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WPGC 2 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 30 wins and 17 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of London, with a TWGC record of 19 wins and 27 losses; Ruben Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Taro Takaoka.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin drives through with a takedown into Gracie's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Gracie
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Merlin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Gracie has an active guard here but Merlin has managed to pass into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin prevents Gracie from improving his position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control. Gracie wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gracie has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Rivers Edge Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Gracie has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Merlin escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Merlin! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Gracie
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Merlin trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie is trying to work for a sweep but Merlin has mounted him! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (7) vs (0) Gracie
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin controlling the pace for now.
Merlin looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Gracie tries to lock up and control but Merlin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gracie is squirming around, avoiding Merlin's attempts to control the action.
Merlin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Merlin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Gracie is having none of it.
Merlin content to control rather than advance.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Gracie moves into full guard.
Merlin postures up.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merlin is one step ahead there.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Gracie has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Merlin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gracie. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (10) vs (0) Gracie
Gracie is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gracie is not content to let Merlin control the position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gracie sneaks back into half guard.
Merlin is trying to control the action in half guard but Gracie is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Merlin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Merlin is pressing down on Gracie's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gracie is holding on for now.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Merlin wants to control but Gracie is keeping him busy.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Merlin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Gracie is not content to let Merlin control the position.
Gracie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin works his foot free and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (13) vs (0) Gracie
Gracie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gracie wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Gracie slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gracie regains full guard. Nicely done.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Merlin passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (16) vs (0) Gracie
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Gracie 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 (16) vs (4) Gracie
Merlin wants to escape the position.
Gracie 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.
Gracie trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Gracie patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to keep control of the position but Merlin is staying busy.
Gracie keeps control of the position easily here as Merlin tries to buck him off.
Gracie 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!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Gracie wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Gracie just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
A lull in the action here.
Gracie looking for the choke from the back.
Gracie looking to hold on to the position here but Merlin rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Merlin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gracie manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (18) vs (4) Gracie
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (21) vs (4) Gracie
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 21 to 4.
Xavier Merlin thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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