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CWC 336 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 Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 46 wins and 29 losses; Malaki Fiso! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 36 wins and 20 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Mauricio Rocha.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin tries for a takedown but Fiso sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Fiso (0) vs (2) Merlin
Fiso is concentrating on defense, preventing Merlin from advancing position.
Fiso tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Fiso has his hands clasped together around Merlin's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Fiso won't allow it.
Fiso slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin won't allow Fiso to sweep him here.
Fiso managing to control the position.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fiso swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fiso controlling Merlin's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin won't allow Fiso to sweep him here.
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Merlin won't allow Fiso to sweep him here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fiso is pulling down on Merlin's head. It's preventing any offense from Merlin, at least for the moment.
Fiso 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.
Fiso wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Fiso throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Fiso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin won't allow Fiso to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fiso holds on and takes a little breather.
Fiso wants to sweep but no luck.
Fiso is adopting a defensive guard.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Fiso keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fiso has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
We've been hearing good reports from Fiso'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.
Fiso wants to hit a sweep here but Merlin passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Fiso there! Score +3 for passing guard: Fiso (0) vs (5) Merlin
My spies in KFA inform me that Merlin has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Fiso is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Merlin prevents Fiso from getting the reversal.
Fiso is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to control but Fiso is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fiso tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Fiso regains half guard.
Fiso is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fiso tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Merlin has advanced to mount. Uh oh. Score +3 for passing guard: Fiso (0) vs (8) Merlin
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Fiso tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fiso is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Fiso is working hard here to advance position.
Fiso regains half guard.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Fiso is working away.
Merlin prevents Fiso from improving his position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Fiso moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fiso 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 pushes down on Fiso's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Fiso is looking to improve his position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fiso trying to hold on to Merlin's head to control him but Merlin postures up.
Merlin prevents Fiso from improving his position.
Fiso looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Merlin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fiso tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Fiso is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Fiso tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
Fiso is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Merlin trying to control the pace.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Fiso is defending the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin prevents Fiso from improving his position.
Fiso 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: Fiso (4) vs (8) Merlin
Fiso is trying to stick to Merlin's back but Merlin is turning into Fiso. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Fiso's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Merlin. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Fiso (4) vs (10) Merlin
Merlin passes Fiso's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Merlin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fiso tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Fiso controlling the position well.
Merlin is trying to work for a kimura but Fiso is defending well.
Fiso is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Fiso wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Fiso (4) vs (13) Merlin
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working away.
Fiso 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: Fiso (4) vs (15) Merlin
Fiso is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Fiso holds on, trying desperately to control.
Fiso really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Fiso is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin prevents Fiso from getting the reversal.
Fiso tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Fiso prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Merlin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Fiso regains half guard.
Fiso holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Fiso is looking to improve his position.
Fiso controlling the position for now.
Merlin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Fiso does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merlin prevents Fiso from improving his position.
Fiso is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fiso avoid being mounted?
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 15 to 4.
Our winner, Xavier Merlin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
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