PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Shouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Albert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Shouse
vs
Albert

162 cm
22
116 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Powerful

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 9 - 14 - 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Albert!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shouse stuffs the takedown attempt from Albert. Albert gets slowly back to his feet.
Albert goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Albert misses with a takedown attempt

and Shouse counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Albert!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Shouse sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Shouse looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Albert tries to lock up and control but Shouse gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Shouse looking to finish Albert with some ground and pound. This is bad for Albert!
Shouse tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Shouse is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Albert to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Albert shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Shouse cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Shouse takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Albert really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Shouse . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Shouse 's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Albert working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse lands a nice shot to the head.
Shouse takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Albert is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shouse is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Albert is in real trouble.
Shouse controls the position.
Shouse seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Albert for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shouse is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Shouse gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Shouse gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Shouse apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shouse moves into range and clinches up with Albert.
Shouse displaying some good clinch control by pressing Albert up against the cage.
Shouse pushes Albert back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Albert is working for takedown but Shouse is calmly controlling the position for now.
Joshua Shouse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Albert.

Shouse jumps into guard, dragging Albert to the mat.

Shouse had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Albert defends it easily.
Albert preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shouse has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Shouse looking for a sweep. Not yet Shouse , not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Albert throws a big elbow that misses.
Shouse is pulling down on Albert's head to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Joshua Shouse has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Albert lands with a slapping head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Shouse dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Shouse closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Albert to the mat! Albert manages to get full guard.

Albert has his foot on Shouse 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shouse works his way back into a safe position though.
Shouse sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Albert's guard.

Shouse decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Albert shoots for a double leg takedown but Shouse sprawls well. He's pushed Albert's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Albert fails with the takedown

and Shouse holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Shouse has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Albert uses from the top position.

Shouse is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Albert frees his head nicely. Oh but Shouse has switched to an armbar! Albert is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Joshua Shouse !