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WP 31 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 56 wins and 32 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 11 wins and 28 losses; David McDonald!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
McDonald closes the distance and clinches up with Merlin, looking for a takedown. McDonald pushes Merlin against the ropes but Merlin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by McDonald or perhaps it was just good defense by Merlin, which made it look bad.
Merlin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) McDonald
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
McDonald trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
McDonald won't allow Merlin to sweep him here.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin controls McDonald momentarily but McDonald frees himself.
McDonald controls from within his opponent's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Merlin is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) McDonald
Merlin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McDonald is keeping the position for now.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control the position.
McDonald keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
McDonald looking to control.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but McDonald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McDonald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McDonald's guard.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (2) McDonald
Merlin wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.
McDonald prevents Merlin from moving into mount.
Merlin trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but McDonald is defending the position.
McDonald is trying to control but can't.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McDonald does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can McDonald avoid being mounted?
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
McDonald manages to get to full guard.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control the position here.
McDonald controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but McDonald is keeping the position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin postures up.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin content to stall in guard here.
McDonald pulls Merlin in to control the position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Merlin trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
McDonald 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.
McDonald throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Merlin escapes and throws McDonald's legs to the side, diving into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (2) McDonald
McDonald gets back to half guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Merlin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
McDonald keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the pace.
McDonald is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Merlin jumps into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (11) vs (2) McDonald
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
McDonald looking for a sweep but Merlin has passed into full mount! Oh no! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (13) vs (2) McDonald
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McDonald is looking to escape.
McDonald is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
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.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merlin controlling from mount.
McDonald is trying to escape the mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McDonald is looking to escape.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 13 to 2.
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.
The defeated David McDonald had this to say: 'Fall down seven times, get up eight.'. |
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