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CWC 278 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 Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 5 losses; Mark Merel! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 12 wins and 13 losses; Raul Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Gracie decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merel (0) vs (2) Gracie
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gracie's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Merel holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Merel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie wants to pass the guard but Merel is defending well.
Gracie is taking a breather. Merel 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.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Merel defends it well.
Gracie wants to take a breather but Merel is having none of it.
Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Merel has his hands clasped together around Gracie's back. He's all about the action.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to control the action in half guard but Merel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gracie is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Merel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gracie.
Gracie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is looking to stall here but Merel recovers full guard.
Merel keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is fighting to break Merel's control of his arms but Merel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merel is keeping the position for now.
We've been hearing good reports from Merel'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.
Merel keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie being controlled here momentarily.
Gracie sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Merel's guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gracie seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Merel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Gracie is pressing down on Merel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merel is holding on for now.
Gracie is working for a submission of some sort.
Gracie is looking to stall here but Merel recovers full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Gracie content to stall in guard here.
Merel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Merel is retaining full guard.
Merel has his hands on Gracie's head, controlling the position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
Gracie passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Merel (0) vs (5) Gracie
Gracie has knee on belly momentarily but Merel bucks him off and regains half guard.
Gracie stalling away here and it's allowed Merel to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Merel keeps moving.
Gracie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merel is keeping the position for now.
Gracie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Merel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
My spies in Broken Dragon Rhythm Arts (HQ) 🔥🔥🔥 inform me that Gracie has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merel trying to control the position here.
Gracie looking to pass the guard.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
Merel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merel working a defensive guard here.
Gracie 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.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gracie trying to control but Merel is working from the bottom.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to free his leg and advance position but Merel is retaining full guard.
Gracie stands and throws Merel's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merel (0) vs (8) Gracie
Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Merel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Gracie tries to advance to mount but Merel instead regains half guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Merel sees it coming and defends easily.
Gracie takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Merel has his hands clasped together around Gracie's back. He's all about the action.
Gracie is thwarting Merel's attempts to control the position.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merel is doing well to control the position and prevent Gracie from advancing to side control.
Gracie is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Merel wants to control the action here but instead Gracie manages to pass to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merel (0) vs (11) Gracie
Merel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Gracie fails to move to back control.
Gracie looking to control but Merel is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Gracie working for a guillotine from mount but Merel is in no mood to give up.
Gracie goes for an armbar but Merel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Merel. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merel (2) vs (11) Gracie
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Merel defends it easily.
And that's the end of the fight!
Gracie wins on points by 11 to 2.
A relieved looking Raul Gracie thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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