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TWGC 34 (155lbs, D1): Tokyo Qualifier - Round 2 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 2 wins and 1 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Las Vegas, with a TWGC record of 8 wins and 5 losses; Malaki Fiso!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Shimada.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Fiso shoots in for a takedown but Merlin shows good takedown defense.
Merlin slaps away a takedown attempt from Fiso, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Merlin rushes Fiso and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Fiso tries for a takedown but Merlin manages to get underhooks.
Xavier Merlin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malaki Fiso.
Fiso has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Merlin after a bit of a struggle.
Merlin lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Fiso
Merlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Merlin prevents Fiso from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Fiso is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fiso is trying is best to control the position here.
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Fiso defends it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Fiso wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Merlin is taking a breather. Fiso says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Fiso wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
Fiso is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin slows the pace down in half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fiso moves into full guard.
Merlin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Merlin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fiso has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Merlin has managed to get both his arms back between Fiso's legs - danger averted.
Fiso keeping full guard, as Merlin tries to pass.
Merlin passes Fiso's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Fiso desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Fiso has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Merlin works his foot free and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Fiso
Merlin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fiso is looking to escape.
Fiso tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
Fiso is working to get back to half guard.
Fiso tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Fiso is squirming around nicely.
Fiso is looking to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fiso is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Fiso tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Fiso is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin prevents Fiso from getting the reversal.
Fiso wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Fiso is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Fiso tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Fiso sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Fiso defending well.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Fiso is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fiso is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Fiso keeps trying to improve his position.
Merlin controlling the action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Fiso manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merlin stays in close to Fiso's body and controls the position.
Fiso is trying to control the position but Merlin postures up.
Fiso looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Fiso is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Fiso wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (8) vs (0) Fiso
Fiso struggling a bit here.
Merlin happy to just control the position for now.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Fiso is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Merlin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fiso is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin working away.
Fiso is looking for a sweep.
Merlin trying to control the action but Fiso is working from the bottom.
Merlin staying calm.
Merlin working away.
Merlin controls the position from side control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Fiso isn't going anywhere.
Merlin advances nicely into full mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (10) vs (0) Fiso
Merlin trying to control but Fiso is having none of it.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Fiso tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fiso is looking to escape.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Fiso is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Fiso is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Merlin has hold of Fiso's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Fiso manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Merlin trying to control but Fiso is having none of it.
Fiso tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fiso is looking to escape.
Fiso really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Merlin tries to control but Fiso wriggling away.
Fiso tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Fiso wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
Fiso is desperately trying to improve his position but Merlin has a good base and remains in mount.
Merlin looking to control but Fiso is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Merlin is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Fiso to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Fiso shrugs it off.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Fiso controls the position.
Fiso wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fiso is looking to escape.
Merlin prevents Fiso from getting the reversal.
Fiso is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Fiso tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fiso 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: Merlin (10) vs (2) Fiso
Fiso preventing the sweep.
Fiso content to stall in guard here.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fiso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Fiso from controlling successfully.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fiso wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
Fiso not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fiso pushing down on Merlin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Merlin is trying to control but Fiso passes into side control!
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (10) vs (5) Fiso
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 10 to 5.
During a confident post fight interview, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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