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WP 30 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 49 wins and 28 losses; Shane MacGowan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 55 wins and 32 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
MacGowan drops down looking for a counter takedown but Merlin sprawls and moves away.
Merlin's coach down at KFA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Merlin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Merlin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows MacGowan to score an easy takedown into full guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: MacGowan (2) vs (0) Merlin
MacGowan looking to sit in guard and control but Merlin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: MacGowan (2) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin trying to control but MacGowan is working from the bottom.
MacGowan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
MacGowan pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
MacGowan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but MacGowan is working from the bottom.
MacGowan looking to control.
Merlin won't allow MacGowan to sweep him here.
MacGowan looking to control but Merlin passes into half guard.
MacGowan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Merlin postures up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin passes MacGowan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
MacGowan keeping hold of Merlin's head, controlling as best he can.
MacGowan wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
MacGowan wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
MacGowan is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can MacGowan avoid being mounted?
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
MacGowan wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but MacGowan defending well.
MacGowan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
MacGowan manages to get to full guard.
Merlin postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from MacGowan.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
MacGowan working for a triangle but Merlin defends it easily.
MacGowan 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.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but MacGowan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacGowan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
MacGowan is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but MacGowan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacGowan trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
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 looking to pass the guard.
Merlin stands and throws MacGowan's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: MacGowan (2) vs (5) Merlin
MacGowan tries to improve position but can't.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan manages to work his way to half guard, despite Merlin's best efforts.
Merlin controlling the action here.
Merlin is looking to advance position but MacGowan won't allow it.
MacGowan trying to control here.
MacGowan wants to get back to full guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but MacGowan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
MacGowan trying to control but Merlin postures up.
MacGowan trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Merlin manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: MacGowan (2) vs (8) Merlin
MacGowan is in all sorts of trouble here.
MacGowan tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
MacGowan is working to get back to half guard.
MacGowan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
MacGowan wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
MacGowan trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Score +3 for passing guard: MacGowan (2) vs (11) Merlin
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as MacGowan is looking to escape.
MacGowan tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Merlin controlling from mount.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but MacGowan is having none of it.
MacGowan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
MacGowan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
MacGowan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Merlin tries to control but MacGowan wriggling away.
MacGowan wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan gets back to half guard.
MacGowan trying to get back to full guard but Merlin takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: MacGowan (2) vs (14) Merlin
MacGowan tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
MacGowan tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin controlling from mount.
MacGowan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan is working hard here to advance position.
Merlin looking to control but MacGowan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
MacGowan gets back to half guard.
Merlin is keen to just control but MacGowan is a slippery customer.
MacGowan wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacGowan keeps working.
MacGowan is trying to control but can't.
Merlin stalling.
It looks like Merlin might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Merlin is thwarting MacGowan's attempts to control the position.
MacGowan is trying to get back to full guard.
Merlin trying to control the pace.
Merlin passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: MacGowan (2) vs (17) Merlin
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
MacGowan is trying desperately to improve position.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
MacGowan regains half guard.
MacGowan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merlin is working away from the top position though.
Merlin trying to control the action but MacGowan is working from the bottom.
Merlin controlling the action here.
MacGowan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for MacGowan.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
MacGowan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Merlin defends well.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 17 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. |
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