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WP 97 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 31 wins and 63 losses; David McDonald! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 94 wins and 58 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Andrew Berry and William Gold.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
McDonald looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: McDonald (2) vs (0) Merlin
McDonald wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
McDonald is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Merlin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Merlin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McDonald.
We've been hearing good reports from McDonald'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.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is pressing down on McDonald's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Merlin pulls McDonald in to control the position.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Merlin is pulling down on McDonald's head to control his posture.
McDonald is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
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.
McDonald passes Merlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. McDonald is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald wants to pass to mount but Merlin is defending the position.
McDonald wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
Merlin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
McDonald tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merlin wants to improve his position but McDonald is controlling well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with McDonald in particular looking to stall.
McDonald is looking for a kimura here.
Merlin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McDonald is working away from the top position though.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
McDonald seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
McDonald wants to advance to full mount but Merlin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
McDonald controls from within his opponent's guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
McDonald won't allow Merlin to sweep him here.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin can't keep his opponent in guard - McDonald advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
McDonald tries to pass to full mount but Merlin defends it.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is keen to just control but Merlin is a slippery customer.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. McDonald is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin gets back to full guard.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to improve his position but instead McDonald has moved into half guard.
McDonald 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.
McDonald is really struggling to control Merlin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but Merlin defending well.
McDonald wants to advance to full mount but Merlin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Merlin is pulling down on McDonald's head to control his posture.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position here.
McDonald preventing the sweep.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin has control of McDonald's left arm, preventing McDonald from doing any damage.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin pulls McDonald in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin is trying to control the position but McDonald postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
McDonald's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
McDonald looking to sit in guard and control but Merlin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: McDonald (2) vs (2) Merlin
McDonald has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
McDonald working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Merlin has passed into half guard!
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
McDonald wants to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Merlin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
McDonald gets full guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.
Merlin content to stall in guard here.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from McDonald.
McDonald looking for a guillotine here but Merlin defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDonald looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Merlin passes into half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points, we go to a tie breaker and McDonald gets a bonus point for attempting more subs.
McDonald takes the fight on points by 3 to 2.
David McDonald took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview. |
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