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WP 72 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 82 wins and 46 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 40 wins and 50 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and James Atkins.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Notturna as he jumps to the side.
Merlin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Notturna quickly recovers to half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Notturna
Notturna trying to control but Merlin postures up.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Notturna is having none of it.
Notturna is controlling Merlin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.
Notturna wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Merlin is staying active.
Notturna wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Well, if Merlin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Notturna won't allow Merlin to pass to mount.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control. Notturna wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Notturna tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Notturna won't allow Merlin to pass to mount.
Notturna moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notturna seems keen to control Merlin's posture.
Merlin forces his way into half guard.
Notturna works his way to full guard. Good work.
Merlin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Notturna controlling Merlin's posture.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notturna keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Notturna pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Notturna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notturna looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Notturna keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is controlling Merlin's posture.
Merlin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Notturna looking for a sweep. Not yet Notturna, not yet.
Merlin advances to half guard.
Notturna gets back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Merlin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
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.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Notturna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is fighting to break Notturna's control of his arms but Notturna is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Notturna is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Notturna is controlling Merlin's posture.
Notturna looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Notturna wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Notturna is retaining full guard.
Notturna pulls Merlin in close to his closed guard and prevents Merlin from doing any damage or advancing position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
Notturna is pulling down on Merlin's head. It's preventing any offense from Merlin, at least for the moment.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna seems keen to control Merlin's posture.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
Merlin trying to control but Notturna is working from the bottom.
Merlin passes Notturna's left leg - he's now in half guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Notturna has his hands clasped together around Merlin's back. He's all about the action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Notturna won't allow it.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Notturna.
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.
Merlin stays in close to Notturna's body and controls the position.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Notturna looking for a sweep. Not yet Notturna, not yet.
Merlin being controlled here momentarily.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 2 to 0.
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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