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WP 90 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 50 wins and 58 losses; Strega Notturna! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 91 wins and 54 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Notturna (0) vs (2) Merlin
Notturna wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
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.
Merlin being controlled here momentarily.
We've been hearing good reports from Notturna'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.
Merlin content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Notturna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Notturna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Notturna is controlling Merlin's posture.
Notturna 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Notturna swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Notturna trying to control the position here.
Notturna will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Notturna keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Notturna swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Notturna pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Notturna keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notturna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Merlin being controlled here momentarily.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notturna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Notturna has his hands on Merlin's head, controlling the position.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Merlin is fighting to break Notturna's control of his arms but Notturna is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Notturna is retaining full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Notturna.
Merlin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merlin is fighting to break Notturna's control of his arms but Notturna is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Notturna'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 seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
Merlin is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Notturna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Notturna trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Notturna.
Notturna seems keen to control Merlin's posture.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Notturna is retaining full guard.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Notturna seems keen to control Merlin's posture.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Notturna looking for a sweep. Not yet Notturna, not yet.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Notturna trying to control the position.
Notturna looking for a sweep. Not yet Notturna, not yet.
Notturna is working hard here to advance position.
Notturna wants to improve his position but instead Merlin has moved into half guard.
Merlin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Notturna tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Notturna trying to control from the bottom.
Notturna is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Notturna trying to control here.
Notturna moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Notturna is working from the bottom.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Notturna controlling Merlin's posture.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 2 to 0.
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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