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WP 85 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 55 wins and 55 losses; Long Wang! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 89 wins and 51 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and James Glass.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Wang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wang wants it to stay on the feet.
Wang shoots in and gets a takedown into Merlin's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Wang (2) vs (0) Merlin
Merlin keeping full guard, as Wang tries to pass.
Wang preventing the sweep.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Wang tries to pass.
Wang's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Merlin pulls Wang in to control the position.
Wang trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wang sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wang passes Merlin's right leg, so he's now in half 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Wang seems content to control.
Wang moves into full mount! Merlin won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (5) vs (0) Merlin
Merlin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wang controlling from the full mount.
Wang has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Merlin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Merlin won't allow Wang to pass to mount.
Wang content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wang is thwarting Merlin's attempts to control the position.
Merlin won't allow Wang to pass to mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
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.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Wang.
Merlin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wang is pressing down on Merlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merlin is holding on for now.
Wang content to control rather than advance.
Wang continues to hold on tight.
Merlin won't allow Wang to pass to mount.
Wang takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Merlin tries to roll over but Wang keeps him under control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wang content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Wang wants to pass to mount but Merlin is defending the position.
Merlin is holding on to half guard well.
Wang controlling the action here.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wang controlling the pace.
Merlin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Wang tries to pass.
Merlin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wang controls the pace.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Wang is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
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 sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Merlin's guard.
Wang is looking to pass Merlin's guard but actually Merlin recovers to full guard.
Wang content to stall in guard here.
Wang wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wang is working hard here to advance position.
Wang passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (8) vs (0) Merlin
Wang staying calm.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wang moves into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Wang (10) vs (0) Merlin
Wang looking to control and managing it successfully.
Merlin tries to hold on but Wang postures up.
Wang controlling the pace for now.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Wang.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Wang is stinking the place up with his stalling.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working to try and regain half guard.
Merlin wants to control but Wang is having none of it.
Wang controlling the position easily from mount.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to reverse the position but Wang maintains control.
Wang controlling the pace for now.
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.
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 is trying desperately to improve position.
Wang controlling the pace for now.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to lock up and control but Wang gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wang controlling his opponent.
Merlin can't escape the position.
Wang controlling from the full mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Wang takes the fight on points by 10 to 0.
After winning the bout, Long Wang thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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