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TWGC 35 (185lbs, D1): Finals - Round 1 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 New York, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 2 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 5 losses; Muhammad Jabbar!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin misses with a takedown attempt - Jabbar sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Merlin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Merlin (4) vs (0) Jabbar
Merlin trying to control the action but Jabbar is working from the bottom.
Jabbar wants to control but Merlin postures up.
We've been hearing good reports from Merlin'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.
Jabbar stops Merlin from passing to mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jabbar can't do much from the bottom here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Jabbar is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Jabbar stops Merlin from passing to mount.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Jabbar is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jabbar is looking to reverse the position.
Jabbar being controlled for a moment.
Jabbar tries to control but Merlin manages to take his back. Score +3 for taking back: Merlin (7) vs (0) Jabbar
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar is keeping busy.
Merlin is looking for the choke from the back position but Jabbar is controlling his hands well.
Merlin patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Merlin working for the choke.
You can see the frustration on Jabbar's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Merlin controlling the position well here. Jabbar rolled but Merlin kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Jabbar looking very determined here, making life difficult for Merlin.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeps control of the position easily here as Jabbar tries to buck him off.
Merlin is hanging on to Jabbar's back as he tries to escape.
Jabbar is still trying to improve position.
Merlin just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Jabbar is trying to break free.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Merlin has the hooks in. Jabbar is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Jabbar looking very determined here, making life difficult for Merlin.
Merlin controls the action.
Jabbar fending off the submission attempt from Merlin.
Jabbar wants to escape the position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from the back.
Jabbar is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Merlin gets his way!
Good control from Merlin.
Jabbar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Jabbar is trying to get back to full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control but Jabbar is keeping him busy.
Merlin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Jabbar is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jabbar wants to control but Merlin passes into side.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (10) vs (0) Jabbar
Merlin trying to control the position but Jabbar is working away.
Jabbar gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (12) vs (0) Jabbar
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jabbar wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jabbar tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Jabbar is squirming around nicely.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jabbar is trying to escape the mount.
Merlin wants to control but Jabbar has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Jabbar keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Jabbar has his foot on Merlin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Merlin works his way back into a safe position though.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jabbar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin won't allow Jabbar to sweep him here.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Jabbar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Jabbar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (12) vs (2) Jabbar
Jabbar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin looking to control.
Merlin is really struggling to control Jabbar but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Jabbar controlling him for the moment.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar 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.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin controls Jabbar momentarily but Jabbar frees himself.
Merlin being controlled here, momentarily.
Merlin working a defensive guard here.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin managing to control the position.
Jabbar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Jabbar looking to pass the guard.
Jabbar 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.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Jabbar is fighting to break Merlin's control of his arms but Merlin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jabbar is stalling in the full guard.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Jabbar controls from within his opponent's guard.
Merlin has his hands on Jabbar's head, controlling the position.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin 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.
Jabbar sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin is trying to keep Jabbar in close.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 12 to 2.
Xavier Merlin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website. |
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