Valentinovich scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Valentinovich takes a swing at Stern's ribcage but misses.
Valentinovich swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Stern falls off balance throwing a combination
and Valentinovich counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valentinovich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stern moves away.
Stern moves out of range of the strikes.
Stern's corner calls for a 1-2. Stern obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Stern fails with the takedown.
Stern darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Stern connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Valentinovich throws a body punch but Stern moves out of range.
Valentinovich ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stern moves away.
Valentinovich misses with a looping right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stern! But no joy.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stern, as that shot connected.
Valentinovich misses with a hook
and Stern counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Stern gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sergej Valentinovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valentinovich breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Valentinovich takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Valentinovich takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Valentinovich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stern.
Valentinovich connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Stern momentarily.
Stern misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Valentinovich counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stern lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Stern cracks Valentinovich with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Valentinovich uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stern.
A jab from Stern misses.
Valentinovich is looking to counter punch.
Valentinovich throws out a loose jab but Stern uses good head movement to avoid it.
Valentinovich throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Stern misses with a right hand
and Valentinovich counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Valentinovich.
Valentinovich throwing a counter right hand but Stern manages to avoid it.
Stern throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentinovich throws a jab but it's blocked by Stern.
Stern looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Stern throws a nice head kick!
A lazy left from Valentinovich finds it's target.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Stern.

Valentinovich sneaks out the side door and pushes Stern away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valentinovich takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Stern shoots in but no luck this time.
Valentinovich is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Stern throws a good cross that connects.
Stern throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Valentinovich stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Stern walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Stern delivers a nice body kick.
Stern defending well as Valentinovich loads up on a big left hand.
Stern bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Valentinovich's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentinovich walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A punch combination from Stern misses.
Valentinovich looks to score with a jab to the body but Stern is just out of range.
Valentinovich ducks under a wild hook from Stern.
Howard Stern is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Stern clobbers Valentinovich with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Valentinovich loads up on a big right hand but Stern slips the punch.
Stern throws a hook to the side of Valentinovich's head but Valentinovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stern throws a hook to the side of Valentinovich's head but Valentinovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stern tries to bum rush Valentinovich with a series of wild strikes but Valentinovich uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice straight punches there by Valentinovich. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Valentinovich.
Valentinovich throws a body punch but Stern moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stern throws out a powerful jab.
Stern thuds a left hand into Valentinovich's body.
Stern tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Howard Stern comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stern has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Howard Stern!
Howard Stern managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Aspire Clothing, into his post fight interview.