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WP 86 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 89 wins and 52 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 48 wins and 56 losses; Strega Notturna!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Notturna sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Merlin somewhat.
Notturna goes for a double leg but Merlin avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Merlin continues to drive forward.
Merlin has been working on his balance at KFA, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Notturna.
Notturna shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Notturna was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure! Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Merlin (0) vs (4) Notturna
Notturna controlling from side mount.
Merlin tries to bench press Notturna off him but Notturna keeps the position.
Notturna controls the position from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin struggling a bit here.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merlin is trying to escape the position but Notturna is controlling the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Notturna tries to move into full mount but can't pass Merlin's legs.
Notturna controls the position.
Merlin is trying to control Notturna's posture but Notturna avoids it.
Notturna controlling the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to move to mount but Merlin reverses beautifully and ends up in Notturna's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (4) Notturna
Notturna is adopting a defensive guard.
Merlin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notturna controlling the position.
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 trying to control but Notturna is working from the bottom.
Notturna manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Merlin manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (6) Notturna
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notturna content to stall in guard here.
Notturna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Notturna's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Merlin controls Notturna momentarily but Notturna frees himself.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Notturna won't allow Merlin to sweep him here.
Notturna is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Notturna trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Notturna sitting in guard here, content to control.
Notturna wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Notturna's corner is telling him to maintain position.
That's seven 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 looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Notturna trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Notturna slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
My spies in Average Judas Gym inform me that Notturna has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position here.
Notturna controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Let's hope that Notturna has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Notturna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin is trying to keep Notturna in close.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Notturna controls from within his opponent's guard.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Notturna tries to pass.
Notturna stays in close to Merlin's body and controls the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Notturna tries to pass.
Merlin being controlled here, momentarily.
Notturna passes Merlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Notturna controlling the action here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Notturna in particular looking to stall.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Notturna.
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.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Well,Merlin is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Merlin wants to improve his position but Notturna is controlling well.
Notturna perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is continuing to stall.
Merlin trying to control here.
Well, if Notturna 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.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Notturna.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
Notturna is taking a breather. Merlin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Notturna wins on points by 6 to 2.
A relieved looking Strega Notturna thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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