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CWC 329 - Tokyo 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 Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 18 wins and 19 losses; Bazar Al Jhit! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 28 wins and 16 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Shigeki Sano and Yasuomi Hirokawa.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Merlin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure! Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Al Jhit (0) vs (4) Merlin
Al Jhit has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Al Jhit tries to buck Merlin off but Merlin is having none of it.
Al Jhit is trying to control Merlin's posture but Merlin avoids it.
Merlin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at KFA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Al Jhit is looking for a sweep.
Al Jhit gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Al Jhit slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Jhit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Al Jhit is keeping the position for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from the top position.
Al Jhit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Al Jhit not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Jhit working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Merlin has passed into half guard!
Merlin prevents Al Jhit from improving his position.
Al Jhit has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merlin is working away from the top position though.
Merlin wants to control but Al Jhit is keeping him busy.
Merlin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Al Jhit gets full guard.
Al Jhit wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Al Jhit wants to improve his position but instead Merlin has moved into half guard.
Al Jhit is looking to improve his position.
Merlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Let's hope that Merlin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin works his way into full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Al Jhit (0) vs (7) Merlin
Al Jhit tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Al Jhit is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Al Jhit gets back to half guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Al Jhit tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Al Jhit defending well.
Al Jhit is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Al Jhit moves into full guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Al Jhit 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: Al Jhit (2) vs (7) Merlin
Al Jhit looking to pass the guard.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Al Jhit from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Al Jhit trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Al Jhit is working hard here to advance position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Al Jhit trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al Jhit slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Al Jhit (5) vs (7) Merlin
Merlin is looking to reverse the position.
Al Jhit working away.
Al Jhit is trying to get an arm triangle but Merlin is defending well.
Al Jhit thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Al Jhit tries to advance to mount but Merlin denies him.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Al Jhit wants to free his trapped foot but Merlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Al Jhit seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Merlin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Al Jhit sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Merlin wants to get back to full guard but Al Jhit has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Al Jhit (8) vs (7) Merlin
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Al Jhit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Merlin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Al Jhit is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Al Jhit passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Merlin! Score +2 for reaching mount: Al Jhit (10) vs (7) Merlin
Al Jhit jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Merlin is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Merlin and Al Jhit has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Al Jhit tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin regains half guard.
Merlin trying to control but Al Jhit postures up.
Al Jhit is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Al Jhit is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Merlin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Al Jhit tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Al Jhit is controlling the pace.
Al Jhit is trying to control the action in half guard but Merlin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Al Jhit wants to free his trapped foot but Merlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Merlin makes his way to full guard, as Al Jhit worked for a kimura.
Al Jhit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Al Jhit is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Merlin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Al Jhit tries to pass.
Merlin controls Al Jhit momentarily but Al Jhit frees himself.
Al Jhit tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Al Jhit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Al Jhit trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al Jhit looking to pass the guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Al Jhit takes the fight on points by 10 to 7.
After winning the bout, Bazar Al Jhit thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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