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WP 120 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 104 wins and 66 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 36 wins and 75 losses; David McDonald!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
No luck with that takedown attempt from McDonald.
McDonald shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) McDonald
Merlin wants to improve his position but McDonald is controlling well.
McDonald wants to take a breather but Merlin is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McDonald looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Merlin is pressing down on McDonald's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
McDonald trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald is fighting to break Merlin's control of his arms but Merlin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Merlin is looking to sweep but instead, McDonald has passed into half guard.
Still in half guard, McDonald seems content to control.
McDonald wants to take a breather but Merlin is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonald's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonald's back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (4) vs (2) McDonald
Merlin is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Merlin has the hooks in. McDonald is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
McDonald turns into Merlin and is now in his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (4) McDonald
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Merlin holds on and takes a little breather.
McDonald slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin has his hands on McDonald's head, controlling the position.
McDonald engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
McDonald trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin wants to sweep here but McDonald controlling him for the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin is pressing down on McDonald's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
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 (6) vs (4) McDonald
McDonald seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
McDonald working a defensive guard here.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control the position here.
McDonald working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Merlin has passed into half guard!
McDonald looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
McDonald wants to control but Merlin passes into side.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (9) vs (4) McDonald
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down McDonald's shoulder. That is not cool.
McDonald wants to control but Merlin postures up.
Merlin just content to control the position.
Merlin trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin slows the pace down.
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Merlin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McDonald tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Merlin presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (11) vs (4) McDonald
McDonald tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
McDonald tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merlin wants to control the pace but McDonald is squirming around nicely.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
That's nine minutes 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.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is working to get back to half guard.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Merlin tries to control but McDonald wriggling away.
McDonald is trying to escape the mount.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin avoids the attempt from McDonald to control.
Merlin trying to control but McDonald is having none of it.
Merlin prevents McDonald from getting the reversal.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Merlin has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
McDonald manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McDonald works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin postures up.
McDonald is trying to hold Merlin in close to prevent damage but Merlin has managed to pass into half guard.
McDonald gets full guard.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but McDonald is retaining full guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
McDonald is adopting a defensive guard.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McDonald is looking for a triangle but Merlin pushes his legs off easily.
McDonald wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 11 to 4.
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
The defeated David McDonald had this to say: 'Fall down seven times, get up eight.'. |
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