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WP 68 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 79 wins and 45 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 38 wins and 48 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and William Gold.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Notturna did well to prevent Merlin getting side control. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Notturna
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Merlin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Notturna is just riding it out for now. Merlin eventually gives up the hold.
Notturna wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is pressing down on Notturna's thigh, looking to free his foot. Notturna is holding on for now.
Notturna is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Merlin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Notturna controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Notturna is controlling Merlin's posture.
Notturna tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notturna controlling Merlin's posture.
Notturna wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
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 trying to control but Notturna is working from the bottom.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
Notturna is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Notturna controlling Merlin's posture.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Notturna 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 (2) Notturna
Notturna trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notturna stays in close to Merlin's body and controls the position.
Notturna wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Notturna slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Notturna looking to pass the guard.
Notturna controlling from the top position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Notturna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Notturna sitting in guard, not really doing much.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Notturna might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Merlin looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Merlin holds on and takes a little breather.
Notturna trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Notturna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Notturna trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Notturna is stalling in the full guard.
Notturna pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Notturna 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.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is pushing down on Merlin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Merlin is fighting to maintain full guard but Notturna has managed to sneak the leg through.
Notturna is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Notturna from controlling successfully.
Notturna wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Merlin controls Notturna momentarily but Notturna frees himself.
Merlin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Notturna pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin 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.
Merlin trying to keep a closed guard but Notturna is proving a slippery customer.
Notturna controls from within his opponent's guard.
Merlin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (2) Notturna
Notturna can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Merlin controls the pace.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Notturna 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.
Notturna pulls Merlin in close to his closed guard and prevents Merlin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Notturna trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
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.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Notturna is retaining full guard.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
Merlin is stalling in the full guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Notturna is retaining full guard.
Notturna keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Notturna has his hands on Merlin's head, controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 4 to 2.
During a confident post fight interview, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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