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CWC 321 - Prelims 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 15 wins and 25 losses; Ceph Alopodis! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 22 wins and 14 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Mauricio Rocha.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Alopodis manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Alopodis (0) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Alopodis.
Merlin is pushing down on Alopodis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Alopodis is fighting to maintain full guard but Merlin has managed to sneak the leg through.
Merlin trying to control the action but Alopodis is working from the bottom.
Merlin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Alopodis wants to sweep but Merlin has passed to side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Alopodis (0) vs (5) Merlin
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alopodis keeps working.
Merlin tries to advance to mount but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin trying to control the action but Alopodis is working from the bottom.
Alopodis prevents Merlin from moving into mount.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Alopodis looks to move to half guard but instead Merlin has passed into mount! Damn! Score +2 for reaching mount: Alopodis (0) vs (7) Merlin
Alopodis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alopodis manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alopodis trying to control but Merlin postures up.
Alopodis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Alopodis is pressing down on Merlin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Merlin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Merlin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Alopodis keeps moving.
Merlin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Alopodis (0) vs (10) Merlin
Merlin trying to control the action but Alopodis is working from the bottom.
Merlin controlling the position from side mount.
Alopodis is looking to reverse the position.
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Alopodis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alopodis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Alopodis is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
Merlin seems to be looking for submissions.
Alopodis gets full guard.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alopodis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Alopodis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Alopodis (2) vs (10) Merlin
Alopodis tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Alopodis tries to pass.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is controlling Alopodis's posture.
Alopodis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Merlin wants to sweep here but Alopodis controlling him for the moment.
Merlin is trying to keep Alopodis in close.
Alopodis advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Alopodis (5) vs (10) Merlin
Merlin tries to improve position but can't.
Merlin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin won't allow Alopodis to pass to mount.
We've been hearing that Alopodis has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Merlin trying to control here.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Alopodis is trying to control the action in half guard but Merlin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Alopodis wants to advance to full mount but Merlin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Merlin is trying to keep Alopodis in close.
Alopodis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alopodis is working hard here to advance position.
Merlin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Alopodis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Merlin is keeping the position for now.
Merlin managing to control the position.
Merlin keeping full guard, as Alopodis tries to pass.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Alopodis is aware though and is defending well.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Alopodis tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Alopodis advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Alopodis (8) vs (10) Merlin
Alopodis tries to move to mount but Merlin blocks the move with his legs.
Alopodis advances to full mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Alopodis (10) vs (10) Merlin
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is working to get back to half guard.
Merlin tries to hold on but Alopodis pushes him away.
Merlin has given up his back.
Score +3 for taking back: Alopodis (13) vs (10) Merlin
Alopodis looking for the choke from the back.
Alopodis 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!
Alopodis is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Merlin is defending well though. Alopodis let's go of the attempt for now.
Alopodis is looking to control Merlin but Merlin is wriggling around and keeping busy.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to roll but Alopodis sticks to his back.
Merlin keeps trying to improve his position.
Merlin showing good submission defense here.
Alopodis is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Merlin defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Merlin fending off the submission attempt from Alopodis.
Alopodis is looking for the choke from the back position but Merlin is controlling his hands well.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Alopodis is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Alopodis is trying to stick to Merlin's back but Merlin is turning into Alopodis. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Alopodis's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Merlin. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Alopodis (13) vs (12) Merlin
Alopodis looking for a sweep. Not yet Alopodis, not yet.
Merlin slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Alopodis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Alopodis is keeping the position for now.
Alopodis wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin trying to control but Alopodis is working from the bottom.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alopodis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Alopodis working a defensive guard but Merlin manages to pass into side control anyway.
Score +3 for passing guard: Alopodis (13) vs (15) Merlin
Alopodis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Merlin is pressing down on Alopodis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Alopodis is holding on for now.
Merlin passes to side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Alopodis (13) vs (18) Merlin
Alopodis is looking for a sweep.
Alopodis is being controlled here.
Merlin works to advance to full mount. Alopodis defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs. Score +2 for reaching mount: Alopodis (13) vs (20) 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.
Alopodis working to try and regain half guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Merlin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Alopodis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alopodis regains half guard.
Merlin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Merlin frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Alopodis (13) vs (23) Merlin
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alopodis is looking to escape.
Merlin controlling from mount.
Merlin trying to control but Alopodis is having none of it.
Alopodis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin goes for an armbar but Alopodis turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Alopodis. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Alopodis (15) vs (23) Merlin
Merlin keeping full guard, as Alopodis tries to pass.
Merlin trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Alopodis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin trying to control the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 23 to 15.
After winning the bout, Xavier Merlin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility. |
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