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TWGC 37 (155lbs, D1): Amsterdam Qualifier - Round 1 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 20 wins and 13 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Helsinki, with a TWGC record of 2 wins and 1 losses; Ishmael Egyptian!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Egyptian did well to prevent Merlin getting side control. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Egyptian
Merlin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Egyptian wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Egyptian is defending well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
Egyptian looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Egyptian wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Egyptian defending well.
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Egyptian wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merlin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin is keen to just control but Egyptian is a slippery customer.
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Egyptian defends it.
Egyptian tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Merlin is looking to stall here but Egyptian recovers full guard.
Egyptian keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Merlin passes Egyptian's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Merlin seems content to control.
Egyptian wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
Merlin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian is looking to improve his position.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Egyptian is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Merlin seems content to control.
Egyptian won't allow Merlin to pass to mount.
Merlin passes to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Egyptian
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Egyptian is looking to escape.
Merlin controlling the pace for now.
Merlin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Merlin'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.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin looking to control but Egyptian is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control the action but instead Egyptian gets a body lock and reverses into Merlin's guard! Nice work! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (5) vs (2) Egyptian
Merlin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Merlin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Egyptian looking to pass the guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Egyptian working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Egyptian being controlled here momentarily.
Merlin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working hard here to advance position.
Merlin seems keen to control Egyptian's posture.
Merlin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Egyptian defends it easily.
Egyptian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Merlin working a defensive guard but Egyptian passes into half guard.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control but Egyptian is keeping busy.
Merlin wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Merlin.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Egyptian controlling him for the moment.
Merlin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merlin wants to hit a sweep here but Egyptian passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Merlin there! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (5) Egyptian
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian content just to control the position here.
Merlin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Egyptian wants to control the pace but Merlin is squirming around nicely.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working to try and regain half guard.
Merlin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Merlin is trying to escape the mount.
Merlin tries to hold on but Egyptian postures up.
Egyptian content just to control the position here.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back! Score +3 for taking back: Merlin (5) vs (8) Egyptian
Merlin breaks Egyptian's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (7) vs (8) Egyptian
Egyptian keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Egyptian looking to control.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Egyptian is retaining full guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Egyptian can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merlin controls the pace.
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (10) vs (8) Egyptian
Egyptian prevents Merlin from improving position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 10 to 8.
Our winner, Xavier Merlin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
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