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CWC 290 - Tokyo 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 New York, with a TWGC record of 28 wins and 18 losses; Morrison Lee! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 8 wins and 4 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Lee throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Merlin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lee is in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Lee (2) vs (0) Merlin
Lee preventing the sweep.
Merlin controlling Lee's posture.
Lee trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee stands and throws Merlin's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Lee (5) vs (0) Merlin
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin struggling a bit here.
Lee trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lee controls the position from side control.
Lee working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The referee asks Lee politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Lee prefers to stall for the moment though.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Merlin seems a little lost for a moment, as Lee dominates the positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merlin keeps trying to improve his position.
Merlin prevents Lee from improving position.
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
Lee is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeps Lee under control for a moment.
Lee wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
Merlin wants to control but Lee postures up.
Lee tries for a kimura but Merlin is defending well.
Lee will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Merlin is looking to regain half guard here but Lee keeps moving and retains side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is not content to let Lee control the position.
Lee working away.
Merlin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lee (5) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin content to control rather than advance.
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Lee is defending the position.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Lee is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at The Proving Grounds, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Lee wants to get back to full guard.
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!
Lee gets full guard.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like Merlin might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Merlin looking to sit in guard and control but Lee gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lee (7) vs (2) Merlin
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lee's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lee (7) vs (4) Merlin
Lee keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Lee pulls Merlin in to control the position.
Merlin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Lee is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin trying to control but Lee is working from the bottom.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin pushing down on Lee's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lee wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Lee's thigh. Lee counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Lee looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin pushing down on Lee's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Merlin passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Lee (7) vs (7) Merlin
Lee tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Merlin tries to control but Lee wriggling away.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Lee is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Lee is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lee is trying desperately to improve position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lee 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: Lee (9) vs (7) Merlin
Lee looking to pass the guard.
Merlin is controlling Lee's posture.
Merlin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to keep Lee in close.
Lee preventing the sweep.
Merlin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Lee tries to pass.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin 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: Lee (9) vs (9) Merlin
Merlin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Merlin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Merlin controlling the action here.
Merlin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Lee gets full guard.
Lee 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: Lee (11) vs (9) Merlin
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lee's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Lee (11) vs (11) Merlin
Lee keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Lee can't keep his opponent in guard - Merlin advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lee tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lee sees it coming and defends easily.
Lee moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Merlin is stalling in the full guard.
Lee tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lee keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lee controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points, we go to a tie breaker and Merlin gets a bonus point for attempting more subs.
Merlin wins on points by 12 to 11.
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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