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TWGC 37 (155lbs, D1): Amsterdam 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 London, with a TWGC record of 33 wins and 30 losses; Able Archer! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 21 wins and 13 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Archer did well to prevent Merlin getting side control. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Archer (0) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin wants to free his trapped foot but Archer is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've been hearing good reports from Archer'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 wants to work for an arm triangle but Archer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
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 controlling the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Archer won't allow Merlin to pass to mount.
Merlin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Merlin is pressing down on Archer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Archer is holding on for now.
Merlin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Archer is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Merlin is pressing down on Archer's thigh, looking to free his foot. Archer is holding on for now.
Well, if Merlin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Archer keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Merlin works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Archer (0) vs (5) Merlin
You can see the frustration on Archer's face as Merlin controls the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Archer! Score +2 for reaching mount: Archer (0) vs (7) Merlin
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Archer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merlin trying to control but Archer is having none of it.
Archer holds on for dear life.
Archer is trying to escape the mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Archer is working hard here to advance position.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Archer is looking to escape.
Merlin avoids the attempt from Archer to control.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin prevents Archer from getting the reversal.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Archer is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merlin wants to control the pace but Archer is squirming around nicely.
Archer is wriggling around trying to escape.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Archer is looking to escape.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Merlin goes for an armbar but Archer turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Archer. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Archer (2) vs (7) Merlin
Merlin isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Archer stacks Merlin on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Archer! Score +3 for passing guard: Archer (5) vs (7) Merlin
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control Archer's posture but Archer avoids it.
Merlin tries to improve position but can't.
Archer trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
Merlin is looking to regain half guard here but Archer keeps moving and retains side control.
Archer content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Archer working away.
Merlin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Archer off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Archer (5) vs (11) Merlin
Archer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Merlin controlling the action here.
Merlin wants to control but Archer is keeping him busy.
Merlin wants to work for an arm triangle but Archer is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Archer trying to control here.
Merlin is looking to advance position but Archer won't allow it.
Merlin working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Archer's thigh. Archer counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Archer controlling the position.
Archer is trying to keep Merlin in close.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merlin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Archer is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Merlin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Archer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Archer wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Archer has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Archer wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Archer 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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Archer is keeping the position for now.
Archer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Merlin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Archer is working from the bottom.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Merlin is looking to pass into half guard but Archer pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Archer is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Archer (7) vs (11) Merlin
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Archer is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin looking to control.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Archer looking to pass the guard.
Merlin wants to improve his position but instead Archer has moved into half guard.
Archer trying to control the pace.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Archer wants to advance to full mount but Merlin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 11 to 7.
Xavier Merlin seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website. |
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