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WP 25 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 52 wins and 30 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 30 wins and 42 losses; Billy Turturro!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Turturro tries to avoid it but Merlin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Turturro to the ground. Turturro escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Merlin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Turturro.
Turturro fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Merlin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Turturro! Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Merlin (4) vs (0) Turturro
Turturro is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Turturro tries to buck Merlin off but Merlin is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turturro struggling a bit here.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Turturro manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Merlin.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Turturro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Turturro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merlin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Turturro looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Turturro lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (2) Turturro
Turturro wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA inform me that Turturro has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
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.
Turturro wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Turturro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merlin controls Turturro momentarily but Turturro frees himself.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turturro trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Turturro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Turturro keeps trying to improve his position.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Turturro seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Turturro trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Turturro stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Turturro from controlling successfully.
Turturro is pushing down on Merlin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Merlin is fighting to maintain full guard but Turturro has managed to sneak the leg through.
Turturro tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Turturro stalling away here and it's allowed Merlin to slip out his trapped foot and regain 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 seven minutes gone in the round.
Turturro pushes down on Merlin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Turturro is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Turturro is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is not content to let Turturro control the position.
Turturro trying to control from Merlin's half guard. Merlin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Turturro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Turturro trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Turturro might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Merlin haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Turturro tries to pass.
Turturro slips nicely into half guard.
Turturro trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin won't allow Turturro to pass to mount.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Turturro is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Turturro trying to control from half guard but Merlin is working away.
Turturro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Let's hope that Turturro has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Turturro trying to pass the guard but Merlin defending well.
Turturro wants to work for an arm triangle but Merlin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Turturro trying to control from Merlin's half guard. Merlin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Turturro from controlling successfully.
Turturro advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (4) vs (5) Turturro
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Merlin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Merlin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Turturro is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Merlin's face as Turturro controls the position.
Turturro wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
Merlin can't do much from the bottom here.
Who's going to make the next move?
Merlin struggling a bit here.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Turturro trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
Turturro happy to just control the position for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Turturro trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
And that's the end of the fight!
Turturro wins on points by 5 to 4.
After winning the bout, Billy Turturro thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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