PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Austin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Shouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Worner
vs
Shouse

170 cm
29
146 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

162 cm
26
116 lbs
20 - 20 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
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 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Worner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joshua Shouse !
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Worner misses with a two punch combination.
Worner will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Shouse drives through and clinches with Worner against the cage.
Worner is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Worner misses with a short punch on the inside.

Shouse breaks the clinch.
Worner moves to clinch but Shouse breaks away

and Shouse counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shouse .
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shouse looking to pass the guard.
Shouse in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shouse is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Worner wants to sweep here but Shouse controlling him for the moment.
Worner working a defensive guard but Shouse manages to pass into side control anyway.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Shouse tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shouse has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Worner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Shouse tries to move into full mount but can't pass Worner's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shouse decides to stand back up. Shouse steps back and let's Worner get back to his feet.
Worner scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Shouse shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Shouse showed some decent athleticism there.
Shouse stops Worner from getting back to his feet.
Worner is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Shouse scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Worner pushes Shouse off looking to stand but Shouse dives back in and keeps control.
Worner wants to get back to full guard.
Shouse controlling the action here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shouse connects with a nice short shot to Worner's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Worner is trying to stand up here but Shouse is controlling him well.
Shouse keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Worner pushes Shouse off looking to stand but Shouse dives back in and keeps control.

Shouse decides to stand up.
Worner blocks a head kick by Shouse .
Worner moves in looking to clinch but Shouse pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner tries to clinch up.

Shouse looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Shouse tries to free his leg and advance position but Worner is retaining full guard.
Worner controls Shouse momentarily but Shouse frees himself.

Worner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Worner looking for a sweep. Not yet Worner, not yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Shouse accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Shouse dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Shouse clinches up against the cage.

Shouse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Worner tries for a takedown but Shouse circles away easily

and Shouse counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Worner's guard now.

Worner 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.
Worner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shouse is looking to work some ground and pound but Worner has wrist control.
Worner throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Shouse sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Shouse gets to his feet. Worner looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Worner throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse circles away from the clinch attempt.
Shouse throws the left hand but Worner avoids the punch easily.
Worner misses with a takedown attempt

and Shouse counters by clinching up.

Shouse 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Worner looks to land a body kick but Shouse moved away.

Shouse shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Worner napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Worner is looking to regain half guard here but Shouse keeps moving and retains side control.

Shouse decides to stand up, so the ref orders Worner to his feet.

Shouse fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Worner to the ground. Shouse is now in Worner's guard.
Shouse looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Joshua Shouse has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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 lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Shouse not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shouse really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Worner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Worner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Worner is working an open guard so Shouse takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Worner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shouse paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Worner.
Worner throws a sloppy head kick and Shouse moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Shouse as Worner shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Austin Worner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Worner.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Shouse pushes Worner up against the cage in a clinch.

Shouse manages to break the clinch.
Worner gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Shouse counters by moving into the clinch.

Shouse successfully pulls guard.

Shouse has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Worner has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Worner drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shouse gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Shouse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner tries for a takedown but Shouse circles away easily

and Shouse counters by moving into the clinch.

Shouse manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Shouse looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Worner trying to control but Shouse is working from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shouse has a closed guard, preventing Worner from standing up.
Shouse keeping moving, preventing Worner from controlling successfully.
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.
That's time! Worner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shouse clinches up against the cage.

Shouse works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Shouse must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shouse postures up.
Shouse controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Shouse . He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Worner looking to hit a scissor sweep but Shouse is one step ahead there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Shouse controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Joshua Shouse wasn't active enough on the ground.

Shouse drives through with a takedown into Worner's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
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.

Shouse has gone for a leg lock! Worner slips out almost immediately though and dives into Shouse 's guard.
Shouse keeping moving, preventing Worner from controlling successfully.
Worner won't allow Shouse to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shouse looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Shouse throws his legs up looking for a submission but Worner uses it to pass to side control.
Shouse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Worner has an Americana. Shouse didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Worner is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Worner hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Austin Worner!