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WP 33 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 58 wins and 32 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 33 wins and 47 losses; Billy Turturro!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Richard Clark.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin scores with a takedown into Turturro's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Turturro
Turturro trying to control the position here.
Turturro keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Turturro is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Turturro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turturro looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Merlin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Turturro tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Turturro is in trouble now - Merlin has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Turturro
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Turturro is squirming around nicely.
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.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turturro tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
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 can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Turturro is looking to escape.
Turturro sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Turturro defending well.
Merlin is keen to just control but Turturro is a slippery customer.
Well, if Merlin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Merlin prevents Turturro from improving his position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Turturro is still trying to improve position.
Turturro is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Turturro tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Turturro wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is pressing down on Turturro's thigh, looking to free his foot. Turturro is holding on for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Turturro trying to control here.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Turturro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merlin prevents Turturro from improving his position.
Turturro is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Turturro is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Merlin prevents Turturro from improving his position.
Merlin stalling.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (0) Turturro
Merlin happy to just control the position for now.
Turturro is looking to regain half guard here but Merlin keeps moving and retains side control.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the action but Turturro is working from the bottom.
Turturro trying to remain calm as Merlin controls from the top position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Turturro wants to control but Merlin postures up.
Turturro is trying to improve his position.
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.
Turturro keeps trying to improve his position.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Turturro prevents Merlin from improving position.
Merlin trying to control the action but Turturro is working from the bottom.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Turturro manages to work his way to half guard, despite Merlin's best efforts.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Turturro is defending the position.
Turturro wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin is pressing down on Turturro's thigh, looking to free his foot. Turturro is holding on for now.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Turturro is trying to control but can't.
Turturro controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Turturro wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin trying to control the action but Turturro is working from the bottom.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 8 to 0.
Our winner, Xavier Merlin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
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