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CWC 281 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 6 losses; Mark Merel! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 7 wins and 10 losses; Eduardo Cunha!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Matheus Silva and Paulo Santos.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Cunha closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Merel quickly recovers to half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merel (0) vs (2) Cunha
Cunha is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Merel sees it coming and defends easily.
Cunha trying to advance position but Merel counters by regaining guard.
Merel keeping full guard, as Cunha tries to pass.
Merel keeping moving, preventing Cunha from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cunha is looking to pass into half guard but Merel pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Merel is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merel (2) vs (2) Cunha
That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunha has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Merel has passed into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merel (5) vs (2) Cunha
Merel tries to move to mount but Cunha blocks the move with his legs.
Merel gets to mount! Cunha was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merel (7) vs (2) Cunha
Merel controlling the pace for now.
Cunha can't escape the position.
Cunha wants to hold on but Merel pushes him away.
Merel trying to control but Cunha is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunha tries to reverse the position but Merel maintains control.
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 pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Cunha really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Cunha is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merel tries to control but Cunha wriggling away.
Cunha regains half guard.
Cunha is trying to maintain the position but Merel is very close to passing his half guard.
Cunha is looking to improve his position.
Merel is thwarting Cunha's attempts to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunha tries to get to full guard but Merel has control of the leg.
Cunha is trying to control but can't.
Merel wants to control but Cunha is keeping him busy.
Cunha is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merel's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merel (7) vs (6) Cunha
Merel trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cunha is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Merel defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Our spies down at at Kalashnikov ELITE MMA Gym inform us that Cunha has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Merel is having to fend off submission attempts from Cunha, who is looking to sink in the choke. Cunha doesn't have the hooks in though and Merel manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merel (9) vs (6) Cunha
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cunha wants to sweep but no luck.
Merel is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cunha not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merel trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merel passes Cunha's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cunha looking for submissions off his back.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Cunha tries to get to full guard but Merel has control of the leg.
Merel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cunha doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Merel.
Cunha has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merel is working away from the top position though.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cunha manages to get to full guard.
Cunha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cunha wants to improve his position but instead Merel has moved into half guard.
Cunha is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Merel jumps into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merel (12) vs (6) Cunha
Cunha is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Cunha tries to roll over but Merel keeps him under control.
Merel passes into side control, despite Cunha's attempt to control the position.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merel (15) vs (6) Cunha
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merel goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cunha has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Merel but great work by Cunha. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merel (15) vs (10) Cunha
Cunha wants to control but Merel is keeping him busy.
Cunha thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Merel controls the position for a moment.
Merel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cunha wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Cunha is looking to take a break and control but Merel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Merel can't do much from the bottom here.
Cunha wants to control but Merel is keeping him busy.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Cunha in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Cunha wants to control but Merel is keeping him busy.
Cunha goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Merel rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Cunha's guard! Nice work there by Merel! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merel (17) vs (10) Cunha
Cunha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Cunha working a defensive guard here.
Merel wants to pass the guard but Cunha is keeping the position.
Cunha has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Merel has passed into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merel (20) vs (10) Cunha
Cunha tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merel (22) vs (10) Cunha
Cunha is trying desperately to improve position.
Cunha is still trying to improve position.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Cunha tries to improve his position but Merel has taken his back! Merel has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Cunha tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Merel pushes Cunha away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 12:28 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mark Merel!
A victorious Mark Merel thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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