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CWC 292 - Las Vegas PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the lightweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 9 wins and 5 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 12 wins and 18 losses; Billy Conforto!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and George Francis.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Conforto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Merlin.
Conforto has closed the distance and engaged Merlin in a clinch.
Merlin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Merlin tries for a takedown but Conforto manages to get underhooks.
Conforto stops a takedown attempt from Merlin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Merlin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conforto is fighting off a takedown attempt but Merlin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Conforto to the mat. Conforto regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Conforto
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Conforto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) Conforto
Conforto trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Conforto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Merlin trying to keep a closed guard but Conforto is proving a slippery customer.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Conforto is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Conforto wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin managing to control the position.
Merlin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conforto is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Merlin pulls Conforto in close to prevent any damage.
Conforto trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin controls Conforto momentarily but Conforto frees himself.
Conforto preventing the sweep.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conforto sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Merlin's guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Merlin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Conforto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Merlin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merlin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Conforto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Conforto's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (6) vs (2) Conforto
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is persistently looking for the submission but Conforto is defending it well.
Conforto is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Merlin gets his way!
Conforto looking very determined here, making life difficult for Merlin.
Conforto fending off the submission attempt from Merlin.
Conforto rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Conforto wants to get back to full guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking for a kimura but Conforto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Merlin to get the leverage.
Conforto is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin moves nicely into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (9) vs (2) Conforto
Merlin tries to move into full mount but can't pass Conforto's legs.
You can see the frustration on Conforto's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Conforto prevents Merlin from moving into mount.
Merlin trying to control the action but Conforto is working from the bottom.
Merlin tries to move into full mount but can't pass Conforto's legs.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Conforto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Conforto is looking to reverse the position.
Conforto keeps trying to improve his position.
Merlin is staying tight to Conforto's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Conforto can't do much from the bottom here.
Merlin trying to control the action but Conforto is working from the bottom.
Conforto is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Conforto is working away.
Merlin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Conforto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merlin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merlin's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (9) vs (6) Conforto
Merlin manages to reverse the position and now he's in Conforto's guard. Nice work there by Merlin.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (11) vs (6) Conforto
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merlin won't allow Conforto to sweep him here.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Conforto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Conforto working a defensive guard but Merlin passes into half guard.
Merlin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Conforto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Conforto with the active half guard here but Merlin passes nicely into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (14) vs (6) Conforto
Conforto regains half guard there - taking advantage of Merlin's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Conforto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merlin pulls his head out easily.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Conforto keeps working.
Merlin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Merlin is trying to control. Conforto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Conforto wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merlin is keen to just control but Conforto is a slippery customer.
Conforto gets full guard.
Merlin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (17) vs (6) Conforto
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Conforto being controlled for a moment.
Merlin gets to mount! Conforto was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (19) vs (6) Conforto
Conforto is trying to escape the mount.
Merlin working for a submission but Conforto is keeping him at bay.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Conforto working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Conforto is having none of it.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Merlin trying to control but Conforto is having none of it.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Conforto is squirming around nicely.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin has hold of Conforto's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Conforto manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Conforto is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Merlin tries to control but Conforto wriggling away.
Conforto is wriggling around trying to escape.
Conforto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Conforto is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Conforto avoid being mounted?
Merlin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Conforto is just riding it out for now. Merlin eventually gives up the hold.
Merlin is looking to stall here but Conforto recovers full guard.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Conforto is retaining full guard.
Merlin advances to half guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Conforto controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Well, if Merlin 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.
Conforto desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Conforto is trying to control but can't.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 19 to 6.
During a confident post fight interview, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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