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WP 127 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 19 wins and 31 losses; Stoned Nelson! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 105 wins and 70 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Daniel Bishop and Paul Tew.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Nelson's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Nelson (0) vs (2) Merlin
Nelson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nelson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Merlin defends well.
Merlin controlling from the top position.
Nelson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin keeps trying to improve his position.
Nelson pulls Merlin in to control the position.
Nelson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Merlin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
My spies in KFA inform me that Merlin has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin 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.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nelson looking for a sweep. Not yet Nelson, not yet.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Nelson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Merlin manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Nelson (2) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin has control of Nelson's left arm, preventing Nelson from doing any damage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson trying to move into half guard but instead Merlin has managed to sweep! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Nelson (2) vs (4) Merlin
Nelson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Merlin content to stall in guard here.
Merlin trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin stands and throws Nelson's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Nelson (2) vs (7) Merlin
Nelson is trying to improve his position.
Merlin trying to control the action but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Nelson is looking to regain half guard here but Merlin keeps moving and retains side control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Nelson struggling a bit here.
Merlin controls the position.
Nelson holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Nelson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nelson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Nelson looking for a sweep but Merlin has passed into full mount! Oh no! Score +2 for reaching mount: Nelson (2) vs (9) Merlin
Nelson is looking to get to half guard.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nelson is looking to escape.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Nelson tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Nelson tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Merlin tries to control but Nelson wriggling away.
Merlin wants to control the action but instead Nelson gets a body lock and reverses into Merlin's guard! Nice work! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Nelson (4) vs (9) Merlin
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.
Nelson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Merlin is trying to control the position but Nelson postures up.
Nelson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Nelson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Merlin is pulling down on Nelson's head. It's preventing any offense from Nelson, at least for the moment.
Nelson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Nelson controlling him for the moment.
Nelson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Nelson trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Nelson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Nelson'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 twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nelson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Merlin dives on top into guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Nelson (4) vs (11) Merlin
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Nelson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Merlin is aware though and is defending well.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Nelson looking for a guillotine here but Merlin defends easily.
Merlin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson is controlling Merlin's posture.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin passes Nelson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Nelson is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nelson working for a triangle but Merlin defends it easily.
Nelson looking to control but Merlin passes into half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 11 to 4.
A very excited looking Xavier Merlin made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction. |
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