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WP 20 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 Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 23 wins and 24 losses; Long Wang! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 50 wins and 27 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and Paul Tew.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Wang gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Merlin lands a takedown into guard.
Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Wang (0) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin wants to control from the top but Wang keeps moving.
Wang has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Wang had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Merlin defends it easily.
Wang 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 controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wang has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Merlin has managed to get both his arms back between Wang's legs - danger averted.
Merlin advances to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin wants to free his trapped foot but Wang is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Wang wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin not doing much here.
Wang looking for submissions off his back.
Merlin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at KFA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Wang is trying to get back to full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
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 looking for submissions off his back.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wang knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wang wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang looking for submissions off his back.
Wang is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
Merlin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Wang is having none of it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Merlin escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Merlin! Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (0) vs (5) Merlin
Wang struggling a bit here.
Wang gets back to half guard.
Wang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Wang tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Wang is trying to get back to full guard.
Wang moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wang 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: Wang (2) vs (5) Merlin
Wang 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.
Wang is looking for a kimura here.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wang is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Merlin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wang wants to work for an arm triangle but Merlin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wang is looking for a kimura but Merlin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Wang to get the leverage.
Wang is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wang prevents Merlin from improving his position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wang is looking for a kimura here.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
Merlin is defending against the submission attempts here by Wang.
Wang is looking for a kimura here.
Wang wants to work for an arm triangle but Merlin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wang is working for a submission of some sort.
Merlin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wang slips nicely into half guard.
Wang is working for a submission of some sort.
Merlin is controlling Wang's position as best he can from this difficult position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wang is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Wang is trying to work for a kimura but Merlin is defending well.
Merlin is concentrating on defense, preventing Wang from advancing position.
Wang 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Merlin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Wang trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
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: Wang (2) vs (7) Merlin
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wang swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wang can't keep his opponent in guard - Merlin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Wang actively working from the bottom here.
Wang makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wang.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin won't allow Wang to sweep him here.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wang is keeping the position for now.
Wang wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Wang is keeping the position.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Wang keeps moving.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Wang wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Wang is retaining full guard.
Wang seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Merlin pushing down on Wang's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wang is trying to control but can't.
Wang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but Wang defends it.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wang knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Wang is having none of it.
Wang is trying to control but Merlin manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (2) vs (10) Merlin
Wang is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Merlin avoids the attempt from Wang to control.
Wang is looking to get to half guard.
Wang wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wang is looking to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wang can't escape the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 10 to 2.
A very excited looking Xavier Merlin made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
In defeat, Long Wang stepped up to the mic, 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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