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TWGC 35 (185lbs, D1): Las Vegas Qualifier - Round 2 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the middleweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 23 wins and 9 losses; Bobby Wangler! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 5 wins and 2 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Alan Glass.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wangler defends well and Merlin ends up having to push Wangler into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Wangler defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Merlin.
Wangler 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: Wangler (2) vs (0) Merlin
Merlin is trying to control the position but Wangler postures up.
Wangler wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Merlin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Wangler defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Merlin is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wangler (2) vs (2) Merlin
We've been hearing good reports from Wangler'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 stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wangler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Wangler is working from the bottom.
Merlin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Merlin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Wangler is retaining full guard.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Wangler keeps moving.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Wangler is keeping the position.
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Wangler (2) vs (5) Merlin
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Wangler is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wangler regains half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Wangler is working away.
Wangler is looking to improve his position.
Merlin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
It looks like Merlin might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin passes to side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Wangler (2) vs (8) Merlin
Wangler is not content to let Merlin control the position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Merlin trying to control the position but Wangler is working away.
Wangler regains half guard there - taking advantage of Merlin's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Merlin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Merlin wants to free his trapped foot but Wangler is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Wangler is working away.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wangler is trying to get back to full guard.
Merlin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wangler is doing well to control the position and prevent Merlin from advancing to side control.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is taking a breather. Wangler says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Merlin wants to control but Wangler is keeping him busy.
Merlin content to control rather than advance.
Wangler wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but Wangler defends it.
Merlin wants to advance to full mount but Wangler doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Wangler has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Wangler (6) vs (8) Merlin
Merlin wants to control but Wangler is having none of it.
Wangler controlling the position easily from mount.
Merlin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Merlin wants to improve his position but Wangler is controlling well.
Merlin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wangler trying to control the pace.
Merlin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Merlin is trying to control the position but Wangler postures up.
Wangler engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Wangler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Wangler's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wangler (6) vs (10) Merlin
Merlin wants to control from the top but Wangler keeps moving.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Wangler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wangler (8) vs (10) Merlin
Merlin looking to control.
Wangler tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Wangler stays in close to Merlin's body and controls the position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is controlling Wangler's posture.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Wangler slips nicely into half guard.
Wangler is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Merlin is trying to control but Wangler manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: Wangler (11) vs (10) Merlin
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control but Wangler is having none of it.
Merlin sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Merlin trying to control here.
Wangler slows the pace down in half guard.
Merlin tries to roll over but Wangler keeps him under control.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wangler's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wangler's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Wangler (11) vs (14) Merlin
Merlin looking to hold on to the position here but Wangler rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Wangler keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wangler is keeping the position for now.
Merlin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
My spies in KFA inform me that Merlin has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Merlin wants to control from the top but Wangler keeps moving.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Wangler is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wangler swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Wangler keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
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.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 14 to 11.
Xavier Merlin decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well. |
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