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CWC 300 - Merlin vs Cubbedge 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 14 wins and 6 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 21 wins and 16 losses; Bart Cubbedge !
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Cubbedge looking to score a takedown here. Merlin is defending well but Cubbedge drives through and ends up in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) Cubbedge
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.
Cubbedge pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Cubbedge trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin is pulling down on Cubbedge 's head. It's preventing any offense from Cubbedge , at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cubbedge looking to pass the guard.
Cubbedge has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at CT. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin working for a triangle but Cubbedge defends it easily.
Cubbedge preventing the sweep.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) Cubbedge
Merlin trying to control but Cubbedge is working from the bottom.
Merlin trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cubbedge manages to land a sweep and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (4) Cubbedge
Merlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cubbedge is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to sweep but instead, Cubbedge has passed into half guard.
Cubbedge controlling the action here.
Merlin keeps control of the position for the meantime.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Cubbedge from controlling successfully.
Cubbedge postures up.
Merlin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cubbedge manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (4) Cubbedge
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Cubbedge is keeping the position.
Cubbedge wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Cubbedge is keeping the position.
Merlin trying to control but Cubbedge is working from the bottom.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Cubbedge is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cubbedge can't keep his opponent in guard - Merlin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Merlin trying to control from Cubbedge 's half guard. Cubbedge has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Merlin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cubbedge 's guard.
Merlin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Cubbedge has managed to free his arm - good work.
Still in half guard, Merlin seems content to control.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Cubbedge is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Merlin is working for a kimura but Cubbedge is defending it quite comfortably.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Cubbedge is working away.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Cubbedge trying to control from the bottom.
Merlin trying to control the action but Cubbedge is working from the bottom.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Cubbedge defending well.
Cubbedge wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
Cubbedge is in trouble now - Merlin has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (4) Cubbedge
Cubbedge tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Cubbedge is squirming around nicely.
Cubbedge sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Merlin passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (10) vs (4) Cubbedge
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cubbedge is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Merlin tries to control but Cubbedge wriggling away.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the pace for now.
Cubbedge is trying desperately to improve position.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cubbedge tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Cubbedge for as long as he can get away with.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Cubbedge is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Cubbedge is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Merlin wants to control the action but instead Cubbedge gets a body lock and reverses into Merlin's guard! Nice work! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (10) vs (6) Cubbedge
Merlin trying to control the position here.
Merlin is trying to keep Cubbedge in close.
Cubbedge avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Cubbedge controlling him for the moment.
Cubbedge wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin working a defensive guard here.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin 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.
Merlin working a defensive guard here.
Cubbedge trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cubbedge preventing the sweep.
Cubbedge trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 10 to 6.
Xavier Merlin retains his lightweight title!
Xavier Merlin decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well. |
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