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CWC 298 - Stenberg vs Ottke 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 12 wins and 6 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 18 wins and 13 losses; Koryu Miyagi!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin fails to land the takedown.
Merlin gets a double leg takedown into Miyagi's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Miyagi
Miyagi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Miyagi 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.
Miyagi pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Miyagi wants to sweep but no luck.
Miyagi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Miyagi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Miyagi wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Miyagi is retaining full guard.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Miyagi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miyagi controlling the position.
Merlin has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Miyagi keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Miyagi 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merlin controls the pace.
Miyagi trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Miyagi keeps moving.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Miyagi is keeping the position.
Miyagi is controlling Merlin's posture.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Miyagi pulls Merlin in to control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Miyagi is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
Miyagi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Miyagi
Miyagi is looking to reverse the position.
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Miyagi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Miyagi controlling the position well.
Merlin is taking a breather. Miyagi 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Miyagi is defending well.
Miyagi wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Miyagi is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
Merlin content to control rather than advance.
Miyagi trying to control here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the action here.
Miyagi felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Miyagi keeping control of the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
Miyagi is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Miyagi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merlin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merlin's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (5) vs (4) Miyagi
Miyagi tries to keep control of the position but Merlin is staying busy.
Miyagi biding his time, looking for the opening.
Merlin is trying to break free.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position but Miyagi manages to sink in the hooks.
Miyagi controlling well, preventing Merlin from escaping the position.
Merlin is working hard here to advance position.
Merlin turns into Miyagi and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (7) vs (4) Miyagi
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Miyagi lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (7) vs (6) Miyagi
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi preventing the sweep.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Miyagi from controlling successfully.
Miyagi 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.
Miyagi trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Miyagi is one step ahead there.
Merlin pulls Miyagi in close to prevent any damage.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Merlin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Miyagi stacks Merlin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Miyagi! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (9) Miyagi
Miyagi content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Miyagi working away.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
Miyagi tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Merlin tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Miyagi easily slips into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (7) vs (11) Miyagi
Merlin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Merlin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Merlin tries to hold on but Miyagi pushes him away.
Miyagi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Miyagi has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is squirming around, avoiding Miyagi's attempts to control the action.
Merlin is trying to escape the mount.
Miyagi fails to advance to Merlin's back.
Miyagi content just to control the position here.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (9) vs (11) Miyagi
Miyagi being controlled here, momentarily.
Miyagi is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
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.
Miyagi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Miyagi keeps moving.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (12) vs (11) Miyagi
Miyagi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Merlin seems to be working for a kimura but Miyagi defends the submission attempt.
Miyagi trying to control but Merlin postures up.
Merlin wants to free his trapped foot but Miyagi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Miyagi trying to control but Merlin postures up.
Miyagi works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
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.
Miyagi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin trying to control but Miyagi is working from the bottom.
Merlin passes Miyagi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Miyagi defending well.
Miyagi wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 12 to 11.
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.
Koryu Miyagi spoke after the fight, saying 'Ill train smarter and harder next time, so i come back stronger than ever!'. |
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