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CWC 299 - Steel vs Merlin 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 Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 25 wins and 19 losses; Bjj Steel! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 13 wins and 6 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Steel (0) vs (2) Merlin
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Steel really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
Steel has his hands clasped together around Merlin's back. He's all about the action.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steel is looking to improve his position.
Merlin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin prevents Steel from improving his position.
Steel is looking to get back to full guard here but Merlin has managed to pass to side control instead. Score +3 for passing guard: Steel (0) vs (5) Merlin
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Steel tries to bench press Merlin off him but Merlin keeps the position.
Steel is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Merlin moves into full mount! Steel won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Steel (0) vs (8) Merlin
Merlin tries to control but Steel wriggling away.
Merlin prevents Steel from getting the reversal.
Merlin controlling from mount.
Steel regains half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel is concentrating on defense, preventing Merlin from advancing position.
Steel is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Steel defends it.
Merlin prevents Steel from improving his position.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Steel defending well.
Steel has his hands clasped together around Merlin's back. He's all about the action.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Merlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Steel knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merlin controlling the action here.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Steel defends it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Steel is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
Merlin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Steel tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
Steel trying to hold on to Merlin's head to control him but Merlin postures up.
Steel tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
Steel is trying to control but can't.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Steel gets back to full guard.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Steel being controlled here, momentarily.
Steel not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merlin won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Merlin drops back looking for a leg! Steel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Steel manages to kick Merlin off! Merlin jumps back into Steel's guard.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Steel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merlin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
It looks like Merlin might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Steel pulls Merlin in close to his closed guard and prevents Merlin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Steel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Steel being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Steel has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
Merlin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Steel looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Steel looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Steel! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Steel (4) vs (8) Merlin
Merlin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Steel trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
Merlin wants to control but Steel postures up.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Merlin is trying to control Steel's posture but Steel avoids it.
Steel advances nicely into full mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Steel (6) vs (8) Merlin
Steel has control of Merlin's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Merlin regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Merlin tries to reverse the position but Steel maintains control.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Steel seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Merlin is holding on tight.
Merlin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Merlin regains half guard.
Merlin keeping hold of Steel's head, controlling as best he can.
Steel is just content to waste time from the top position. Merlin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Merlin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Steel defends well.
Steel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to control but Steel passes into half guard.
Merlin is controlling Steel's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Steel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Steel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Steel doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Steel manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Merlin controls Steel momentarily but Steel frees himself.
Steel looking to pass the guard.
Steel pushes down on Merlin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Steel is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Steel controlling the action here.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Merlin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Steel looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merlin has control of Steel's left arm, preventing Steel from doing any damage.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Steel tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Merlin is pulling down on Steel's head. It's preventing any offense from Steel, at least for the moment.
Steel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Steel stopping the sweep attempt from Merlin.
Steel 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin seems keen to control Steel's posture.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 8 to 6.
Xavier Merlin is the new lightweight champion!
After winning the bout, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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