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WPGC 9 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 34 wins and 20 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 5 losses; Jacque Joteel!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Thiago Cunha.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Joteel tries to clinch there but Merlin circles away.
Merlin feinted with a counter takedown.
Joteel drives through and clinches with Merlin against the cage.
Merlin is working for takedown but Joteel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Merlin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Joteel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Merlin ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Merlin no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Joteel wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Merlin seems keen to control Joteel's posture.
Joteel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Joteel is looking to advance position but Merlin has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (4) vs (0) Joteel
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Joteel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (2) Joteel
Joteel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
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.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Joteel tries to pass.
Merlin pulls Joteel in close to prevent any damage.
Joteel wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Joteel preventing the sweep.
Joteel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joteel trying to move into half guard but instead Merlin has managed to sweep! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (6) vs (2) Joteel
Joteel 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 wants to pass the guard but Joteel is keeping the position.
Joteel is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Joteel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Joteel.
Joteel trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Joteel is keeping the position.
Joteel wants to sweep but no luck.
Joteel working for a triangle but Merlin defends it easily.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Joteel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joteel being controlled here, momentarily.
Merlin passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (9) vs (2) Joteel
Joteel manages to work his way to half guard, despite Merlin's best efforts.
Joteel 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 (9) vs (6) Joteel
Joteel just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Joteel doesn't have the hooks in and Merlin manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (11) vs (6) Joteel
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin pushes down on Joteel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Joteel is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Joteel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joteel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Merlin passes into half guard.
Joteel is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Merlin jumps into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (14) vs (6) Joteel
Merlin advances to mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (16) vs (6) Joteel
We've been informed that Joteel has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Joteel bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (16) vs (8) Joteel
Joteel is stalling in the full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin pulls Joteel in close to prevent any damage.
Joteel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Merlin dives on top into guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (18) vs (8) Joteel
Joteel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (21) vs (8) Joteel
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin taking a breather here.
Joteel prevents Merlin from improving position.
Joteel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Merlin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Merlin advances to full mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (23) vs (8) Joteel
Joteel wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Joteel gets back to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Merlin moves into full mount! Joteel won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (26) vs (8) Joteel
Joteel is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Joteel is trying desperately to improve position.
Merlin tries to control but Joteel wriggling away.
Joteel really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from mount.
Joteel is working to get back to half guard.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Joteel working to try and regain half guard.
Joteel tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Joteel regains half guard.
Joteel wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin passes into side control, despite Joteel's attempt to control the position.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (29) vs (8) Joteel
Joteel is trying to escape the position but Merlin is controlling the position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin gets to mount! Joteel was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (31) vs (8) Joteel
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Joteel is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Joteel tries to improve his position but Merlin has taken his back! Merlin has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Joteel tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Merlin pushes Joteel away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 12:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Xavier Merlin!
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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