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WP 62 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 40 wins and 51 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 75 wins and 43 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Merlin feints and as Balkan raises his hands in defense, Merlin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Balkan (0) vs (2) Merlin
Merlin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balkan is keeping the position for now.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but Merlin is proving a slippery customer.
Merlin is fighting to break Balkan's control of his arms but Balkan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan throws his legs up looking for a submission but Merlin uses it to pass to side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (5) Merlin
Balkan tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Merlin easily slips into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (0) vs (7) Merlin
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan regains half guard.
Merlin content to control rather than advance.
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 trying to get back to full guard but Merlin takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount! Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (10) Merlin
Balkan is wriggling around trying to escape.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
We've been hearing good reports from Balkan'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 wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Merlin tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Merlin controlling from the full mount.
Balkan tries to reverse the position but Merlin maintains control.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at KFA. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Balkan is looking to get to half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Merlin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Balkan is looking to escape.
Balkan manages to control the position for a moment.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Merlin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Merlin prevents Balkan from getting the reversal.
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Balkan wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Merlin tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan is looking to improve his position but Merlin isn't that keen on the idea.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Merlin content just to control the position here.
Balkan keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Balkan holds on, trying desperately to control.
Balkan is in all sorts of trouble here.
Balkan tries to hold on but Merlin pushes him away.
Balkan is trying desperately to improve position.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balkan gets back to half guard.
Balkan wants to control but Merlin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Balkan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merlin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Balkan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Merlin trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Merlin passes into side control.
Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (13) Merlin
Balkan is looking to reverse the position.
A control attempt from Balkan but he's now mounted! Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (0) vs (15) Merlin
Balkan wants to control but Merlin is having none of it.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin controlling his opponent.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balkan is trying desperately to improve position.
Balkan is working hard here to advance position.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan gets back to half guard.
Merlin wants to take a breather but Balkan is having none of it.
Balkan trying to control here.
Balkan keeping hold of Merlin's head, controlling as best he can.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Merlin is working away from the top position though.
Balkan has his hands clasped together around Merlin's back. He's all about the action.
Balkan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan wants to sweep but Merlin has passed to side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (18) Merlin
Balkan holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Balkan wants to control but Merlin postures up.
Merlin has knee on belly and moves into mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Balkan (0) vs (20) Merlin
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Merlin looking to control but Balkan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Merlin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that's the end of the fight!
Merlin wins on points by 20 to 0.
A victorious Xavier Merlin thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter. |
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