PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Shouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Wahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joshua Shouse could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to George Wahl 's chin.

Shouse
vs
Wahl

162 cm
25
116 lbs
17 - 18 - 0

167 cm
28
145 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White 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 17 - 18 - 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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Wahl !
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shouse swats away the attempt to clinch by Wahl .
Shouse looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wahl is fending him off so far but Shouse persists. Nope, Wahl circles away and we're back to standing.
Wahl shoots in for a takedown but Shouse shows good takedown defense.

Shouse has closed the distance and engaged Wahl in a clinch.

Shouse has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Wahl is trying to keep an underhook but Shouse manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Shouse looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Shouse is trying to control the action in half guard but Wahl is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wahl wants to get back to full guard but Shouse has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wahl is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Shouse has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Wahl shoots in but no luck this time.

Wahl gets a takedown into half guard.

Shouse looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Shouse looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse is looking to control Wahl 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shouse avoid being mounted?
Wahl landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shouse wants to improve his position but Wahl is controlling well.
Shouse is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Wahl seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Shouse does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Shouse not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shouse preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wahl trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Shouse manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Wahl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Joshua Shouse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Wahl .
Wahl pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wahl wants to clinch

and Shouse counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wahl wants to sweep but Shouse has passed to side control!

Shouse is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Wahl knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Shouse thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shouse throws a strike aimed at the side of Wahl 's head but Wahl avoids it well.
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!

Wahl shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shouse manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shouse throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Shouse pushes Wahl off and scrambles back to his feet.
Shouse shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wahl but Wahl pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shouse tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Shouse fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wahl , pushing him back against the cage.
Wahl is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shouse gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shouse keeps control of Wahl as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wahl is trying to break the clinch but Shouse is controlling him.
Shouse is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shouse manages to pull guard.
Wahl trying to control but Shouse is working from the bottom.
Shouse lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wahl !

Shouse is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Wahl tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Shouse fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wahl tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shouse manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wahl swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Shouse scores with a takedown into Wahl 's guard.
Shouse prevents Wahl from getting back to his feet.
Wahl throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Wahl looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shouse is one step ahead there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shouse slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wahl can't keep his opponent in guard - Shouse advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Joshua Shouse overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Shouse seems content to control.

Shouse stands up out of the half guard.

Shouse closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Shouse has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Wahl !
Wahl is trying to escape the mount.
Wahl really wants to buck Shouse off and get back to his feet.
Shouse controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shouse looking to secure an arm triangle but Wahl defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wahl wants to control but Shouse is having none of it.
Shouse tries to control but Wahl wriggling away.
Wahl tries to hold on but Shouse postures up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wahl is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shouse looks to land a left hand but Wahl moved out of range nicely.
Shouse changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wahl tries to avoid it but Shouse manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wahl to the ground. Wahl escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Shouse shoots in for a takedown but Wahl shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wahl avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wahl throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Shouse shoots in and bounces Wahl off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Wahl being controlled here, momentarily.
Wahl wants to get back to his feet but Shouse is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Shouse seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wahl for as long as he can get away with.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joshua Shouse .
Wahl throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shouse 's waist but Shouse gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wahl off to one side.
Wahl closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shouse circles away.
Wahl shoots for a double leg takedown but Shouse sprawls well. He's pushed Wahl 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joshua Shouse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Wahl .
Wahl tries to clinch up but Shouse circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse misses with a series of wild punches.
Wahl tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shouse swivels and escapes.

Wahl closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Shouse 's guard.
Wahl trying to control but Shouse is working from the bottom.
Wahl must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Wahl takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shouse controls Wahl momentarily but Wahl frees himself.

Shouse working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Wahl doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Wahl manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shouse wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse looking to control.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Shouse here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joshua Shouse .
Wahl pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wahl looks for a takedown but Shouse sprawls well.
Wahl shoots in for a takedown but Shouse shows good takedown defense.
Wahl throws a sloppy head kick and Shouse moves out of range easily.
Shouse throws a wild body kick that Wahl sees coming a mile off.
Wahl tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Shouse counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shouse .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wahl is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Wahl pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Shouse wants the takedown. Wahl is fighting it off but Shouse persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Wahl 's guard against the cage.
Shouse engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Shouse passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wahl seems a little lost for a moment, as Shouse dominates the positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Shouse showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shouse , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

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