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TWGC 16 (145lbs, D4): Rio de Janeiro Qu - R2 PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight Tycoon World Grappling Championship rules bout between Ezekiel Ithamar and Guilherme Mendes. Ithamar kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Yamma Ensemble Psalms 104. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Guilherme Mendes was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the featherweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 0 losses; Ezekiel Ithamar! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, with a TWGC record of 1 wins and 0 losses; Guilherme Mendes!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Thiago Cunha and Seu Braga.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Ithamar throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mendes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ithamar is in Mendes's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Ithamar (2) vs (0) Mendes
Ithamar postures up.
Ithamar sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mendes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ithamar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ithamar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mendes looking for a guillotine here but Ithamar defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mendes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ithamar controls the pace.
Ithamar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mendes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Ithamar (2) vs (2) Mendes
Mendes wants to control but Ithamar is keeping him busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ithamar looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
My spies in Brazilian Elite Team inform me that Mendes has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ithamar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ithamar wants to get back to full guard.
Mendes wants to take a breather but Ithamar is having none of it.
Mendes content to control rather than advance.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ithamar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mendes wants to free his trapped foot but Ithamar is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ithamar tries to roll over but Mendes keeps him under control.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ithamar is trying to keep Mendes in close.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ithamar holds on and takes a little breather.
Ithamar working for a triangle but Mendes defends it easily.
Ithamar 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar is controlling Mendes's posture.
Mendes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ithamar swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mendes trying to control the position from guard on top but Ithamar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ithamar wants to sweep but no luck.
Mendes wants to control from the top but Ithamar keeps moving.
Ithamar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ithamar wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ithamar wants to improve his position but instead Mendes has moved into half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar is trying to get back to full guard.
Mendes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Mendes prevents Ithamar from improving his position.
Ithamar wants to control but Mendes is keeping busy.
Ithamar is trying to get back to full guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mendes wants to pass the guard but Ithamar is defending well.
Ithamar is controlling Mendes's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Ithamar is refusing to be controlled, as Mendes sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendes is thwarting Ithamar's attempts to control the position.
Mendes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ithamar keeps working.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar is pressing down on Mendes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mendes preventing the sweep.
Ithamar trying to keep a closed guard but Mendes is proving a slippery customer.
Ithamar seems keen to control Mendes's posture.
Ithamar keeping moving, preventing Mendes from controlling successfully.
Ithamar is pulling down on Mendes's head. It's preventing any offense from Mendes, at least for the moment.
Mendes trying to control but Ithamar is working from the bottom.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looking to pass the guard.
Ithamar wants to hit a switch here but Mendes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ithamar there! Score +3 for passing guard: Ithamar (2) vs (5) Mendes
Mendes is looking to work his way around to Ithamar's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Ithamar tries to improve his position but instead Mendes has taken his back! Score +3 for taking back: Ithamar (2) vs (8) Mendes
Mendes keeps control of the position easily here as Ithamar tries to buck him off.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Well, with Mendes on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Ithamar is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Mendes is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Mendes wants to control but Ithamar is keeping busy.
What can Ithamar do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Ithamar trying to control the hands but Mendes won't let him.
Ithamar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Mendes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Ithamar's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mendes wants to control but Ithamar is keeping busy.
Mendes keeps control of the position as Ithamar tries to break free.
Mendes struggling to keep hold of the position.
Ithamar wants to escape the position.
Mendes tries to get the hooks in deep but Ithamar pushed the leg off.
Mendes is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar is trying to break free.
Will Mendes go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Ithamar is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Mendes trying to control momentarily.
Ithamar wants to escape the position.
Ithamar just trying to survive but Mendes is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Mendes tries to keep control of the position but Ithamar is staying busy.
Mendes keeps control of the position easily here as Ithamar tries to buck him off.
Mendes is hanging on to Ithamar's back as he tries to escape.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Ithamar staying busy and making it hard for Mendes to control.
Mendes just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
I really don't envy Ithamar right now.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Ithamar is in bad spot here.
Ithamar staying busy and making it hard for Mendes to control.
Ithamar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ithamar trying to control from the bottom.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ithamar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ithamar preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Mendes is keen to just control but Ithamar is a slippery customer.
Mendes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ithamar has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ithamar has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mendes is working away from the top position though.
Mendes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ithamar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Mendes frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Ithamar (2) vs (11) Mendes
Ithamar can't escape the position.
Mendes trying to control but Ithamar is having none of it.
Mendes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ithamar haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ithamar is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ithamar bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Ithamar (4) vs (11) Mendes
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Mendes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mendes keeping moving, preventing Ithamar from controlling successfully.
Ithamar is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mendes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ithamar defends it easily.
Mendes wants to control but Ithamar passes easily into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ithamar works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Ithamar (7) vs (11) Mendes
Mendes is looking for a sweep.
And that's the end of the fight!
Mendes wins on points by 11 to 7.
The defeated Ezekiel Ithamar had this to say: 'So I will not look on them with pity or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.'. |
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