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WP 122 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 62 wins and 95 losses; Billy Turturro! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 105 wins and 67 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin dives in and scores a takedown into Turturro's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Turturro (0) vs (2) Merlin
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Turturro is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Turturro (2) vs (2) Merlin
Turturro will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Turturro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merlin pulls Turturro in close to prevent any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turturro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merlin has his hands on Turturro's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Turturro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Merlin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turturro stopping the sweep attempt from Merlin.
Turturro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Turturro forces his way into half guard.
Turturro with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turturro trying to pass the guard but Merlin defending well.
Turturro is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Turturro wants to pass to mount but Merlin is defending the position.
Merlin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at KFA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Turturro slows the pace down in half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Turturro'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.
Turturro has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turturro wants to pass the guard but Merlin is defending well.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Turturro is working away from the top position though.
Turturro stalling.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to get back to full guard here but Turturro has managed to pass to side control instead. Score +3 for passing guard: Turturro (5) vs (2) Merlin
Turturro controls the position.
Turturro is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Merlin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Turturro trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Turturro works to advance to full mount. Merlin defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs. Score +2 for reaching mount: Turturro (7) vs (2) Merlin
Turturro trying to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin tries to hold on but Turturro postures up.
Merlin is trying desperately to improve position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Turturro takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
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.
Turturro wants to take his opponent's back but Merlin doesn't allow it.
Merlin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Turturro controlling from mount.
Merlin wants to hold on but Turturro pushes him away.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Turturro controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Turturro.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Turturro wants to take Merlin's back but he can't do it this time.
Merlin tries to hold on but Turturro postures up.
Turturro tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin regains half guard.
Merlin is looking to control Turturro's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Merlin avoid being mounted?
Merlin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Turturro is taking a breather. Merlin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control but Turturro manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: Turturro (10) vs (2) Merlin
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Turturro controlling the pace for now.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to get to half guard.
Turturro controlling his opponent.
Turturro is looking to work his way around to Merlin's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Turturro controlling from the full mount.
And that's the end of the fight!
Turturro takes the fight on points by 10 to 2.
A relieved looking Billy Turturro thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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