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WP 77 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 51 wins and 51 losses; Long Wang! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 85 wins and 47 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown but Wang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wang takes the fight into the clinch.
Merlin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wang pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Merlin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wang pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Long Wang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Merlin.
Merlin gets a trip takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Wang (0) vs (2) Merlin
Wang controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wang is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang is trying to control but can't.
Wang is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wang is doing well to control the position and prevent Merlin from advancing to side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wang keeps working.
Merlin stalling.
Wang is looking to improve his position.
Merlin stalling.
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 two minutes gone in the round.
Wang is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Wang has control of Merlin's left arm, preventing Merlin from doing any damage.
Merlin trying to control but Wang is working from the bottom.
Wang keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Wang controlling the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Wang seems keen to control Merlin's posture.
Wang 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: Wang (2) vs (2) Merlin
Wang seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
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.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to pass to full mount but Merlin defends it.
Wang perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Wang moves into full mount! Merlin won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (5) vs (2) Merlin
Wang takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wang continues to stall.
Wang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to escape the mount.
Wang content just to control the position here.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working to get back to half guard.
Wang takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wang has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Wang.
That's nine 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.
Further stalling from Wang.
More hug and hope from Wang.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is desperately trying to improve his position but Wang has a good base and remains in mount.
Wang content just to control the position here.
Merlin is trying to escape the mount.
Wang content just to control the position here.
Wang continues to hold on tight.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying desperately to improve position.
Wang controlling from the full mount.
Merlin is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wang content just to control the position here.
Merlin is working to get back to half guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Wang is stinking the place up with his stalling.
And that's the end of the fight!
Wang takes the fight on points by 5 to 2.
Long Wang retains his super heavyweight title!
Our winner, Long Wang, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
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