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WP 55 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 Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 32 wins and 42 losses; Strega Notturna! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 71 wins and 41 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin shoots in and drives through. Notturna sprawls well.
We've been hearing reports that Notturna has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Merlin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Notturna looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Notturna (0) vs (4) Merlin
Notturna wants to control but Merlin postures up.
Notturna is looking for a sweep.
Notturna is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Notturna struggling a bit here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Notturna tries to improve position but can't.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Merlin politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Merlin prefers to stall for the moment though.
Notturna sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Merlin slows the pace down in half guard.
Merlin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
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.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Notturna knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is controlling the pace.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Notturna is working away.
Notturna is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Notturna does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Notturna wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Notturna is doing well to control the position and prevent Merlin from advancing to side control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Notturna tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Merlin trying to control from half guard but Notturna is working away.
Merlin is pressing down on Notturna's thigh, looking to free his foot. Notturna is holding on for now.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is trying to get back to full guard.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Notturna does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Merlin prevents Notturna from improving his position.
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.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Notturna keeping control of the position.
Merlin stalling.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna wants to get back to full guard.
Merlin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Merlin is pressing down on Notturna's thigh, looking to free his foot. Notturna is holding on for now.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the pace.
Merlin prevents Notturna from improving his position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Notturna is defending well.
Notturna makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Notturna.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
Merlin won't allow Notturna to sweep him here.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Notturna is controlling Merlin's posture.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Notturna keeps moving.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Notturna is keeping the position for now.
Merlin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Notturna looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Notturna is keeping the position.
Notturna wants to sweep but no luck.
Notturna wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Notturna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is still trying to improve position.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Notturna has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Notturna (4) vs (4) Merlin
Notturna looking to control and managing it successfully.
Merlin tries to lock up and control but Notturna gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying desperately to improve position.
Notturna fails to advance to Merlin's back.
Merlin is desperately trying to improve his position but Notturna has a good base and remains in mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Notturna controlling from mount.
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points and both fighters attempted the same number of subs, we will decide the bout based on the toss of a coin! Notturna is heads and Merlin is tails.
The coin is in the air and it lands... heads!
Notturna takes the fight on points by 5 to 4.
A victorious Strega Notturna thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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