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WP 47 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 26 wins and 31 losses; Anthony Lavicci! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 67 wins and 37 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Lavicci shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Lavicci (2) vs (0) Merlin
Lavicci wants to pass the guard but Merlin is defending well.
Lavicci trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Lavicci perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lavicci works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Lavicci (5) vs (0) Merlin
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lavicci trying to control the action but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Lavicci is staying tight to Merlin's torso, preventing him from escaping.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavicci tries for a kimura but Merlin is defending well.
Lavicci wants to control but Merlin is keeping him busy.
Merlin wants to control but Lavicci postures up.
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 stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Lavicci has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Lavicci 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.
Lavicci tries to advance to mount but Merlin denies him.
Merlin wants to control but Lavicci postures up.
Lavicci wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
Lavicci tries to advance to mount but Merlin denies him.
Lavicci is working hard here to advance position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci working away.
Merlin trying to remain calm as Lavicci controls from the top position.
Merlin sneaks back into half guard.
Merlin tries to roll over but Lavicci keeps him under control.
Lavicci controlling the pace.
Lavicci trying to mount his opponent but Merlin defends it.
Merlin is not content to let Lavicci control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to maintain the position but Lavicci is very close to passing his half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lavicci is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Lavicci is keen to just control but Merlin is a slippery customer.
Lavicci is pressing down on Merlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merlin is holding on for now.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Lavicci advances to half guard.
Merlin trying to hold on to Lavicci's head to control him but Lavicci postures up.
Lavicci wants to take a breather but Merlin is having none of it.
Lavicci is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Merlin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Merlin trying to control but Lavicci postures up.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lavicci is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Lavicci from controlling successfully.
Lavicci pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Lavicci controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Lavicci from controlling successfully.
Lavicci stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin controls Lavicci momentarily but Lavicci frees himself.
Lavicci pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Lavicci from controlling successfully.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Merlin manages to land a sweep and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lavicci (5) vs (2) Merlin
Lavicci wants to control the position but Merlin says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Merlin wants to advance to full mount but Lavicci doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Lavicci tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merlin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at KFA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Merlin trying to control but Lavicci is working from the bottom.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lavicci is keeping the position for now.
Merlin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Lavicci's guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Lavicci won't allow it.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Merlin wants to advance to full mount but Lavicci doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Lavicci wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lavicci is keeping the position for now.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lavicci (7) vs (2) Merlin
Lavicci will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lavicci passes Merlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Merlin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lavicci is working away from the top position though.
Lavicci is looking to stall here but Merlin recovers full guard.
Merlin controls Lavicci momentarily but Lavicci frees himself.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Lavicci has gone for a leg lock! Merlin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lavicci's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lavicci (7) vs (4) Merlin
Lavicci working a defensive guard here.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lavicci pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
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.
Lavicci keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci trying to control the position.
Lavicci is trying to hold Merlin in close to prevent damage but Merlin has managed to pass into half guard.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Lavicci is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lavicci keeps control of the position for the meantime.
And that's the end of the fight!
Lavicci takes the fight on points by 7 to 4.
A relieved looking Anthony Lavicci thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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