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CWC 342 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 37 wins and 20 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Los Angeles, with a TWGC record of 17 wins and 17 losses; Joe Tidd!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
Merlin drives through with a takedown into Tidd'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) Tidd
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tidd swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tidd wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Merlin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tidd has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tidd is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (2) Tidd
Well, if Tidd 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 one minute gone in the round.
I've been told that Tidd has been drilling his wrestling of late, which has already helped him take this fight to the mat. Let's see how much of an impact it has on the outcome of the ground game.
Tidd tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merlin tries to roll over but Tidd keeps him under control.
Tidd trying to control the pace.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tidd prevents Merlin from improving his position.
Tidd with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Merlin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tidd is working away from the top position though.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tidd frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (2) vs (5) Tidd
Tidd sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Merlin tries to hold on but Tidd pushes him away.
Tidd looking to control and managing it successfully.
Tidd looking to take Merlin's back but Merlin rolls and after a scramble, Merlin ends up on top in guard. Nice escape there from Merlin to escape a tricky position. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (5) Tidd
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.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Tidd has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Tidd is retaining full guard.
Merlin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is fighting to break Tidd's control of his arms but Tidd is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Merlin trying to control but Tidd is working from the bottom.
Merlin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tidd is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Tidd is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merlin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tidd has control of Merlin's left arm, preventing Merlin from doing any damage.
Tidd looking to control.
Merlin stopping the sweep attempt from Tidd.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is fighting to break Tidd's control of his arms but Tidd is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Tidd is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tidd looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tidd is still trying to improve position.
Tidd controls Merlin momentarily but Merlin frees himself.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Tidd is keeping the position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Tidd is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tidd 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 seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Merlin trying to control but Tidd is working from the bottom.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tidd holds on and takes a little breather.
Merlin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tidd working a defensive guard but Merlin passes into half guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Tidd is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tidd avoid being mounted?
Merlin wants to pass to mount but Tidd is defending the position.
Tidd keeping control of the position.
Merlin controlling the pace.
Merlin is keen to just control but Tidd is a slippery customer.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin content to control rather than advance.
Tidd tries to roll over but Merlin keeps him under control.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
Merlin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Merlin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tidd trying to control but Merlin postures up.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Tidd wants to get back to full guard but Merlin has passed into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (5) Tidd
Tidd is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tidd manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merlin being controlled here momentarily.
Tidd's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Tidd looking to control.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Tidd 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 slips effortlessly into side control - very nice. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (10) vs (5) Tidd
Tidd is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Merlin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tidd manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tidd has Merlin pulled in close to control his posture.
Merlin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Merlin advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (13) vs (5) Tidd
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Tidd is trying to control Merlin's posture but Merlin avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 13 to 5.
Our winner, Xavier Merlin, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans. |
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