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WP 28 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 53 wins and 32 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Tokyo, with a TWGC record of 9 wins and 10 losses; Gaston Juncker!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Juncker shoots in but no luck this time.
Merlin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Juncker tries to sprawl but Merlin drives through with a takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Juncker
Juncker wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Juncker
Juncker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Juncker is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juncker is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Juncker tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Juncker is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from mount.
Juncker is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Juncker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin prevents Juncker from getting the reversal.
Juncker has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Merlin trying to control but Juncker is having none of it.
Juncker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Merlin trying to control but Juncker is having none of it.
Juncker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juncker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Juncker is looking to get to half guard.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Juncker tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Juncker working to try and regain half guard.
Juncker wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Juncker is looking to escape.
Juncker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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.
Juncker regains half guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Juncker gets full guard.
Juncker keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Juncker controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Juncker pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin postures up.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin won't allow Juncker to sweep him here.
Juncker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Merlin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Juncker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Juncker keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Merlin is fighting to break Juncker's control of his arms but Juncker is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Juncker is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
Merlin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Juncker pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Juncker 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.
Juncker wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Juncker wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Juncker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Juncker seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Juncker wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Merlin is now in half guard.
Juncker won't allow Merlin to pass to mount.
Juncker gets full guard.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Juncker is keeping the position for now.
Juncker wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Juncker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Juncker is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
Merlin controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Juncker wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Juncker is keeping the position for now.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin won't allow Juncker to sweep him here.
Juncker pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Juncker trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Juncker keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Juncker is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (5) vs (2) Juncker
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Merlin holds on and takes a little breather.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Juncker looking to pass the guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Merlin is trying to hold Juncker in close to prevent damage but Juncker has managed to pass into half guard.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Juncker is pressing down on Merlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merlin is holding on for now.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 5 to 2.
After winning the bout, Xavier Merlin 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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