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CWC 284 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the middleweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 13 wins and 14 losses; Raul Gracie! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 2 wins and 6 losses; Mark Merel!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Emerson Jorge and Edson Gomes.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merel shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gracie is trying to defend but Merel finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Gracie (0) vs (2) Merel
Gracie's coaches at Broken Dragon Rhythm Arts (HQ) 🔥🔥🔥 have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Gracie is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merel works his way into full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (0) vs (5) Merel
Merel fails to advance to Gracie's back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merel looking for a guillotine from mount but Gracie is having none of it.
Gracie is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to get to half guard.
Merel is looking to work his way around to Gracie's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Merel wants to control the pace but Gracie is squirming around nicely.
Gracie really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Merel seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Gracie is holding on tight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merel swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Gracie is now in Merel's guard. A big mistake from Merel there, giving up the dominant position! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Gracie (2) vs (5) Merel
Gracie controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merel trying to control the position here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to sit in guard and control but Merel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Gracie (2) vs (7) Merel
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Gracie has his hands on Merel's head, controlling the position.
Merel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position here.
Gracie wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Merel is now in half guard.
Gracie preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Gracie wants to control but Merel is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merel trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Gracie has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merel is working away from the top position though.
Gracie wants to control but Merel passes into side.
Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (2) vs (10) Merel
Gracie tries to improve position but can't.
Gracie trying to control but Merel flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back! Score +3 for taking back: Gracie (2) vs (13) Merel
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merel is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.
Merel looking for the RNC.
Gracie breaks Merel's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Gracie (4) vs (13) Merel
Merel keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
Gracie advances to half guard.
Gracie content to control rather than advance.
Merel wants to get back to full guard but Gracie has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Gracie (7) vs (13) Merel
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie taking a break here but Merel is having none of it and regains half guard.
Gracie slows the pace down in half guard.
Merel tries to get to full guard but Gracie has control of the leg.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Merel defends it.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Gracie is keen to just control but Merel is a slippery customer.
Merel trying to control from the bottom.
Gracie trying to mount his opponent but Merel defends it.
Still in half guard, Gracie seems content to control.
Merel has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gracie is working away from the top position though.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Merel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gracie is stalling here. Merel is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gracie seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Merel has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Gracie (7) vs (17) Merel
Gracie trying to control but Merel flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back! Score +3 for taking back: Gracie (7) vs (20) Merel
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control his opponent's hands but Merel gets his hands free.
My spies in Golden Harvest inform me that Merel has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Merel is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Gracie is defending well though. Merel let's go of the attempt for now.
Gracie looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Merel working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Gracie is holding onto Merel's left hand, preventing any choke attempts.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merel wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy.
Merel is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.
Merel not allowing Gracie to control his hands.
Merel is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gracie has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Gracie wants to escape the position.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merel trying to control momentarily.
Gracie just trying to survive but Merel is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Merel is looking for the choke from the back position but Gracie is controlling his hands well.
Merel not allowing Gracie to control his hands.
Gracie turns into Merel and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Gracie (9) vs (20) Merel
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merel keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Merel is keeping the position.
Merel pulls Gracie in close to his closed guard and prevents Gracie from doing any damage or advancing position.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Merel is retaining full guard.
Gracie passes Merel's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gracie wants to control but Merel is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merel controlling the position for now.
Well, if Gracie 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.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merel wins on points by 20 to 9.
Mark Merel seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website. |
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