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WP 63 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 76 wins and 43 losses; Xavier Merlin! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 40 wins and 52 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Balkan slaps away a takedown attempt from Merlin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Merlin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Merlin showed some decent athleticism there. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Merlin (2) vs (0) Balkan
Balkan is positioning himself well to prevent Merlin advancing to mount.
Balkan is looking to control Merlin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balkan avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.
Balkan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merlin pulls his head out easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Merlin wants to control but Balkan is keeping him busy.
Balkan trying to control but Merlin postures up.
Balkan might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Merlin haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Balkan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Merlin pulls his head out easily.
Balkan looking for submissions off his back.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan gets back to full guard.
Balkan wants to sweep here but Merlin controlling him for the moment.
Balkan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Merlin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to pass the guard.
Balkan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Merlin uses it to pass to side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (5) vs (0) Balkan
Balkan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan seems a little lost for a moment, as Merlin dominates the positioning.
Merlin trying to control the position but Balkan is working away.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Balkan struggling a bit here.
Balkan tries to bench press Merlin off him but Merlin keeps the position.
Balkan looks to move to half guard but instead Merlin has passed into mount! Damn! Score +2 for reaching mount: Merlin (7) vs (0) Balkan
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.
Balkan is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Merlin controlling the position easily from mount.
Balkan is trying to escape the mount.
Balkan manages to regain half guard. Good work.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying is best to control the position here.
Balkan trying to control here.
Balkan is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Merlin is staying active.
Merlin is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Balkan reverses the position - he's now on top in Merlin's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Merlin (7) vs (2) Balkan
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Merlin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Merlin keeping moving, preventing Balkan from controlling successfully.
Balkan drops back, looking for a kneebar! Merlin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Merlin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Merlin! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Merlin (11) vs (2) Balkan
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Balkan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controls the position.
Balkan tries to bench press Merlin off him but Merlin keeps the position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to control Merlin's posture but Merlin avoids it.
Balkan isn't going anywhere.
Balkan is trying to control Merlin's posture but Merlin avoids it.
Balkan is looking for a sweep.
Balkan keeps trying to improve his position.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan gets back to half guard.
Balkan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merlin is working away from the top position though.
Balkan is refusing to be controlled, as Merlin sits in half guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is really struggling to control Balkan but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Balkan keeping control of the position.
Balkan is trying to get back to full guard.
Balkan actively working from the bottom here.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balkan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Balkan actively working from the bottom here.
Balkan is looking for a sweep. Merlin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Merlin trying to pass the guard but Balkan defending well.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to maintain the position but Merlin is very close to passing his half guard.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Balkan is having none of it.
Balkan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Balkan is looking to get back to full guard here but Merlin has managed to pass to side control instead. Score +3 for passing guard: Merlin (14) vs (2) Balkan
Merlin is looking to take a break and control but Balkan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin takes the fight on points by 14 to 2.
A relieved looking Xavier Merlin thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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