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CWC 324 - Burroughs vs Ramirez 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 24 wins and 15 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 11 wins and 15 losses; Kevin Walters!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and Cecil Peabody.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Walters shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Merlin as he jumps to the side.
Merlin fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Walters to the ground. Merlin is now in Walters's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Walters
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Walters working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Merlin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Merlin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Walters is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Walters throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Merlin escapes and throws Walters's legs to the side, diving into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Walters
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walters manages to get back to half guard.
Merlin is pressing down on Walters's thigh, looking to free his foot. Walters is holding on for now.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Walters is looking to improve his position.
Merlin wants to free his trapped foot but Walters is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Walters actively working from the bottom here.
Merlin trying to control the pace.
Walters looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Walters won't allow it.
Walters actively working from the bottom here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the action here.
Merlin is pressing down on Walters's thigh, looking to free his foot. Walters is holding on for now.
Walters actively working from the bottom here.
Merlin stalling.
Walters is looking to get back to full guard here but Merlin has managed to pass to side control instead. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (0) Walters
Merlin gets to mount! Walters was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (10) vs (0) Walters
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walters regains half guard.
Walters moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walters is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Walters looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Merlin passes into half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walters is looking to improve his position.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Walters is defending the position.
Walters preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Walters trying to hold on to Merlin's head to control him but Merlin postures up.
Walters wants to get back to full guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Walters wants to control but Merlin passes into side.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (13) vs (0) Walters
Walters can't do much from the bottom here.
Walters is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Merlin off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (13) vs (4) Walters
Merlin trying to control but not successfully.
Walters is persistently looking for the submission but Merlin is defending it well.
Merlin trying to control the position but Walters manages to sink in the hooks.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Walters looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Merlin is controlling Walters 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (15) vs (4) Walters
Walters controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Walters looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Walters has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Merlin has passed into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (18) vs (4) Walters
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Walters looks to move to half guard but instead Merlin has passed into mount! Damn! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (20) vs (4) Walters
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Walters tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merlin controlling from mount.
Merlin prevents Walters from getting the reversal.
Walters regains half guard.
Merlin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Walters defending well.
Walters trying to hold on to Merlin's head to control him but Merlin postures up.
Walters is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Walters 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.
Walters is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Merlin defends well.
Walters throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Merlin escapes and throws Walters's legs to the side, diving into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (23) vs (4) Walters
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Walters tries to buck Merlin off but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Walters keeps working.
Walters is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Walters is trying to control Merlin's posture but Merlin avoids it.
Walters is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Merlin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Walters is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Walters does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merlin is thwarting Walters's attempts to control the position.
Walters is looking to improve his position.
Walters is trying to control but can't.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Walters moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Walters looking to control but Merlin passes into half guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Walters wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Walters wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Walters wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Walters looking for submissions off his back.
Walters actively working from the bottom here.
Walters is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merlin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merlin's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (23) vs (8) Walters
Merlin breaks Walters's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (25) vs (8) Walters
Merlin passes Walters's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Merlin passes into side control, despite Walters's attempt to control the position.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (28) vs (8) Walters
Walters is looking for a sweep.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Walters tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Merlin presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (30) vs (8) Walters
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Walters is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Walters is in all sorts of trouble here.
Walters regains half guard.
Merlin prevents Walters from improving his position.
Walters is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Walters is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Walters keeping control of the position.
Merlin not doing much here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Walters tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 30 to 8.
An out of breath Xavier Merlin thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. |
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