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WP 35 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 32 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 28 wins and 38 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Merlin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure! Score +4 for clean takedown past guard: Merlin (4) vs (0) Balkan
Balkan struggling a bit here.
Balkan is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Merlin is staying active.
Merlin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balkan keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin looking to control but instead Balkan has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Balkan wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Merlin in particular looking to stall.
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.
Balkan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balkan is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
Merlin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Merlin has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan manages to get to full guard.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan pulls Merlin in close to his closed guard and prevents Merlin from doing any damage or advancing position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Balkan is trying to keep Merlin in close.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
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.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balkan is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Balkan is trying to keep Merlin in close.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Merlin preventing the sweep.
Merlin trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Merlin is pushing down on Balkan's leg trying to pass to half guard. Balkan is fighting to maintain full guard but Merlin has managed to sneak the leg through.
Balkan tries to get to full guard but Merlin has control of the leg.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is staying active underneath Merlin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Balkan wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balkan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Balkan wants to improve his position but Merlin is controlling well.
Merlin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balkan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Merlin passes the guard and advances to mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (0) Balkan
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Merlin tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Merlin is stalling here. Balkan 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 Balkan has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work. Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (7) vs (4) Balkan
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is not content to let Balkan control the position.
Merlin regains half guard.
Balkan wants to free his trapped foot but Merlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
Balkan is trying to control. Merlin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balkan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Merlin wants to control but Balkan is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is pressing down on Merlin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Merlin is holding on for now.
Balkan wants to take a breather but Merlin is having none of it.
Balkan wants to pass the guard but Merlin is defending well.
Merlin is trying to maintain the position but Balkan is very close to passing his half guard.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to free his trapped foot but Merlin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Balkan is trying to control. Merlin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balkan passes into side control, despite Merlin's attempt to control the position.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (7) vs (7) Balkan
Merlin is not content to let Balkan control the position.
Merlin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
Merlin is looking to regain half guard here but Balkan keeps moving and retains side control.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Balkan controlling the position.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Balkan is looking to take a break and control but Merlin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that's the end of the fight!
As we have tied on points, we go to a tie breaker and Balkan gets a bonus point for attempting more subs.
Balkan wins on points by 8 to 7.
Our winner, Boris Balkan, 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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