|
|
CWC 326 - Amsterdam 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 32 wins and 20 losses; Koryu Miyagi! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 26 wins and 15 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Miyagi moves into the clinch.
Miyagi goes for a takedown in the clinch but Merlin prevents it.
Miyagi is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Merlin can't fight it off and eventually Miyagi manages to take the fight to the floor. Merlin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Miyagi (2) vs (0) Merlin
Merlin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Miyagi has passed into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Miyagi (5) vs (0) Merlin
Merlin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Miyagi tries to move to full mount but Merlin actually manages to regain half guard.
Miyagi sitting and controlling from the half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Miyagi wants to pass the guard but Merlin is defending well.
Miyagi controlling the pace.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to get to full guard but Miyagi has control of the leg.
Miyagi not doing much here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin manages to get to full guard.
Miyagi looking to pass the guard.
Merlin trying to control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merlin has control of Miyagi's left arm, preventing Miyagi from doing any damage.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Miyagi (5) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Miyagi controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Miyagi wants to get back to full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is keen to just control but Miyagi is a slippery customer.
Miyagi wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
Merlin content to control rather than advance.
Miyagi is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Miyagi is trying to control but can't.
Miyagi wants to get back to full guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is controlling the pace.
Merlin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Merlin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at KFA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Miyagi wants to get back to full guard.
Miyagi is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at SSJ Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but Miyagi defends it.
Merlin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Merlin is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Miyagi! Score +3 for passing guard: Miyagi (5) vs (5) Merlin
Merlin avoids the attempt from Miyagi to control.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Miyagi is looking to escape.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Miyagi is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Merlin 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.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to control but Miyagi wriggling away.
Miyagi wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Miyagi holds on for dear life.
Miyagi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Merlin tries to control but Miyagi wriggling away.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Miyagi tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Miyagi is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Miyagi tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin looking to control but Miyagi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points and both fighters attempted the same number of subs, we will decide the bout based on the toss of a coin! Miyagi is heads and Merlin is tails.
The coin is in the air and it lands... tails!
Merlin wins on points by 6 to 5.
Xavier Merlin is the new lightweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Koryu Miyagi was interviewed post fight and said 'Ill train smarter and harder next time, so i come back stronger than ever!'. |
|
|
|
|
|
