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WP 99 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 95 wins and 59 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 14 wins and 23 losses; Stoned Nelson!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Merlin (4) vs (0) Nelson
Merlin wants to control but Nelson is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Nelson is looking for a sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson prevents Merlin from improving position.
Nelson being controlled for a moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin'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.
Nelson gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Merlin seems content to control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Nelson defends it.
Nelson is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nelson tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Nelson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merlin is working away from the top position though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Nelson is having none of it.
Well, if Merlin 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.
Nelson manages to get to full guard.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nelson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Nelson is pulling down on Merlin's head to control his posture.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Nelson has control of Merlin's left arm, preventing Merlin from doing any damage.
Merlin passes Nelson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Nelson is trying to control but can't.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Nelson is working away.
Nelson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nelson gets back to full guard.
Nelson is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
Nelson wants to sweep but no luck.
Nelson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've been hearing good reports from Merlin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Nelson keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Nelson has control of Merlin's left arm, preventing Merlin from doing any damage.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Nelson wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Merlin is now in half guard.
Merlin passes to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (0) Nelson
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nelson is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Nelson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nelson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nelson is looking to improve his position.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but Nelson defends it.
Merlin is working hard here to advance position.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Nelson is working away.
Nelson wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merlin is trying to control. Nelson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Merlin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Nelson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Nelson is looking for a triangle but Merlin pushes his legs off easily.
Nelson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is really struggling to control Nelson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nelson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Merlin has managed to get both his arms back between Nelson's legs - danger averted.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 7 to 0.
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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