|
|
CWC 297 - El Toro vs Silva Jr PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the lightweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 11 wins and 6 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 14 wins and 13 losses; Enzo Salvatore!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Emerson Jorge.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Salvatore closes the distance and pushes Merlin back into the cage.
Merlin wants to take the fight to the mat but Salvatore manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Merlin can't get the takedown.
Salvatore wants a takedown but no success here.
Salvatore wants a takedown but no success here.
Salvatore is trying to trip Merlin. He has hold of a leg but Merlin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Salvatore persists though and gets the takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) Salvatore
Salvatore stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is trying to control the position but Salvatore postures up.
Salvatore not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Merlin controlling Salvatore's posture.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Salvatore drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Merlin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Salvatore has Merlin in his guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) Salvatore
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Salvatore is looking for a triangle but Merlin pushes his legs off easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Salvatore has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Merlin has managed to get both his arms back between Salvatore's legs - danger averted.
Salvatore escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Merlin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Salvatore has his hands on Merlin's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Merlin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
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.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Salvatore keeps moving.
Salvatore is looking for a triangle but Merlin pushes his legs off easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Merlin stands and throws Salvatore's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (2) Salvatore
Salvatore being controlled for a moment.
Salvatore manages to get back to half guard.
Salvatore looking for submissions off his back.
Merlin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin prevents Salvatore from improving his position.
Salvatore actively working from the bottom here.
Merlin is keen to just control but Salvatore is a slippery customer.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Salvatore defending well.
Salvatore is looking to improve his position.
Merlin is trying to control. Salvatore wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Salvatore! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (2) Salvatore
Salvatore working to try and regain half guard.
Merlin trying to control but Salvatore is having none of it.
Salvatore is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Merlin tries to control but Salvatore wriggling away.
Salvatore slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Merlin is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Salvatore as he works his way to full guard.
Merlin trying to control but Salvatore is working from the bottom.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Salvatore is retaining full guard.
Merlin postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salvatore is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Merlin passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (11) vs (2) Salvatore
Merlin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Salvatore! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (13) vs (2) Salvatore
Salvatore is trying desperately to improve position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Salvatore wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Salvatore is squirming around nicely.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Salvatore is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Salvatore wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
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.
Salvatore tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Merlin tries to control but Salvatore wriggling away.
Salvatore tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Salvatore is trying to escape the mount.
Merlin looking to control but Salvatore is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Merlin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Salvatore is looking to escape.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Salvatore can't escape the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Salvatore wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin looking to control but Salvatore is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Salvatore is looking to get to half guard.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Merlin.
Salvatore is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore is still trying to improve position.
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.
Salvatore tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin controlling the pace for now.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Salvatore is looking to escape.
Salvatore is working to get back to half guard.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Salvatore is looking to escape.
Salvatore regains half guard.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salvatore keeps working.
Merlin controlling the action here.
Salvatore is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Salvatore avoid being mounted?
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin slows the pace down in half guard.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Salvatore is having none of it.
Salvatore is trying is best to control the position here.
Salvatore is trying to control but can't.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Salvatore does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merlin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Salvatore! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (16) vs (2) Salvatore
Merlin controlling from mount.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Salvatore is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Salvatore wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Salvatore is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Salvatore tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Salvatore tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 16 to 2.
Our winner, Xavier Merlin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
|
|
|
|
|
