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CWC HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1 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 28 wins and 15 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 80 wins and 40 losses; Matvey Pavlov!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Pavlov drives through with a takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) Pavlov
Pavlov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Pavlov keeps trying to improve his position.
Pavlov is still trying to improve position.
Pavlov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Let's hope that Pavlov 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've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pavlov stopping the sweep attempt from Merlin.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin being controlled here, momentarily.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Pavlov tries to pass.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin being controlled here, momentarily.
Pavlov forces his way into half guard.
Pavlov not doing much here.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Pavlov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Merlin keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pavlov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Pavlov wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Pavlov.
Merlin trying to control here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pavlov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pavlov trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin wants to improve his position but Pavlov is controlling well.
Pavlov is pressing down on Merlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merlin is holding on for now.
Pavlov content to control rather than advance.
Pavlov wants to take a breather but Merlin is having none of it.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov is looking for a kimura here.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
Merlin keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Pavlov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
Pavlov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pavlov wants to free his trapped foot but Merlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pavlov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
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 tries to get to full guard but Pavlov has control of the leg.
Pavlov wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
Merlin trying to control here.
Pavlov is taking a breather. Merlin 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.
Merlin gets full guard.
Pavlov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Pavlov.
Pavlov preventing the sweep.
Pavlov 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.
Pavlov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Pavlov from controlling successfully.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin pulls Pavlov in to control the position.
Pavlov looking to pass the guard.
Pavlov won't allow Merlin to sweep him here.
Pavlov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pavlov content to stall in guard here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Pavlov from controlling successfully.
Pavlov controlling from the top position.
Pavlov passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (0) vs (5) Pavlov
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov controls the position.
Pavlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
Merlin is trying to get back to half guard.
Merlin struggling a bit here.
Pavlov wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
Pavlov controlling from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
Pavlov just content to control the position.
Merlin can't do much from the bottom here.
Pavlov slows the pace down.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Pavlov trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Pavlov just content to control the position.
Pavlov trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pavlov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that's the end of the fight!
Pavlov wins on points by 5 to 0.
Matvey Pavlov is the new lightweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Matvey Pavlov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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