PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Shouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Shouse
vs
Ferguson

162 cm
21
116 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

165 cm
26
128 lbs
6 - 8 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joshua Shouse !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson shoots for a double leg takedown but Shouse sprawls well. He's pushed Ferguson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Shouse with that takedown attempt.

Ferguson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shouse 's guard.
Ferguson trying to control but Shouse is working from the bottom.
Ferguson being controlled here momentarily.
Ferguson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Shouse 's guard.
Shouse slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Shouse is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ferguson is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shouse wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shouse swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shouse controlling Ferguson's posture.
Ferguson tries to stand but Shouse is controlling from the bottom.
Shouse has Ferguson pulled in close to control his posture.

Joshua Shouse has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shouse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ferguson pinned against the cage. Ferguson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse stuffs the takedown.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Shouse 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 Ferguson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ferguson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Shouse drives through and clinches with Ferguson against the cage.

Shouse tightens his grip and picks Ferguson up, before dumping him to the ground. Ferguson manages to land in guard.
Ferguson keeping full guard, as Shouse tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferguson working a defensive guard here.

Shouse gets to his feet - Ferguson follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse checks a leg kick nicely.
Shouse misses with a series of wild punches.
Shouse pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Ferguson takes the fight into the clinch.
Shouse can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Shouse . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ferguson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Shouse can't fight it off and eventually Ferguson manages to take the fight to the floor. Shouse looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Shouse keeping moving, preventing Ferguson from controlling successfully.
Ferguson won't allow Shouse to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shouse pushes Ferguson off and gets back to his feet.

Ferguson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ferguson showed some decent athleticism there.
Ferguson looks gassed!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shouse is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ferguson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ferguson's back!
Shouse knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ferguson on the ground.
Shouse throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Ferguson!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shouse is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Shouse is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ferguson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ferguson for a finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joshua Shouse will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ferguson is defended easily by Shouse .
Shouse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ferguson pinned against the cage. Ferguson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ferguson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
No luck for Shouse with that takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Shouse .
Shouse will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Shouse . That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson scoring well with a low kick there.

Shouse fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ferguson, pushing him back against the cage.

Shouse 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Shouse feints and as Ferguson raises his hands in defense, Shouse changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ferguson wants to get back to his feet but Shouse is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ferguson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ferguson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Shouse engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shouse trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Joshua Shouse wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Shouse throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ferguson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shouse misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ferguson.
Ferguson with a poor takedown

and Shouse counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ferguson is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shouse with a nice head shot there.
Ferguson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Shouse can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse tries to control the position but Ferguson now has his back.

Ferguson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Shouse trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Ferguson has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Shouse has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson trying to control momentarily.
Shouse trying to control but not successfully.
Shouse is in bad spot here.
Ferguson is not going to allow Shouse to sit and survive in this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shouse wants to get back to his feet.
Joshua Shouse overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shouse trying to control the hands but Ferguson breaks the grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Shouse dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shouse doesn't manage to clinch there - Ferguson circles away.
Shouse circles away from the clinch attempt.
Joshua Shouse is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shouse is looking to clinch but Ferguson is avoiding it.
Shouse fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shouse leaves Ferguson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Shouse defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ferguson.
Shouse looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shouse avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ferguson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Shouse on the side of the head.
Ferguson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Ferguson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shouse ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shouse no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Shouse had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ferguson defends it easily.
Ferguson stops Shouse from standing up.
Ferguson postures up.
Ferguson preventing the sweep.
Shouse is looking to stand back up but Ferguson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Shouse .
Shouse is doing well to control the position and prevent Ferguson from advancing to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ferguson is working away from the top position though.
Shouse moves into full guard.
Ferguson wants to control from the top but Shouse keeps moving.
Ferguson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shouse is keeping the position for now.
Ferguson stopping the sweep attempt from Shouse .

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson wants to stand and escape but instead Shouse has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Shouse is stalling in the full guard.
Ferguson keeping moving, preventing Shouse from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joshua Shouse just wasn't active enough.
Shouse throws a combination that misses
letting Ferguson counter with a right hand.
Shouse shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ferguson as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Shouse . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ferguson dives in and grabs Shouse 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shouse pushes down on Ferguson's head and hops out.
Shouse swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Shouse moves in looking to clinch but Ferguson pushes him off.
Ferguson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shouse counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shouse not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shouse has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Josh Ferguson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joshua Shouse is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Ferguson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Shouse defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Shouse showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Shouse has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

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