PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fyodor Pending (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Shouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pending
vs
Shouse

150 cm
39
130 lbs
41 - 61 - 0

162 cm
31
116 lbs
30 - 29 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

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 41 - 61 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fyodor Pending!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joshua Shouse !
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shouse moves in looking to clinch but Pending pushes him off.
Pending tries to counter by clinching up but Shouse breaks away and moves out of range.
Shouse shoots in looking for a takedown. Pending tries to sprawl out of it but Shouse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pending manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pending slaps away a takedown attempt from Shouse , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pending feinted with a counter takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Pending. No joy for Shouse on that attempt.
Pending is looking for a counter combo.
Fyodor Pending has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Shouse .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shouse shoots and misses
and Pending counters with a three punch combo that has Shouse backing up. Shouse nods at Pending to acknowledge the strikes.
Shouse shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pending as he avoids it easily.
Pending feinted with a counter takedown.
Shouse misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Pending is fending him off so far but Shouse persists. Nope, Pending circles away and we're back to standing.
Pending seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Pending ducks under a wild hook from Shouse .
Pending half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Shouse shoots in and drives through. Pending sprawls well.
Pending circles away from the clinch attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Shouse misses the target.
We've been hearing reports that Pending has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Shouse feints a jab promting Pending to slip. Shouse then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pending slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Shouse shoots in and drives through. Pending sprawls well.
Pending is looking for a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shouse drives through and clinches with Pending against the cage.

Shouse pulls guard successfully.
Pending wants to control from the top but Shouse keeps moving.

Shouse is looking for a triangle but Pending pushes his legs off easily.
Pending trying to control but Shouse is working from the bottom.
Pending could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Shouse looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Shouse looking to control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Shouse gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pending tries for a takedown but Shouse manages to get underhooks.

Shouse pulls guard effortlessly.
Shouse really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pending. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pending postures up.
Pending slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Shouse can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shouse chipping away with strikes from the bottom.
Shouse wants to control but Pending postures up.

Pending goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Shouse has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Pending but great work by Shouse .
Pending wants to control but Shouse postures up.
Pending is breathing heavily.
The referee asks Shouse politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Shouse prefers to stall for the moment though.
Pending might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Shouse stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Shouse loads up on a big right hand but Pending slips the punch.
As Shouse tries to get set, Pending tries to push him back and clinch up but Shouse manages to avoid the attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shouse with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pending moves into the clinch.

Shouse manages to break the clinch.
Shouse fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Shouse dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shouse looks to land a right hand but Pending moved out of range.
Shouse shoots in for a takedown but Pending shows good takedown defense.
Pending is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Shouse .
Pending keeps the fight on the outside.
Pending attempts a counter takedown but Shouse avoids it well and moves away.
Shouse misses the jab.
Shouse throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pending wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Shouse .
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shouse misses with a few strikes there.
Shouse swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Pending is looking to counter the offense by Shouse and move into the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Shouse .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pending taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shouse lands some shots froms side control.
Shouse taking a breather here.
Pending is looking for a sweep.
Pending stops Shouse from passing to mount.
Pending being controlled for a moment.
Shouse lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse working the ground and pound.
Pending sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Shouse lands with a punch from half guard.
Shouse wants to control but Pending is keeping him busy.
Shouse performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Shouse is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pending sees it coming and defends easily.
Shouse has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shouse is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pending trying to control but Shouse postures up.
Pending tries to roll over but Shouse keeps him under control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pending is staying active underneath Shouse , who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Shouse looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pending taking some punishment here, with Shouse in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pending is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shouse pulls his head out easily.
Shouse is trying to control. Pending wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Pending is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Shouse pulls his head out easily.
Pending is trying to maintain the position but Shouse is very close to passing his half guard.
Shouse not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Shouse showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shouse is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pending sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A quick step to the side and Pending tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Shouse misses.
Pending is looking to counter the offense by Shouse and move into the clinch.
Shouse tries to close the distance and clinch but Pending swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pending tries to counter by clinching up but Shouse breaks away and moves out of range.
Shouse looks for a takedown but Pending sprawls well.
Pending drops down looking for a counter takedown but Shouse sprawls and moves away.
Shouse misses with a head kick.
Pending is looking to counter the offense by Shouse and move into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shouse fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pending sprawls well initially but Shouse persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pending wants to get back to full guard.

Pending is defending against the submission attempts here by Shouse .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pending trying to control here.
Shouse wants to control but Pending is keeping him busy.

Shouse seems to be looking for submissions.
Shouse is pressing down on Pending's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pending is holding on for now.
Shouse is trying to control the action in half guard but Pending is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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.
Shouse trying to control the pace.
Pending wants to control but Shouse is keeping busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pending swats away the attempt to clinch by Shouse .
Shouse shoots in but no luck this time.
Fyodor Pending has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Shouse .
Shouse is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pending sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Pending gets caught flat footed, as Shouse shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pending trying to control the position.
Shouse with a nice head shot there.
Shouse postures up in Pending's guard and throws a big left but Pending blocks it.
Pending looking to control.
Shouse wants to control from the top but Pending keeps moving.
Shouse tries to free his leg and advance position but Pending is retaining full guard.

Pending looking for a guillotine here but Shouse defends easily.
Pending keeping moving, preventing Shouse from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Shouse is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Shouse trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pending's guard.

Pending looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Shouse has picked Pending up and slammed him! Pending can't keep hold of the triangle and Shouse manages to pass to side control!
Shouse wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pending keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pending gets back to half guard.
Fyodor Pending 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.
Pending tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

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