|
|
TWGC 33 (170lbs, D1): New York Qualifier - Round 1 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the welterweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Bogdan Kersikov! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 0 wins and 0 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Anthony Taglia and Bruno Lombardi.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin rushes Kersikov and presses him up against the cage.
Merlin decides to pull guard.
Merlin wants to improve his position but instead Kersikov has moved into half guard.
Merlin preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Kersikov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kersikov is trying to control. Merlin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov seems to be working for a kimura but Merlin defends the submission attempt.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin trying to hold on to Kersikov's head to control him but Kersikov postures up.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Merlin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Merlin managing to control the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Kersikov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Merlin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Merlin has escaped and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (0) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kersikov holds on and takes a little breather.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Kersikov pulls Merlin in close to his closed guard and prevents Merlin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kersikov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kersikov has control of Merlin's left arm, preventing Merlin from doing any damage.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kersikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kersikov keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Kersikov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Kersikov keeps moving.
Merlin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kersikov is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (2) vs (2) Merlin
Kersikov stays in close to Merlin's body and controls the position.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Kersikov wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Kersikov is fighting to break Merlin's control of his arms but Merlin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin looking to control.
Kersikov trying to move into half guard but instead Merlin has managed to sweep! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (2) vs (4) Merlin
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.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Kersikov is retaining full guard.
Kersikov looking to control.
Merlin advances to half guard.
Merlin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kersikov is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Kersikov is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Kersikov defends it.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kersikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Kersikov's guard.
Merlin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kersikov is looking to improve his position.
Kersikov is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
Kersikov is defending against the submission attempts here by Merlin.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Merlin seems content to control.
Kersikov is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kersikov avoid being mounted?
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Kersikov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kersikov is defending against the submission attempts here by Merlin.
Merlin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kersikov works his way to full guard. Good work.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Kersikov keeps moving.
Merlin has gone for a leg lock! Kersikov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Merlin's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (4) vs (4) Merlin
Kersikov being controlled here momentarily.
Kersikov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to keep Kersikov in close.
Merlin pulls Kersikov in close to his closed guard and prevents Kersikov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin is pulling down on Kersikov's head. It's preventing any offense from Kersikov, at least for the moment.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Merlin working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kersikov has passed into half guard!
Kersikov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kersikov controlling the action here.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is doing well to control the position and prevent Kersikov from advancing to side control.
Merlin is trying to control but can't.
Merlin tries to roll over but Kersikov keeps him under control.
Kersikov trying to mount his opponent but Merlin defends it.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kersikov is thwarting Merlin's attempts to control the position.
Kersikov is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Merlin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kersikov defends well.
Kersikov 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.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kersikov is one step ahead there.
Kersikov looking to sit in guard and control but Merlin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (4) vs (6) Merlin
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Kersikov is retaining full guard.
Merlin passes Kersikov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 6 to 4.
An out of breath Xavier Merlin thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. |
|
|
|
|
|
