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WP 45 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 67 wins and 35 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 32 wins and 44 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Merlin gets caught napping as Balkan dives in and scores a takedown. Merlin manages to retain guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (0) vs (2) Balkan
Balkan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Balkan being controlled here momentarily.
Balkan advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (0) vs (5) Balkan
Balkan content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Merlin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Merlin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan slows the pace down.
It looks like Balkan might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Merlin tries to buck Balkan off but Balkan is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Merlin will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Merlin wants to control but Balkan postures up.
Merlin is being controlled here.
Balkan trying to control the position but Merlin is working away.
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.
You can see the frustration on Merlin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to get an arm triangle but Merlin is defending well.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merlin keeps working.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
You can see the frustration on Merlin's face as Balkan controls the position.
Merlin is looking to regain half guard here but Balkan keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
Merlin is being controlled here.
Balkan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Balkan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is trying to control Balkan's posture but Balkan avoids it.
Merlin is looking for a sweep.
Merlin seems a little lost for a moment, as Balkan dominates the positioning.
Merlin is not content to let Balkan control the position.
Merlin is being controlled here.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan swings around for an armbar but Merlin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Balkan's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (5) Balkan
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
Balkan 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 (7) Balkan
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Balkan trying to pass the guard but Merlin defending well.
Merlin is looking for a sweep. Balkan is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Balkan is looking to advance position but Merlin won't allow it.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Balkan preventing the sweep.
Balkan trying to move into half guard but instead Merlin has managed to sweep! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (4) vs (7) Balkan
Balkan is trying to keep Merlin in close.
Balkan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balkan pulls Merlin in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan 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 (4) vs (9) Balkan
Well, if Balkan 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.
Merlin won't allow Balkan to pass to mount.
Balkan keeps trying to improve his position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to improve his position but Balkan is controlling well.
Balkan slows the pace down in half guard.
Balkan tries to pass the half guard into mount. Merlin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Merlin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Balkan trying to control but Merlin is working from the bottom.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controls Balkan momentarily but Balkan frees himself.
Merlin looking for a sweep. Not yet Merlin, not yet.
Balkan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Balkan controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Merlin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Balkan controls the pace.
Balkan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Merlin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Balkan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Balkan wants to control from the top but Merlin keeps moving.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Merlin manages to land a sweep and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (6) vs (9) Balkan
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Merlin from controlling successfully.
Merlin tries to free his leg and advance position but Balkan is retaining full guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merlin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Balkan 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 (6) vs (11) Balkan
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to pass to mount but Merlin is defending the position.
Merlin is staying active underneath Balkan, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Balkan with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Let's hope that Balkan 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.
And that's the end of the fight!
Balkan wins on points by 11 to 6.
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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