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WP 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 43 wins and 23 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 34 wins and 42 losses; Roman Boesku!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Joseph Jones and Chad Campbell.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Boesku quickly recovers to half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Boesku
Merlin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boesku is doing well to control the position and prevent Merlin from advancing to side control.
Merlin is working for a submission of some sort.
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.
Boesku wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boesku moves into full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Boesku is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Boesku is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Boesku pulls Merlin in close to his closed guard and prevents Merlin from doing any damage or advancing position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boesku keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Boesku controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Boesku 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.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Boesku
Boesku is trying to escape the position but Merlin is controlling the position.
Boesku is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
Merlin is pressing down on Boesku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Boesku is holding on for now.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boesku wants to get back to full guard.
Boesku is in trouble now - Merlin has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (0) Boesku
Boesku is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Boesku is looking to get to half guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to control but Boesku wriggling away.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Boesku can't escape the position.
Merlin tries to control but Boesku wriggling away.
Boesku is trying to escape the mount.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Boesku 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 (8) vs (2) Boesku
Boesku engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Boesku wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin pulls Boesku in close to prevent any damage.
Boesku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin is trying to keep Boesku in close.
Boesku slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merlin 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin has control of Boesku's left arm, preventing Boesku from doing any damage.
Boesku is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
My spies in Average Judas Gym inform me that Boesku has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Boesku from controlling successfully.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is adopting a defensive guard.
Boesku wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Boesku controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Boesku's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (10) vs (2) Boesku
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Boesku controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (13) vs (2) Boesku
Boesku can't do much from the bottom here.
Boesku is looking for a sweep.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Merlin trying to control the position but Boesku is working away.
Merlin is really struggling to control Boesku but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Boesku is being controlled here.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin laying and praying for a moment but Boesku takes advantage and regains half guard.
Boesku tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Boesku keeps working.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Boesku knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 13 to 2.
A relieved looking Xavier Merlin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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