PBP Commentary

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

Shouse
vs
Bryan

162 cm
34
116 lbs
32 - 37 - 1

179 cm
31
135 lbs
29 - 12 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite 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 32 - 37 - 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 29 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Bryan!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shouse leaves Bryan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bryan throws a nice looking combination but Shouse bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Shouse tries to counter by clinching up but Bryan breaks away and moves out of range.

Bryan tries to sprawl but Shouse drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Well, if Shouse is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Bryan misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bryan is looking for a sweep. Shouse is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryan wants to get back to his feet.
Shouse controlling the pace.
Bryan is positioning himself well to prevent Shouse advancing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shouse with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Shouse prevents Bryan from improving his position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bryan is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Shouse throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bryan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Shouse is in Bryan's guard.

Bryan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bryan is on top in guard.
Shouse managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan pushing down on Shouse 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Bryan 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bryan in particular looking to stall.
Bryan is keen to just control but Shouse is a slippery customer.
Shouse is controlling Bryan's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Shouse trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is looking to take a break and control but Shouse is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bryan scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Bryan is looking for a kimura but Shouse is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bryan to get the leverage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bryan lands with a punch from half guard.
Bryan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bryan wants to pass to mount but Shouse is defending the position.
Shouse is refusing to be controlled, as Bryan sits in half guard.
Shouse is trying to maintain the position but Bryan is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shouse is defended easily by Bryan.

Shouse has managed to clinch.

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

Shouse closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bryan's guard.

Bryan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bryan stuffs the takedown attempt from Shouse . Shouse gets slowly back to his feet.

Shouse instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joshua Shouse will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shouse gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shouse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bryan walks away with a smile on his face. Shouse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Shouse shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bryan as he jumps to the side.
Bryan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Shouse was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bryan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joshua Shouse . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bryan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Daniel Bryan has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shouse trying to control but Bryan postures up.
Bryan wants to pass the guard but Shouse is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan is keen to just control but Shouse is a slippery customer.
Bryan tries to pass to full mount but Shouse defends it.

Bryan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Shouse tries to roll over but Bryan keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bryan lands strikes from half guard.
Bryan slips a nice elbow through Shouse 's hands, connecting with Shouse 's forehead.
Shouse might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bryan tries to stand but can't do so whilst Shouse controls his leg.
Shouse is staying active underneath Bryan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Shouse is looking to control Bryan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Shouse avoid being mounted?
Bryan wants to stand but Shouse has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Shouse trying to control here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shouse fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Shouse sets himself, and Bryan steps forward looking for the clinch! Shouse avoids it this time.
Shouse shoots in looking for a takedown. Bryan tries to sprawl out of it but Shouse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bryan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bryan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shouse defends well and Bryan ends up having to push Shouse into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bryan tries to clinch but Shouse is having none of it.
Nice sprawl there from Bryan as Shouse shoots in.
Bryan misses with a double jab

and Shouse counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shouse .
Shouse 's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Shouse breaks from the clinch.

Shouse gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Shouse successfully pulls guard.
Shouse wants to sweep here but Bryan controlling him for the moment.
Shouse working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bryan.
Shouse not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shouse keeping moving, preventing Bryan from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bryan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Shouse swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Daniel Bryan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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 pushes Bryan up against the cage in a clinch.

Shouse works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Bryan scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Shouse connects with an inside leg kick.
Bryan tries for a takedown but Shouse circles away easily
and Shouse counters with a three punch combo that has Bryan backing up. Bryan nods at Shouse to acknowledge the strikes.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Shouse !
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shouse stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Shouse wants it to stay on the feet.
Bryan shoots in for a takedown but Shouse shows good takedown defense.
Joshua Shouse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daniel Bryan.
Shouse slips under a jab.
Shouse misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shouse gets a clinch.
Bryan jumps guard but Shouse stands there with Bryan around his waist. Bryan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Shouse slowing the pace effectively.

Shouse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bryan darts in looking for a takedown but Shouse gets double underhooks and turns Bryan into the cage.
Bryan goes for a double leg but Shouse avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shouse continues to drive forward.
Shouse tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Bryan manages to circle out of the way.
Bryan avoids the head kick by Shouse .

Shouse has taken the fight to the clinch.

Shouse pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bryan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Shouse cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bryan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shouse sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Shouse tries to counter with a takedown but Bryan is quick to defend against it.
Shouse closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bryan circles away.
Bryan only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Shouse forces Bryan back against the cage and clinches.
Shouse creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Bryan's defenses.

Shouse breaks the clinch.
Shouse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bryan pinned against the cage. Bryan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bryan wants to counter with a clinch but Shouse pushes him away.
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 moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Shouse .
Shouse scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bryan doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Shouse counters by clinching up.
Shouse drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bryan gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shouse creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bryan can't break the clinch.
Shouse keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bryan's efforts to push away.
Bryan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Shouse .

Shouse breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shouse throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bryan's waist but Bryan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shouse off to one side.
Bryan fails with the takedown.
As Bryan tries to get set, Shouse tries to push him back and clinch up but Bryan manages to avoid the attempt.
Shouse throws a sloppy head kick and Bryan moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bryan enables Shouse to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bryan manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Shouse is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Shouse knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bryan on the ground.

Bryan scrambles and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Shouse showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shouse has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Shouse !
In defeat, Daniel Bryan stepped up to the mic, saying 'NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!'.