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CWC 306 - Sparxx vs Zulu 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 17 wins and 8 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 65 wins and 34 losses; Matvey Pavlov!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paul Aken and Radbod Blank.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Pavlov closes the distance and clinches up with Merlin, looking for a takedown. Pavlov pushes Merlin against the cage but Merlin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pavlov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pavlov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure! Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Merlin (0) vs (4) Pavlov
You can see the frustration on Merlin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pavlov taking a breather here.
Merlin tries to bench press Pavlov off him but Pavlov keeps the position.
Merlin struggling a bit here.
Merlin tries to buck Pavlov off but Pavlov is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pavlov trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pavlov trying to control the pace.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Pavlov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pavlov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Merlin is doing well to control the position and prevent Pavlov from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control here.
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.
Pavlov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merlin is trying to control but can't.
Pavlov is trying to control. Merlin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
My spies in Marty Robbin's Fight Ranch inform me that Pavlov has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Merlin actively working from the bottom here.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
Pavlov uses his free foot to push down on Merlin's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Merlin. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (0) vs (7) Pavlov
Pavlov looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Merlin is working to get back to half guard.
Pavlov controlling from the full mount.
Pavlov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin regains half guard.
Pavlov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Pavlov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin is not content to let Pavlov control the position.
Pavlov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Pavlov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pavlov content to control rather than advance.
Merlin tries to get to full guard but Pavlov has control of the leg.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is refusing to be controlled, as Pavlov sits in half guard.
Merlin wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin is controlling Pavlov's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Well, if Pavlov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Merlin tries to get to full guard but Pavlov has control of the leg.
Pavlov is looking to advance position but Merlin won't allow it.
Pavlov controlling the pace.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov is thwarting Merlin's attempts to control the position.
Pavlov trying to pass the guard but Merlin defending well.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Pavlov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin is refusing to be controlled, as Pavlov sits in half guard.
Pavlov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Pavlov is keen to just control but Merlin is a slippery customer.
Pavlov content to control rather than advance.
Merlin wants to get back to full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Merlin wants to control but Pavlov is keeping busy.
Pavlov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Merlin tries to get to full guard but Pavlov has control of the leg.
Pavlov is keen to just control but Merlin is a slippery customer.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the position well.
Merlin wants to control but Pavlov is keeping busy.
Pavlov controlling the action here.
Merlin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pavlov content to control rather than advance.
It looks like Pavlov 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 ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Pavlov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pavlov wants to pass to mount but Merlin is defending the position.
Pavlov trying to control the pace.
Pavlov passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (0) vs (10) Pavlov
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Merlin is looking to escape.
Pavlov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pavlov wants to control the pace but Merlin is squirming around nicely.
Pavlov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov controlling the position easily from mount.
Pavlov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Pavlov wants to control the pace but Merlin is squirming around nicely.
Pavlov is looking to work his way around to Merlin's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Merlin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov 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 in all sorts of trouble here.
Pavlov trying to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin is looking to improve his position but Pavlov isn't that keen on the idea.
Merlin wants to hold on but Pavlov pushes him away.
Merlin regains half guard.
Merlin tries to roll over but Pavlov keeps him under control.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Pavlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
Pavlov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin is staying active underneath Pavlov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Pavlov wins on points by 10 to 0.
A relieved looking Matvey Pavlov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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