PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lugh Blackburn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Stern (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blackburn's entrance music is When the Man Comes Down. A fine choice. Stern has chosen The Great American Nightmare as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Blackburn
vs
Stern

187 cm
24
200 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

184 cm
24
199 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Underworld Clothing

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Lugh Blackburn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Howard Stern!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Sam Margolis and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Blackburn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Blackburn has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Thirteenth Legion MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Blackburn missing with a left hand there. Stern was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stern throws a lazy uppercut
and Blackburn counters with a straight right hand.

Stern scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Stern is looking to take a break and control but Blackburn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blackburn is holding on to half guard well.
Blackburn is trying to control but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Stern there.
Stern tries to pass the half guard into mount. Blackburn knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Stern is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stern is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Blackburn has managed to free his arm - good work.

Blackburn is defending against the submission attempts here by Stern.
Stern trying to advance position but Blackburn counters by regaining guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stern trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.
Stern trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Stern working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Blackburn's head.
Stern pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Blackburn is keeping the position for now.
Blackburn 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.
Stern throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern trying to control but Blackburn is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stern takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Blackburn throws a good cross that connects.
Stern staying out of range there.
Stern drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Blackburn defends it well.
Blackburn takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Stern fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stern slips a straight right by Blackburn.
Stern ducks under a wild hook from Blackburn.
Blackburn loads up on a big right hand but Stern slips the punch.
Stern throws out a counter right but Blackburn avoids it with no problem.

Blackburn has managed to clinch.
Stern leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Blackburn pushes Stern back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Stern is trying to pull guard but Blackburn has him pressed against the cage.
Blackburn throws a head punch that misses.
A knee to the head by Blackburn.
Stern has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blackburn is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Stern looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blackburn tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stern tries to pull guard but Blackburn forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lugh Blackburn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Stern.
Stern tries for a takedown but Blackburn manages to get underhooks.
Blackburn with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Stern is looking to control Blackburn's arms but Blackburn gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stern has his back to the cage.
Blackburn is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Blackburn is working Stern over against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Blackburn.
Blackburn missing with knees to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blackburn presses Stern against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Blackburn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Blackburn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Blackburn with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Blackburn lands a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lugh Blackburn dominated that round.
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.

Blackburn lands a jab to the nose.
Blackburn is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Blackburn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Blackburn throws a right hand that Stern ducks under and follows up with a left that Stern also avoids with ease.
Stern with the counter takedown but Blackburn avoids it easily.
Stern slips a straight right by Blackburn.
Blackburn misses with a shot to the body
and Stern counters with a straight right hand.
Stern throws an overhand right that lands on Blackburn's shoulder, as Blackburn tries to avoid the shot.
Blackburn is looking to counter punch.

Stern takes the fight into the clinch.
Blackburn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Blackburn tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stern fails to pull guard.
Stern has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Blackburn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Blackburn lands a nice uppercut.

Stern pulls Blackburn into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Blackburn accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern is looking to regain half guard here but Blackburn keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here as Blackburn stalls from top position.
Stern tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blackburn wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Stern tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Stern is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's two 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 is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Stern wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Stern tries to escape but Blackburn has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Blackburn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Stern can do to turn this around?
Stern wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blackburn biding his time, looking for the opening.

Stern is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Stern turns into Blackburn and is now in his guard.
Stern wants to control from the top but Blackburn keeps moving.
Blackburn keeping full guard, as Stern tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stern throws a big right hand that misses.
Stern wants to pass the guard but Blackburn is keeping the position.
Stern postures up in Blackburn's guard and throws a big left but Blackburn blocks it.

Stern postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Blackburn is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Stern, into his guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Stern escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blackburn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lugh Blackburn dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! 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 takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Blackburn jabs at Stern's body.

Stern instigates a clinch.

Stern drags the fight down to the ground.
Blackburn stopping the sweep attempt from Stern.

Stern escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Blackburn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stern being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stern is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern looking to hit a scissor sweep but Blackburn is one step ahead there.

Stern is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blackburn defends well.
Blackburn throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stern works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two 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 sweep here but Blackburn controlling him for the moment.

Stern is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stern is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Blackburn rushes Stern and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Blackburn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stern has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Blackburn misses with a knee to the head.
Blackburn with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stern is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern blocks a body shot from Blackburn.
Stern prevents a body shot from Blackburn.
Blackburn can't find room to land a body shot as Stern controls the action.

Stern drags the fight down to the ground.

Stern isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Blackburn stacks Stern on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Blackburn!
Stern takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Blackburn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stern keeps working.
Lugh Blackburn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Stern is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stern is still trying to improve position.
Stern manages to work his way to half guard, despite Blackburn's best efforts.

Stern looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Howard Stern has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stern is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stern works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Stern looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Blackburn passes into half guard.

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 Lugh Blackburn.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Blackburn, 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lugh Blackburn!
Lugh Blackburn took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, AnonymouS for their support in the buildup to the fight.
In defeat, Howard Stern stepped up to the mic, saying 'I blame Robin and those big G's.'.