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WP 98 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 94 wins and 59 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 49 wins and 69 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, James Ackerman and James Glass.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Balkan gets caught flat footed, as Merlin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Balkan
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin won't allow Balkan to sweep him here.
Balkan controlling Merlin's posture.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan 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 content to stall in guard here.
Balkan has his hands on Merlin's head, controlling the position.
Balkan is continuing to stall.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Balkan holds on and takes a little breather.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merlin postures up.
Merlin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to hold Merlin in close to prevent damage but Merlin has managed to pass into half guard.
Balkan is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
Balkan is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Balkan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Merlin has picked Balkan up and slammed him! Balkan can't keep hold of the triangle and Merlin manages to pass to side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Balkan
Balkan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Balkan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Balkan wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (0) Balkan
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking to get to half guard.
Balkan reaches up and holds on to Merlin to control the position.
Merlin avoids the attempt from Balkan to control.
Balkan can't escape the position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balkan is looking to escape.
Balkan regains half guard.
Balkan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Balkan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking to improve his position.
Balkan keeps trying to improve his position.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balkan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Balkan actively working from the bottom here.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Balkan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Balkan is looking to improve his position.
Balkan trying to control here.
Balkan gets full guard.
Merlin being controlled here momentarily.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Merlin passes into half guard.
Balkan is looking to improve his position.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Balkan is defending the position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Balkan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Balkan is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
Balkan controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Balkan is adopting a defensive guard.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Balkan controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Balkan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Merlin uses it to pass to side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (11) vs (0) Balkan
Merlin working away.
Merlin tries to advance to mount but Balkan denies him.
Merlin has knee on belly momentarily but Balkan bucks him off and regains half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan trying to hold on to Merlin's head to control him but Merlin postures up.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 11 to 0.
Xavier Merlin thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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