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TWGC 34 (155lbs, D1): Finals - Round 1 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 3 wins and 1 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 6 wins and 8 losses; Chan Siam!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Paulsen Ambrosius.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin tries to keep at a distance but Siam has taken the fight into the clinch.
Merlin drags the fight down to the ground.
Siam preventing the sweep.
Siam is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merlin looking to control.
Siam's corner is telling him to maintain position.
My spies in SSJ Gym inform me that Siam has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin is working hard here to advance position.
Siam looking to pass the guard.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin working for a triangle but Siam defends it easily.
Siam looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Siam 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: Merlin (2) vs (0) Siam
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Siam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Siam swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merlin won't allow Siam to sweep him here.
Merlin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Merlin not doing much here.
Siam is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Siam avoid being mounted?
Merlin trying to mount his opponent but Siam defends it.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siam is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Siam avoid being mounted?
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Siam knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merlin seems to be working for a kimura but Siam defends the submission attempt.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Siam is defending well.
Siam is looking to improve his position.
Siam makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Siam.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siam controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Siam has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Siam is continuing to stall.
Merlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Siam lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) Siam
Siam trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Siam pushes down on Merlin's leg and manages to get into half guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin gets back to full guard.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Siam trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin is pulling down on Siam's head. It's preventing any offense from Siam, at least for the moment.
Merlin looking to control.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin trying to keep a closed guard but Siam is proving a slippery customer.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Siam from controlling successfully.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Siam not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Siam wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
We've been hearing good reports from Merlin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Merlin is looking to sweep but instead, Siam has passed into half guard.
Merlin looking for submissions off his back.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Siam pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Merlin controlling Siam's posture.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Merlin is on top in guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (2) Siam
Merlin stands and throws Siam's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (2) Siam
Siam is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Merlin off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (7) vs (6) Siam
Merlin's corner are yelling at him, telling him to just focus on controlling Siam's hands.
Siam is persistently looking for the submission but Merlin is defending it well.
Merlin is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Siam.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Siam's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Merlin tries to roll but Siam sticks to his back.
Siam controls the action.
Merlin wants to control his opponent's hands but Siam gets his hands free.
Merlin tries to escape the position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the hands but Siam won't let him.
What can Merlin do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Siam has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Merlin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Siam has good solid back control here.
Siam avoiding Merlin 's attempts to control his hands.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Siam trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Merlin doesn't escape.
Merlin breaks Siam's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (9) vs (6) Siam
Siam looking for a sweep. Not yet Siam, not yet.
Siam controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Siam is controlling Merlin's posture.
Merlin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merlin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Siam for as long as he can get away with.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Siam keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin passes Siam's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Merlin is trying to control. Siam wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Siam wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Merlin tries to pass to full mount but Siam defends it.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Siam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Siam is defending well.
Merlin trying to control the pace.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Siam gets full guard.
Merlin pushing down on Siam's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Merlin uses his free foot to push down on Siam's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Siam. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (12) vs (6) Siam
Siam is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Siam tries to hold on but Merlin postures up.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 12 to 6.
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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