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WP 43 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 66 wins and 34 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 31 wins and 43 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Balkan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) Balkan
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Merlin is trying to control but can't.
Merlin is staying active underneath Balkan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Merlin tries to get to full guard but Balkan has control of the leg.
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.
Balkan is trying to control. Merlin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balkan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Merlin is just riding it out for now. Balkan eventually gives up the hold.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Balkan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan wants to advance to full mount but Merlin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Balkan tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Merlin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Balkan passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (0) vs (5) Balkan
Balkan is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
The referee asks Balkan politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Balkan prefers to stall for the moment though.
Merlin is not content to let Balkan control the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control Balkan's posture but Balkan avoids it.
Merlin is not content to let Balkan control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to improve position but can't.
Balkan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Merlin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Merlin sneaks back into half guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Balkan wants to work for an arm triangle but Merlin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Balkan is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Balkan 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 six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan 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 starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Balkan trying to control the pace.
Balkan trying to control from half guard but Merlin is working away.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Merlin! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (0) vs (8) Balkan
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Balkan trying to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Balkan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Balkan is pressing down on Merlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merlin is holding on for now.
Balkan is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Balkan seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Merlin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin gets back to full guard.
Balkan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balkan is one step ahead there.
Balkan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Merlin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (8) Balkan
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Balkan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (10) Balkan
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to control but Balkan passes into half guard.
Balkan is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Balkan 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: Merlin (4) vs (10) Balkan
Well,Merlin is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan 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.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan working a defensive guard here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan wins on points by 10 to 4.
Our winner, Boris Balkan, 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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