|
|
WP 70 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 45 wins and 50 losses; Long Wang! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 81 wins and 45 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Glass and James Ackerman.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Merlin showed some decent athleticism there. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Wang (0) vs (2) Merlin
Wang keeping hold of Merlin's head, controlling as best he can.
Merlin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Wang wants to get back to full guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Wang won't allow it.
Wang makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wang.
Wang pulls Merlin in to control the position.
Wang looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wang has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Wang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang is adopting a defensive guard.
Merlin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Wang.
Merlin trying to control but Wang is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wang is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
Wang has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Wang wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang wants to improve his position but instead Merlin has moved into half guard.
Merlin is controlling the pace.
Wang controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wang makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wang.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Wang controlling the position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wang wants to sweep but no luck.
Wang looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Wang.
Wang seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Wang is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
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 (2) vs (2) Merlin
Wang controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Wang wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Wang looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wang pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Wang is working hard here to advance position.
Wang sitting in guard here, content to control.
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.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wang is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wang tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wang passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (5) vs (2) Merlin
Wang passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Merlin! Score +2 for reaching mount: Wang (7) vs (2) Merlin
Wang sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wang sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Wang seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Merlin for as long as he can get away with.
Merlin working to try and regain half guard.
Wang content just to control the position here.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Wang continues to stall.
Merlin tries to hold on but Wang postures up.
Wang controlling from mount.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Merlin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wang controlling from mount.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working to get back to half guard.
Wang controlling the pace for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin tries to hold on but Wang pushes him away.
Wang content just to control the position here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Wang takes the fight on points by 7 to 2.
Long Wang thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
|
|
|
|
|
