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WP 13 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 47 wins and 23 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 15 wins and 17 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Notturna pinned against the ropes. Notturna gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Merlin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Notturna
Notturna wants to get back to full guard.
Notturna is doing well to control the position and prevent Merlin from advancing to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to control but can't.
Notturna wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Notturna
Merlin looking to control but Notturna is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Notturna is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin avoids the attempt from Notturna to control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Notturna is having none of it.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Merlin tries to control but Notturna wriggling away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notturna keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Merlin is stalling here but it's allowed Notturna to get half guard.
Notturna tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Merlin is looking to stall here but Notturna recovers full guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
Notturna has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Notturna is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (5) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin working a defensive guard here.
Merlin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merlin pulls Notturna in to control the position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Notturna wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Notturna wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Notturna sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merlin looking to control.
Notturna trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Merlin is trying to keep Notturna in close.
Notturna wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Notturna looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working a defensive guard but Notturna manages to pass into side control anyway.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (5) Notturna
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
Merlin prevents Notturna from moving into mount.
Notturna tries for a kimura but Merlin is defending well.
Merlin can't do much from the bottom here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Notturna trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Notturna laying and praying for a moment but Merlin takes advantage and regains half guard.
Notturna wants to pass the guard but Merlin is defending well.
Merlin trying to control but Notturna postures up.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to control. Merlin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Merlin is trying to maintain the position but Notturna is very close to passing his half guard.
Notturna is looking for a kimura but Merlin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Notturna to get the leverage.
Merlin wants to get back to full guard but Notturna has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (8) Notturna
Notturna has knee on belly momentarily but Merlin bucks him off and regains half guard.
Merlin regains full guard. Nicely done.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Notturna controlling him for the moment.
Notturna engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Merlin is trying to keep Notturna in close.
And that's the end of the fight!
Notturna wins on points by 8 to 5.
Strega Notturna seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website. |
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