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). This should be fireworks!

Shouse
vs
Ferguson

162 cm
24
116 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

165 cm
29
128 lbs
20 - 16 - 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 15 - 16 - 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 20 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shouse fails in his attempt to clinch.

Shouse closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ferguson quickly recovers to half guard.
Shouse trying to control the action but Ferguson is working from the bottom.
Ferguson is trying to maintain the position but Shouse is very close to passing his half guard.

Shouse is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ferguson defends it well.
Shouse not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shouse scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Shouse wants to stand up but Ferguson is controlling the position.
Shouse knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ferguson on the ground.
Shouse missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse trying to control from half guard but Ferguson is working away.
Shouse seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Ferguson looking for submissions off his back.
Shouse seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ferguson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shouse throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ferguson pushes Shouse off looking to stand but Shouse dives back in and keeps control.
Shouse keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shouse is trying to control. Ferguson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Joshua Shouse has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shouse is looking to clinch but Ferguson is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shouse shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ferguson controlling the position well.

Ferguson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ferguson is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shouse is looking to take a break and control but Ferguson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ferguson trying to hold on to Shouse 's head to control him but Shouse postures up.

Shouse decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Shouse fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ferguson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shouse wants to clinch.

Shouse scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shouse scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ferguson tries to get to full guard but Shouse has control of the leg.
Ferguson is refusing to be controlled, as Shouse sits in half guard.
Shouse is figuring out what he wants to do next.
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!
Shouse is stalling here. Ferguson is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Shouse seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ferguson has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ferguson tries to stand but Shouse is controlling his head.
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!

Ferguson doesn't manage to clinch there - Shouse circles away.

Shouse feints and as Ferguson raises his hands in defense, Shouse changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shouse pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ferguson is keeping the position for now.
Shouse is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shouse wants to stand but Ferguson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Shouse stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ferguson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shouse would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ferguson is trying to keep Shouse in close.
Ferguson keeping full guard, as Shouse tries to pass.
Shouse is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ferguson on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A combination from Ferguson does no damage.
Shouse misses with a head kick.
Shouse keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shouse leaves Ferguson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ferguson is pressed up against the cage. Shouse has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ferguson down to the mat. Ferguson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Horrible takedown by Ferguson or perhaps it was just good defense by Shouse which made him look bad.
Joshua Shouse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Ferguson.
Ferguson fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse shoots for a double leg takedown but Ferguson sprawls well. He's pushed Shouse 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ferguson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ferguson feints and then cracks Shouse 's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Shouse down.

Shouse scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Shouse scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ferguson to see if he's OK.
Shouse creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Ferguson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Shouse throws an elbow but Ferguson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Shouse tries to move to full mount but Ferguson actually manages to regain half guard.
Ferguson is trying to stand up here but Shouse is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shouse has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Ferguson works to full guard.
Shouse prevents Ferguson from getting back to his feet.
Shouse has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shouse trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ferguson keeping full guard, as Shouse tries to pass.
Shouse trying to control but Ferguson is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shouse in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Shouse dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Shouse throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ferguson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shouse is in Ferguson's guard.
Shouse trying to control the position from guard on top but Ferguson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shouse stops Ferguson from standing up.

Shouse gets to his feet. Ferguson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shouse .
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.

Ferguson moves into range and clinches up with Shouse .
Shouse is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ferguson is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shouse has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ferguson regains guard immediately.
Shouse is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shouse wants to control from the top but Ferguson keeps moving.
Ferguson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shouse is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joshua Shouse just wasn't active enough.
Shouse throws a head kick that misses
and Ferguson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Joshua Shouse is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ferguson wants to clinch up but Shouse keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Ferguson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Shouse controlling the position well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ferguson stops Shouse from getting back to his feet.
Shouse is controlling Ferguson's trapped leg to prevent Ferguson from advancing to side control.
Shouse is trying to stand.

Shouse looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse is staying active underneath Ferguson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ferguson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Shouse on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shouse tries to get out of the position.
Shouse is looking to control Ferguson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shouse avoid being mounted?
Shouse is looking to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Shouse wants to clinch.
Shouse swinging wildly here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shouse sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ferguson somewhat.
Shouse is looking to clinch.
Ferguson tries to clinch but Shouse moves out of range.
Shouse takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Shouse shoots in for a takedown but Ferguson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ferguson dodges the punch combination from Shouse .
Shouse tries to land a leg kick but Ferguson saw it coming and moves away.

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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

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