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Summit Series 2 - Grappling 6B PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the lightweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of London, with a TWGC record of 3 wins and 2 losses; Rory Birdwhistle! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, with a TWGC record of 3 wins and 2 losses; Mark Spagnolo!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Kenichi Hosakawa.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Spagnolo rushes Birdwhistle and presses him up against the ropes.
Birdwhistle successfully pulls guard.
Birdwhistle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Spagnolo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Birdwhistle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Spagnolo has managed to get both his arms back between Birdwhistle's legs - danger averted.
Birdwhistle is looking for a triangle but Spagnolo pushes his legs off easily.
Spagnolo's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Birdwhistle looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birdwhistle controls Spagnolo momentarily but Spagnolo frees himself.
Birdwhistle keeping moving, preventing Spagnolo from controlling successfully.
Birdwhistle is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spagnolo defends well.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Birdwhistle seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Birdwhistle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Birdwhistle lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Birdwhistle (2) vs (0) Spagnolo
Birdwhistle won't allow Spagnolo to sweep him here.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle has gone for a leg lock! Spagnolo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Birdwhistle's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Birdwhistle (2) vs (2) Spagnolo
Spagnolo trying to control but Birdwhistle is working from the bottom.
Birdwhistle wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Spagnolo advances to half guard.
Birdwhistle tries to get to full guard but Spagnolo has control of the leg.
Spagnolo trying to control from half guard but Birdwhistle is working away.
Spagnolo prevents Birdwhistle from improving his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Birdwhistle working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spagnolo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Spagnolo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Birdwhistle has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Birdwhistle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Birdwhistle on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Birdwhistle tries to get out of the position.
Birdwhistle throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spagnolo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Birdwhistle has his hands on Spagnolo's head, controlling the position.
Birdwhistle has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Birdwhistle looking for a sweep. Not yet Birdwhistle, not yet.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Spagnolo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Spagnolo wants to pass the guard but Birdwhistle is keeping the position.
Birdwhistle trying to control the position.
Birdwhistle 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.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle controls Spagnolo momentarily but Spagnolo frees himself.
Birdwhistle bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spagnolo's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Birdwhistle (4) vs (2) Spagnolo
Spagnolo keeping moving, preventing Birdwhistle from controlling successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Birdwhistle passes into half guard.
Birdwhistle looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Spagnolo felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Spagnolo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Spagnolo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Birdwhistle.
Birdwhistle wants to take a breather but Spagnolo is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Birdwhistle seems content to control.
Birdwhistle is trying a forearm choke� I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Birdwhistle seems to be looking for submissions.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Spagnolo is in trouble now - Birdwhistle has advanced to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Birdwhistle (7) vs (2) Spagnolo
Birdwhistle takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Birdwhistle goes for an armbar but he's not got it� Spagnolo turns into him and now he's in Birdwhistle's guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Birdwhistle (7) vs (4) Spagnolo
Spagnolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Birdwhistle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Spagnolo controls from within his opponent's guard.
Spagnolo passes into half guard.
Birdwhistle tries to get to full guard but Spagnolo has control of the leg.
Birdwhistle trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Spagnolo manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: Birdwhistle (7) vs (7) Spagnolo
Birdwhistle is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Spagnolo mounts Birdwhistle! Really nice guard pass there!
Birdwhistle wants to hold on but Spagnolo pushes him away.
Birdwhistle sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Birdwhistle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Birdwhistle.
Spagnolo won't allow Birdwhistle to sweep him here.
Birdwhistle is looking for a triangle but Spagnolo pushes his legs off easily.
Birdwhistle has his foot on Spagnolo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spagnolo works his way back into a safe position though.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Birdwhistle is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Birdwhistle (9) vs (7) Spagnolo
Birdwhistle drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Spagnolo dives on top into guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Birdwhistle (9) vs (9) Spagnolo
Spagnolo stopping the sweep attempt from Birdwhistle.
Birdwhistle has his foot on Spagnolo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Spagnolo works his way back into a safe position though.
Birdwhistle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Spagnolo is aware though and is defending well.
Spagnolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Birdwhistle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Birdwhistle is trying to control the position but Spagnolo postures up.
Birdwhistle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Spagnolo is aware though and is defending well.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Spagnolo stands and throws Birdwhistle's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Birdwhistle (9) vs (12) Spagnolo
Spagnolo looking to control but instead Birdwhistle has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Spagnolo is thwarting Birdwhistle's attempts to control the position.
Birdwhistle is pressing down on Spagnolo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Spagnolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Birdwhistle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Birdwhistle is controlling Spagnolo's posture.
Birdwhistle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Spagnolo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Spagnolo wants to control from the top but Birdwhistle keeps moving.
Birdwhistle working for submissions but it's allowed Spagnolo to get to half guard.
Spagnolo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Birdwhistle does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Birdwhistle wants to improve his position but Spagnolo is controlling well.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Birdwhistle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Spagnolo is looking to advance position but Birdwhistle has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Birdwhistle (13) vs (12) Spagnolo
Spagnolo is squirming around, avoiding Birdwhistle's attempts to control the action.
Birdwhistle sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spagnolo regains half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Birdwhistle takes the fight on points by 13 to 12.
Rory Birdwhistle seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website. |
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