PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Benedict Arnold (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Stern (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Arnold
vs
Stern

187 cm
32
188 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

184 cm
31
199 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

Perkele!
Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 160$)

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 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benedict Arnold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Howard Stern!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stern darts in looking for a takedown but Arnold gets double underhooks and turns Stern into the cage.
Arnold takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Stern tries to work over Arnold's front leg with a kick but Arnold checks it.
Arnold misses with a wild body shot.
Stern fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Arnold manages to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Arnold on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Stern looks to land a left hand but Arnold moved out of range nicely.
Stern tries to move into range but Arnold moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Arnold pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stern is out of range and Arnold settles back down.
Stern steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Arnold.
Stern shoots and misses
and Arnold counters with a low kick, right behind Stern 's knee.
Howard Stern seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stern darts in looking for a takedown but Arnold gets double underhooks and turns Stern into the cage.
Benedict Arnold has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Howard Stern.
Stern scores with a hook to the body. Arnold takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Arnold throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Arnold scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Stern.
Stern is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Stern connects with a body shot that sends Arnold's belly button to the back.
Arnold scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
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!
Arnold on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Stern has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Arnold swings for the body but Stern moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Arnold blocks the low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold wants to land a leg kick but Stern is out of range.
Arnold tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stern misses with a few strikes there.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stern is defended easily by Arnold.
Stern thuds his right hand into Arnold's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Stern tests Arnold's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Arnold keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Arnold was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Benedict Arnold is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arnold takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stern missing with a left hand there. Arnold was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Arnold slips under a jab from Stern.
Arnold appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Stern's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Arnold connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Stern scrambles back to his feet.
Stern misses with a hook
and Arnold counters with an outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold lands a jab to Stern's midsection.
Stern avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Arnold misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arnold cracks the inside of Stern's front leg.
Arnold avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stern throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Stern throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Arnold slips a straight right by Stern.
Arnold bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Stern's head backwards.
Arnold slaps away a takedown attempt from Stern, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Stern steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Arnold.
Stern has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Arnold finds it's way round the side to connect with Stern's head.
Arnold looks to land a left hand but Stern moved out of range nicely.
Arnold moves out of range of the strikes.
Arnold missing with a left hand there. Stern was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arnold tried to score with a low kick but Stern checks it.
Arnold throws a hook to the side of Stern's head but Stern sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arnold misses with a low kick.
Arnold avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Arnold is looking to counter punch.
Stern blocks a low kick nicely.
Arnold takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Stern staying out of range there.

Stern feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stern wants to control from the top but Arnold keeps moving.
Arnold utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arnold keeping full guard, as Stern tries to pass.
Arnold is pulling down on Stern's head. It's preventing any offense from Stern, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stern trying to control the position from guard on top but Arnold is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arnold seems keen to control Stern's posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Stern forces his way into half guard.
Stern is looking to stall here but Arnold recovers full guard.
Stern trying to control but Arnold is working from the bottom.
Stern forces his way into half guard.
Stern is looking to take a break and control but Arnold is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benedict Arnold dominated that round.
That's time! Arnold's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Arnold tries to score with a low kick but Stern moves his leg out of the way.
Stern misses with a hook
and Arnold connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Arnold looks to score with a jab to the body but Stern is just out of range.
A punch combination from Stern misses.
Stern misses with a body shot.
Stern looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stern connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Arnold momentarily.
Stern thuds a left hand into Arnold's body.

Stern drives through with a takedown into Arnold's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Arnold pulls Stern in close to prevent any damage.
Arnold keeping moving, preventing Stern from controlling successfully.
Stern wants to pass the guard but Arnold is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arnold seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stern preventing the sweep.
Stern sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Stern works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Stern passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Arnold!
Arnold tries to hold on but Stern pushes him away.
Arnold tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Stern looking to control but Arnold is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold regains half guard.
Stern controlling the action here.
Stern wants to free his trapped foot but Arnold is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stern is trying to control. Arnold wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Arnold is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Arnold manages to get to full guard.
Arnold trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern wants to control from the top but Arnold keeps moving.
Stern slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Stern looking to pass the guard.
Arnold seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Stern trying to control but Arnold is working from the bottom.
Arnold pulls Stern in close to his closed guard and prevents Stern from doing any damage or advancing position.

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

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 shoots in but Arnold avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Arnold throws a quick counter kick to the body but Stern avoids it.
Arnold finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Stern checks a leg kick nicely.
Stern throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Arnold tries to land a leg kick but Stern saw it coming and moves away.
Stern pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Arnold uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Stern.
Arnold misses with a looping right.
Arnold does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Arnold throws a solid leg kick but Stern takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Arnold.
Stern loads up on a big right hand but Arnold slips the punch.
Arnold just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arnold on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Stern checks a leg kick nicely.
Arnold misses with a wild body shot.
Stern misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arnold.
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!

Arnold jabs at Stern's body.
Stern darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Arnold blocks a jab.
Arnold with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Stern to score with a decent uppercut.
Stern blocks the body kick.
Arnold takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Arnold thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stern is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Arnold.

Stern gets the takedown into side control.
Arnold is looking for a sweep.
Stern tries to move to mount but Arnold blocks the move with his legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Stern tries for a kimura but Arnold is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stern is trying to ground and pound but Arnold uses the momentary lack of control by Stern to regain half guard.
Stern is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Arnold reverses the position - he's now on top in Stern's guard.

Stern working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Arnold doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Arnold manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Arnold's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Stern wants to sweep here but Arnold controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arnold stays in close to Stern's body and controls the position.
Stern wants to improve his position but instead Arnold has moved into half guard.
Stern is looking to get back to full guard here but Arnold has managed to pass to side control instead.
Arnold 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 tries to bench press Arnold off him but Arnold keeps the position.
Stern can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stern tries to buck Arnold off but Arnold is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Stern's face as Arnold controls the position.
Arnold gets to mount! Stern was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Stern wants to control but Arnold is having none of it.
Arnold controlling the pace for now.
Stern slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Arnold is taking a breather. Stern says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stern is looking to improve his position.
Stern keeps trying to improve his position.
Stern desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Stern is trying to maintain the position but Arnold is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stern wants to get back to full 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 Benedict Arnold.
I think Arnold has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!