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WP 36 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 60 wins and 33 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of Amsterdam, with a TWGC record of 31 wins and 32 losses; Long Wang!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth. Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Merlin (4) vs (0) Wang
Wang tries to buck Merlin off but Merlin is having none of it.
Merlin working away.
Wang is trying to improve his position.
Merlin controls the position.
Wang is looking to reverse the position.
Merlin is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Wang's shoulder. That is not cool.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wang struggling a bit here.
You can see the frustration on Wang's face as Merlin controls the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Wang's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wang prevents Merlin from moving into mount.
Wang is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Merlin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wang is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merlin pulls his head out easily.
Merlin prevents Wang from improving his position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wang is holding on to half guard well.
Wang wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
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 passes to side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (0) Wang
Wang prevents Merlin from moving into mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to bench press Merlin off him but Merlin keeps the position.
Merlin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Wang tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Merlin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
A bit of a lull in the action here.
Wang is being controlled here.
Merlin working away.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin advances nicely into full mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (9) vs (0) Wang
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Wang is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wang manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Wang is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wang wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy.
Merlin wants to pass the guard but Wang is defending well.
Wang controlling the position for now.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Wang is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
Wang actively working from the bottom here.
Merlin is stalling here. Wang is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Merlin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Wang has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (9) vs (4) Wang
Wang is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Merlin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wang goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Merlin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Wang but great work by Merlin. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (13) vs (4) Wang
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Wang is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wang wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Wang is holding on to half guard well.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wang does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wang is trying to control but Merlin manages to pass to mount!
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (16) vs (4) Wang
Wang wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Wang bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (16) vs (6) Wang
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Wang from controlling successfully.
Wang tries to free his leg and advance position but Merlin is retaining full guard.
Merlin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wang stays in close to Merlin's body and controls the position.
Merlin can't keep his opponent in guard - Wang advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Merlin is trying to get back to full guard.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Wang is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wang works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (16) vs (9) Wang
Wang controls the position.
Wang tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wang has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Wang thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wang thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wang tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wang has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wang has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wang tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Merlin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (18) vs (9) Wang
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Wang tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
Merlin is thwarting Wang's attempts to control the position.
Wang wants to get back to full guard.
Wang is trying is best to control the position here.
Merlin seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Merlin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wang for as long as he can get away with.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Wang works his way to full guard. Good work.
Wang looking for a guillotine here but Merlin defends easily.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wang has his hands on Merlin's head, controlling the position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 18 to 9.
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Long Wang spoke after the fight, saying 'No worries. Everyone here knows my opponent has a bad habit of testing positive for PEDs, so I'm sure this fight will soon be ruled a 'No Contest' by the Athletic Commission.'. |
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