PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Shouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shouse
vs
Worner

162 cm
29
116 lbs
28 - 25 - 1

170 cm
32
146 lbs
22 - 26 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 28 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joshua Shouse !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Worner!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shouse manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Worner on his heels. He'll look to pass Worner's guard now, I'm sure.
Shouse has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shouse controlling from the top position.
Worner keeping full guard, as Shouse tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shouse throws a big elbow that misses.
Shouse slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Worner is trying to keep Shouse in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Worner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Shouse counters with a nice double leg into side control. Worner won't be happy with that.
Shouse works to advance to full mount. Worner defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Shouse looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Shouse controlling from the full mount.
Shouse has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Shouse landing shots from mount.
Worner sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner is trying to control but can't.
Shouse content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Worner is trying to maintain the position but Shouse is very close to passing his half guard.
Shouse is pressing down on Worner's thigh, looking to free his foot. Worner is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Shouse is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Shouse working Worner over with strikes.
Shouse looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Shouse is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Shouse is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Worner is just riding it out for now. Shouse eventually gives up the hold.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joshua Shouse dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Worner gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Shouse decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Worner's guard.
Shouse is stalling in the full guard.
Shouse wants to pass the guard but Worner is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Shouse lands a couple of digs.

Shouse is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Worner is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Worner has escaped and now he's on top!

Shouse keeping full guard, as Worner tries to pass.
Shouse is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Worner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shouse is keeping the position for now.
Shouse trying to keep a closed guard but Worner is proving a slippery customer.
Shouse wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shouse knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Worner on the ground.
Worner passes into half guard.
Worner is looking to pass Shouse 's guard but actually Shouse recovers to full guard.
Shouse looking for a sweep. Not yet Shouse , not yet.
Worner looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shouse is pulling down on Worner's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner advances position into side control!
Shouse is trying to control Worner's posture but Worner avoids it.
Worner advances nicely into full mount.

Worner wants to finish this one by submission but Shouse is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Worner.

Worner jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Shouse manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Shouse sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Shouse pushes Worner off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shouse looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Worner trying to hold on to Shouse 's head to control him but Shouse postures up.
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.
Shouse stalling.
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!
Worner is trying to control but can't.
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. This is the final round!

Shouse throws a leg kick but Worner checks it.
Worner fails with the takedown

and Shouse counters with a single leg into guard. Worner didn't expect that.
Shouse slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Shouse wants to pass the guard but Worner is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shouse decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Worner, up you get!
Worner blocks a head kick by Shouse .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner with a poor takedown

and Shouse counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Still in half guard, Shouse seems content to control.
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.

Shouse looking for a submission but Worner manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Worner trying to keep a closed guard but Shouse is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shouse wants to pass the guard but Worner is keeping the position.
Shouse trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shouse sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Shouse clinches.

Shouse has clasped his hands together around Worner's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Shouse wants to lay and pray for a moment but Worner keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Shouse working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shouse creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Worner sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Worner is letting Shouse control him for a moment.
Worner tries to buck Shouse off but Shouse is having none of it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Shouse scoring with punches from side control.
Worner struggling a bit here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Austin Worner 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shouse dodges the punch combination from Worner.

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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:26
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:26

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