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WP 69 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 35 wins and 43 losses; Anthony Lavicci! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 80 wins and 45 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin gets the takedown into side control. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Lavicci (0) vs (4) Merlin
Merlin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Lavicci looking for a sweep but Merlin has passed into full mount! Oh no! Score +2 for reaching mount: Lavicci (0) vs (6) Merlin
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 wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lavicci is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Merlin looking to control but Lavicci is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is stalling here but it's allowed Lavicci to get half guard.
Lavicci is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Lavicci is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lavicci wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is pressing down on Lavicci's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lavicci is holding on for now.
Lavicci keeping hold of Merlin's head, controlling as best he can.
Merlin controlling the pace.
Merlin is trying to control. Lavicci wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lavicci manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lavicci will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Lavicci keeps moving.
Lavicci is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Lavicci is controlling Merlin's posture.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Lavicci controlling Merlin's posture.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Lavicci is keeping the position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci 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: Lavicci (2) vs (6) Merlin
Lavicci is trying to control the action in half guard but Merlin 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.
Merlin wants to control but Lavicci is keeping busy.
Lavicci perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lavicci trying to control from Merlin's half guard. Merlin has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Merlin pulls Lavicci in to control the position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin is trying to control the position but Lavicci postures up.
Lavicci trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Lavicci from controlling successfully.
Lavicci passes Merlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lavicci wants to free his trapped foot but Merlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lavicci in particular looking to stall.
Lavicci tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lavicci is looking to pass Merlin's guard but actually Merlin recovers to full guard.
Lavicci trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lavicci 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: Lavicci (2) vs (8) Merlin
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci looking for a sweep. Not yet Lavicci, not yet.
Lavicci keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Lavicci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lavicci keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci has control of Merlin's left arm, preventing Merlin from doing any damage.
Lavicci keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Lavicci controlling Merlin's posture.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Lavicci gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lavicci (4) vs (8) Merlin
Lavicci has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Lavicci looking to pass the guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci stands and throws Merlin's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Lavicci (7) vs (8) Merlin
A lull in the action here as Lavicci stalls from top position.
Merlin is looking to regain half guard here but Lavicci keeps moving and retains side control.
Lavicci tries to move into full mount but can't pass Merlin's legs.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Merlin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lavicci tries to advance to mount but Merlin denies him.
Lavicci staying calm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lavicci tries to advance to mount but can't.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 8 to 7.
An out of breath Xavier Merlin thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. |
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