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WP 53 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 Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 38 wins and 42 losses; Long Wang! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 70 wins and 40 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and James Glass.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merlin is defended easily by Wang.
Merlin shoots in for a double leg but Wang sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Merlin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wang manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Wang (0) vs (2) Merlin
Wang has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wang holds on and takes a little breather.
Wang wants to control the position but Merlin says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Wang is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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.
Wang keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Wang trying to hold on to Merlin's head to control him but Merlin postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang keeping hold of Merlin's head, controlling as best he can.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Wang continues to stall.
Wang wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Wang is doing well to control the position and prevent Merlin from advancing to side control.
Wang is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wang tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Wang wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wang wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wang knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Wang is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Wang 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.
Wang seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wang has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Wang is pulling down on Merlin's head. It's preventing any offense from Merlin, at least for the moment.
Wang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang looking to control.
Wang is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
Wang looking for a sweep. Not yet Wang, not yet.
Wang is working hard here to advance position.
Wang is looking to sweep but instead, Merlin has passed into half guard.
Wang trying to control but Merlin postures up.
Wang is not content to let Merlin control the position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (0) vs (5) Merlin
Wang is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wang tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merlin tries to control but Wang wriggling away.
Wang doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Wang tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wang is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Wang wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Wang is looking to get to half guard.
Merlin trying to control but Wang is having none of it.
Wang is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merlin tries to push Wang's head away but Wang is holding on tight.
Merlin trying to control but Wang is having none of it.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wang is trying to escape the mount.
Wang tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Wang really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Wang slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Merlin prevents Wang from improving his position.
Wang controlling the position well.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wang wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
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.
Wang is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merlin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merlin's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Wang (4) vs (5) Merlin
Merlin fending off the submission attempt from Wang.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin turns into Wang and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wang (4) vs (7) Merlin
Wang is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wang (6) vs (7) Merlin
Wang is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Wang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Wang has gone for a leg lock! Merlin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Wang's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wang (6) vs (9) Merlin
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Wang 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: Wang (8) vs (9) Merlin
Wang slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (11) vs (9) Merlin
Wang is trying to get an arm triangle but Merlin is defending well.
Wang is trying to get an arm triangle but Merlin is defending well.
Wang goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Merlin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Wang but great work by Merlin. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Wang (11) vs (13) Merlin
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working away.
Wang is looking to reverse the position.
Merlin has knee on belly momentarily but Wang bucks him off and regains half guard.
Wang is looking to improve his position.
Wang keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Wang tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Wang won't allow Merlin to pass to mount.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Wang trying to control here.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wang keeps working.
Wang controlling the position well.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin is thwarting Wang's attempts to control the position.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Wang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wang is holding on to half guard well.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin prevents Wang from improving his position.
Wang is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Merlin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Merlin's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Wang (15) vs (13) Merlin
Wang has got one arm under Merlin's chin. This could be trouble... Merlin trying to control the other hand but Wang gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Merlin has tapped out! The fight is over!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 14:49 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Long Wang!
After winning the bout, Long Wang 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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