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WP 112 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 101 wins and 62 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 34 wins and 70 losses; David McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Phil Schofield.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
McDonald looking to score a takedown here. Merlin is defending well but McDonald drives through and ends up in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) McDonald
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McDonald's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) McDonald
McDonald throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
McDonald can't keep his opponent in guard - Merlin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down McDonald for as long as he can get away with.
McDonald is trying to get back to full guard.
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 one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but McDonald defends it.
Merlin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but McDonald defends it.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but McDonald is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Merlin not doing much here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to advance position but McDonald counters by regaining guard.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McDonald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McDonald is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (4) McDonald
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
McDonald sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Merlin's guard.
Merlin preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working hard here to advance position.
McDonald performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Merlin wants to control but McDonald is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merlin works his way to full guard. Good work.
McDonald wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
McDonald forces his way into half guard.
McDonald is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
McDonald is trying to control the action in half guard but Merlin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Merlin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McDonald trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the position.
Merlin 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.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McDonald controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
McDonald works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Merlin is holding on to half guard well.
McDonald is keen to just control but Merlin is a slippery customer.
McDonald tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Well, if McDonald 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 nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control but McDonald is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McDonald trying to control from half guard but Merlin is working away.
Merlin keeping hold of McDonald's head, controlling as best he can.
Merlin wants to improve his position but McDonald is controlling well.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to pass to full mount but Merlin defends it.
McDonald passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (2) vs (7) McDonald
McDonald trying to control but Merlin is having none of it.
McDonald controlling his opponent.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
McDonald wants to take his opponent's back but Merlin doesn't allow it.
Merlin can't escape the position.
McDonald controlling the position easily from mount.
McDonald trying to control but he's not successful this time.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Merlin has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of McDonald's lack of action.
McDonald trying to pass the guard but Merlin defending well.
McDonald stalling away here and it's allowed Merlin to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing McDonald from controlling successfully.
McDonald sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merlin is adopting a defensive guard.
Merlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but McDonald is one step ahead there.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controls McDonald momentarily but McDonald frees himself.
McDonald looking to pass the guard.
McDonald controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDonald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that's the end of the fight!
McDonald wins on points by 7 to 2.
A determined David McDonald didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it! |
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