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WP 11 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 45 wins and 23 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 14 wins and 16 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Yves DeLean and Dillan Fox.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Notturna fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Merlin to the ground. Notturna is now in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Notturna being controlled here momentarily.
Merlin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Notturna trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merlin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Notturna defends well.
Merlin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Notturna preventing the sweep.
Notturna looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Notturna is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notturna trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Notturna wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is stalling in the full guard.
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 looking to control.
Notturna pushing down on Merlin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Notturna controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
Notturna is just content to waste time from the top position. Merlin takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Notturna sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Merlin's guard.
Notturna looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is pressing down on Notturna's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Notturna from controlling successfully.
Merlin being controlled here, momentarily.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Notturna passes Merlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Notturna looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to pass to mount.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Notturna seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Merlin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Notturna is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Notturna is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Merlin reverses the position - he's now on top in Notturna's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) Notturna
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Notturna.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Notturna lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (4) Notturna
Notturna trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (4) Notturna
Notturna desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Notturna wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Notturna keeps working.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merlin is working away from the top position though.
Merlin is trying to control. Notturna wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Notturna controlling the position for now.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Notturna is having none of it.
Notturna is trying to control but can't.
Notturna manages to get to full guard.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Notturna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Merlin stacks Notturna on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Merlin! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (4) Notturna
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Notturna keeps working.
Notturna stops Merlin from passing to mount.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working away.
Notturna is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Notturna regains full guard. Nicely done.
Notturna is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (7) vs (6) Notturna
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Notturna wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 7 to 6.
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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