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WP 15 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 48 wins and 24 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 20 wins and 22 losses; Long Wang!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Wang shoots in for a takedown but Merlin shows good takedown defense.
Wang clinches with his opponent.
Merlin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Wang regains guard.
Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Wang
Merlin won't allow Wang to sweep him here.
Wang can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merlin controls the pace.
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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Wang is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Wang gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) Wang
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
That's one minute 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 Wang's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (2) Wang
Wang keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Wang looking for a sweep. Not yet Wang, not yet.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merlin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Wang's guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wang looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Wang tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
Wang wants to sweep but Merlin has passed to side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (2) Wang
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control but Wang is keeping him busy.
Wang looking for a sweep but Merlin has passed into full mount! Oh no! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (9) vs (2) Wang
Wang regains half guard.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wang knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wang 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. Wang wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merlin moves into full mount! Wang won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (12) vs (2) Wang
Wang is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wang is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Merlin is staying active.
Wang is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Wang wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin trying to control but Wang is having none of it.
Wang gets back to half guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wang regains full guard. Nicely done.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Wang is retaining full guard.
Wang trying to control the position.
Wang looking for a guillotine here but Merlin defends easily.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Wang gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (12) vs (4) Wang
Wang wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wang drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Merlin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Wang has Merlin in his guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (14) vs (4) Wang
Merlin won't allow Wang to sweep him here.
Wang not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wang has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Merlin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Wang. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (17) vs (4) Wang
Wang is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wang actively working from the bottom here.
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.
Wang tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
Wang looking for submissions off his back.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Wang is working away.
Wang is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wang avoid being mounted?
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wang wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (20) vs (4) Wang
Wang can't do much from the bottom here.
Wang tries to buck Merlin off but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin wants to control but Wang is keeping him busy.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wang looks to move to half guard but instead Merlin has passed into mount! Damn! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (22) vs (4) Wang
Merlin tries to control but Wang wriggling away.
Wang can't escape the position.
Wang is still trying to improve position.
Wang is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Wang is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Merlin trying to control but Wang is having none of it.
Wang working to try and regain half guard.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wang is looking to escape.
Wang is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control the action but instead Wang gets a body lock and reverses into Merlin's guard! Nice work! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (22) vs (6) Wang
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.
Wang slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (22) vs (9) Wang
Wang swings around for an armbar but Merlin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Wang's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (24) vs (9) Wang
Wang trying to control the position here.
Merlin pushes down on Wang's leg and manages to get into half guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Wang is working away.
Merlin prevents Wang from improving his position.
Wang looking for subs from the bottom but Merlin mounts him! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (27) vs (9) Wang
Wang is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin controlling from mount.
Wang is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Merlin prevents Wang from getting the reversal.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from mount.
Wang working to try and regain half guard.
Merlin looking to control but Wang is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin content just to control the position here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 27 to 9.
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Long Wang spoke after the fight, saying 'No worries. Everyone here knows my opponent has a bad habit of testing positive for PEDs, so I'm sure this fight will soon be ruled a 'No Contest' by the Athletic Commission.'. |
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