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WP 61 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 Tokyo, with a TWGC record of 22 wins and 29 losses; Gaston Juncker! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 74 wins and 43 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Juncker is trying to defend but Merlin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Juncker (0) vs (2) Merlin
Juncker wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Juncker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
My spies in KFA inform me that Merlin has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Merlin is keen to just control but Juncker is a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juncker wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Juncker (0) vs (5) Merlin
Merlin trying to control but Juncker is having none of 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.
Juncker can't escape the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is stalling here but it's allowed Juncker to get half guard.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Juncker is having none of it.
Merlin is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Juncker reverses the position - he's now on top in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Juncker (2) vs (5) Merlin
Juncker is stalling in the full guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Juncker controlling him for the moment.
Juncker looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working a defensive guard here.
Juncker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin has control of Juncker's left arm, preventing Juncker from doing any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juncker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Juncker trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Juncker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Juncker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Merlin is controlling Juncker's posture.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Juncker won't allow Merlin to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Merlin is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Juncker (2) vs (7) Merlin
Juncker seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Juncker is retaining full guard.
Juncker pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Juncker trying to control the position here.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Juncker is retaining full guard.
Merlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Juncker is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Juncker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Juncker keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Juncker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Juncker pulls Merlin in to control the position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Juncker is keeping the position.
Juncker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merlin passes Juncker's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Juncker is defending well.
Juncker is not content to let Merlin control the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Juncker wants to get back to full guard.
Juncker is working hard here to advance position.
Juncker is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is pressing down on Juncker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Juncker is holding on for now.
Merlin trying to control the pace.
Juncker is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
Juncker tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the pace.
Merlin has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Juncker (2) vs (10) Merlin
Merlin tries to control but Juncker wriggling away.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Juncker is squirming around nicely.
Juncker is working to get back to half guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Juncker is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin trying to control but Juncker is having none of it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 10 to 2.
After winning the bout, Xavier Merlin 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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