PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Josh Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Shouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joshua Shouse is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Ferguson
vs
Shouse

165 cm
24
128 lbs
1 - 3 - 1

162 cm
19
116 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joshua Shouse !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shouse misses with a series of wild punches.

Shouse scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Shouse looks gassed!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Shouse wants to stand up but Ferguson is controlling the position.
Ferguson moves into full guard.
Shouse postures up.
Ferguson wants to sweep but no luck.
Shouse must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ferguson being controlled here, momentarily.
Ferguson is looking to stand up but Shouse isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Josh Ferguson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shouse misses with a double jab.
Nice takedown defense from Ferguson. No joy for Shouse on that attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ferguson.

Ferguson closes the distance and pushes Shouse back into the cage.
Shouse misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ferguson.

Ferguson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shouse bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ferguson seems a little lost for a moment, as Shouse dominates the positioning.
Shouse cracks Ferguson with a big elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shouse working away.
Shouse really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ferguson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shouse scoring with punches from side control.
Shouse working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet.
Shouse has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ferguson!
Ferguson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse controlling from the full mount.
Ferguson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shouse in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Shouse controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shouse looking to control but Ferguson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Shouse thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Shouse controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ferguson gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shouse moves into the clinch successfully.
Ferguson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shouse fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shouse tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ferguson wants to get back to striking at distance but Shouse won't allow it.
Shouse is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ferguson to keep the fight standing.
Josh Ferguson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Shouse .
Shouse can't break the clinch.
Shouse goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ferguson prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ferguson can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Shouse 's face.
Shouse tries to break free but Ferguson pushes him back against the cage.
Ferguson tries to score a body lock takedown but Shouse shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Shouse wants a takedown but no success here.

Ferguson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ferguson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Shouse stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ferguson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ferguson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Shouse wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Shouse defending well though.
Ferguson is looking to stall here but Shouse recovers full guard.
Ferguson trying to control the position from guard on top but Shouse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ferguson is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Ferguson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson trying to control the position from guard on top but Shouse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shouse can do anything to dispel that myth.
Shouse has a closed guard, preventing Ferguson from standing up.
Ferguson trying to control but Shouse is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Josh Ferguson just wasn't active enough.
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt

and Shouse counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ferguson is looking for a sweep. Shouse is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Joshua Shouse has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ferguson is trying to stand.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shouse in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shouse is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ferguson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Shouse .
Ferguson wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shouse looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joshua Shouse will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Shouse closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ferguson quickly recovers to half guard.
It looks like Shouse is going to stand back up.
Shouse is trying to control. Ferguson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ferguson tries to roll over but Shouse keeps him under control.
Shouse performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shouse is thwarting Ferguson's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joshua Shouse has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Shouse drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ferguson is trying to control Shouse 's posture but Shouse avoids it.
Shouse taking a breather here.
Ferguson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse happy to just control the position for now.
Ferguson regains half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shouse not doing much here.

Joshua Shouse has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Ferguson connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Josh Ferguson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shouse counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ferguson is not content to let Shouse control the position.
Shouse controlling the action here.
Ferguson is looking to control Shouse 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ferguson avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shouse blocks the strikes from Ferguson.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Shouse lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shouse is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Ferguson!

Shouse is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ferguson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Shouse scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ferguson?
Josh Ferguson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joshua Shouse is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shouse controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Shouse comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shouse winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Shouse !