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WP 87 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 56 wins and 56 losses; Long Wang! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 89 wins and 53 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and Phil Schofield.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Merlin wants it to stay on the feet.
Merlin with the counter takedown but Wang avoids it easily.
Merlin's coach down at KFA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Merlin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Wang will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Merlin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wang drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Wang (4) vs (0) Merlin
Wang works to advance to full mount. Merlin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs. Score +2 for reaching mount: Wang (6) vs (0) Merlin
Wang controlling the position easily from mount.
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 bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wang (6) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Wang has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Wang keeps moving.
Wang wants to sweep but no luck.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang has Merlin pulled in close 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'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.
Wang keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Wang wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin pushing down on Wang's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wang is concentrating on defense, preventing Merlin from advancing position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Wang is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Merlin controlling the pace.
Wang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wang trying to get back to full guard but Merlin takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Wang (6) vs (5) Merlin
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wang is working to get back to half guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wang manages to control the position for a moment.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wang is looking to escape.
Wang tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wang is working to get back to half guard.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Wang is squirming around nicely.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wang is looking to escape.
Wang is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Wang tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Merlin looking to control but Wang is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Wang is having none of it.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Wang is working to get back to half guard.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Wang reaches up and holds on to Merlin to control the position.
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.
Wang wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Wang is trying to escape the mount.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang gets back to half guard.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Wang is having none of it.
Wang manages to get to full guard.
Wang seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
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 looking to sit in guard and control but Wang gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Wang (8) vs (5) Merlin
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Wang controlling him for the moment.
Wang passes Merlin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wang with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wang is looking to advance position but Merlin won't allow it.
And that's the end of the fight!
Wang takes the fight on points by 8 to 5.
Long Wang thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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