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WP 94 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 93 wins and 56 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 46 wins and 57 losses; Anthony Lavicci!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Steven Brown.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Lavicci shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lavicci showed some decent athleticism there. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) Lavicci
Lavicci is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Merlin defends it well.
Lavicci trying to control from half guard but Merlin is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lavicci tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lavicci moves into full mount! Merlin won't be happy about that! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (0) vs (5) Lavicci
Lavicci tries to control but Merlin wriggling away.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is controlling an arm, preventing Lavicci from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Lavicci sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Merlin is looking to get to half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lavicci sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lavicci works his way to his opponent's back.
Score +3 for taking back: Merlin (0) vs (8) Lavicci
Lavicci keeps control of the position easily here as Merlin tries to buck him off.
Will Lavicci go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to escape but Lavicci has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Merlin is working hard here to advance position.
Lavicci working for a choke but Merlin is defending well.
Lavicci is riding his opponent, not letting Merlin buck him off.
Lavicci has got his arm under Merlin's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Merlin has spun round into Lavicci's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (8) Lavicci
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci 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.
Merlin is stalling in the full guard.
Lavicci has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Ground Zero Workout Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Lavicci keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Lavicci is retaining full guard.
Merlin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Lavicci keeps moving.
Merlin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Merlin being controlled here momentarily.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci 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: Merlin (2) vs (10) Lavicci
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lavicci looking to pass the guard.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Lavicci controlling him for the moment.
Lavicci trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Lavicci is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lavicci wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Lavicci controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Lavicci drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lavicci jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lavicci engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Merlin is trying to control the position but Lavicci postures up.
Lavicci wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci slips nicely into half guard.
Lavicci wants to pass to mount but Merlin is defending the position.
Lavicci wants to take a breather but Merlin is having none of it.
Lavicci stalling.
Lavicci trying to advance position but Merlin counters by regaining guard.
Lavicci looking to pass the guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin pulls Lavicci in close to prevent any damage.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Lavicci tries to pass.
Merlin controls Lavicci momentarily but Lavicci frees himself.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lavicci is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lavicci looking to pass the guard.
Lavicci seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Merlin 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 fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Lavicci tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Merlin looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lavicci trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin looking to control.
And that's the end of the fight!
Lavicci wins on points by 10 to 2.
Our winner, Anthony Lavicci, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
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