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WP 12 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 46 wins and 23 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 26 wins and 33 losses; Billy Turturro!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, John Kavanagh and Chad Campbell.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Turturro
Turturro is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Turturro wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
Turturro is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Turturro defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turturro wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Turturro gets back to full guard.
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.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Turturro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Turturro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin passes Turturro's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Turturro moves into full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turturro wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Merlin forces his way into half guard.
Turturro is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Turturro tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Merlin has advanced to mount. Uh oh. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Turturro
Turturro is trying desperately to improve position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turturro regains half guard.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Turturro is defending the position.
Merlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Turturro is working away.
Turturro tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Turturro defending well.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Turturro looking for submissions off his back.
Turturro is trying to get back to full guard.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Turturro is defending well.
Turturro slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Merlin trying to control the action but Turturro is working from the bottom.
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Turturro defends it.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Turturro has a hand on Merlin's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Merlin takes advantage of the position though and mounts him! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (0) Turturro
Turturro tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Turturro is looking to escape.
Turturro is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Merlin tries to control but Turturro wriggling away.
Turturro is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
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 is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Turturro is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Turturro is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Turturro tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Turturro can't escape the position.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Turturro tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Merlin trying to control but Turturro is having none of it.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Merlin looking to control but Turturro is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Turturro is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Turturro is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Turturro is squirming around nicely.
Turturro wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Turturro is trying to escape the mount.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Merlin tries to control but Turturro wriggling away.
Turturro really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Turturro keeps trying to improve his position.
Turturro sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Merlin uses his free foot to push down on Turturro's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Turturro. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (11) vs (0) Turturro
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Turturro is squirming around nicely.
Merlin wants to control but Turturro has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Turturro wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 11 to 0.
During a confident post fight interview, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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