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WP 80 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 45 wins and 53 losses; Strega Notturna! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 86 wins and 49 losses; Xavier Merlin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Andrew Berry.
Let's get this grappling contest under way! Who will be victorious?
No luck for Merlin with that takedown attempt.
Notturna closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Merlin quickly recovers to half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Notturna (2) vs (0) Merlin
Notturna looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Notturna seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Merlin for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merlin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Notturna controlling the action here.
Notturna continues to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Merlin wants to control but Notturna is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Notturna content to control rather than advance.
Merlin is positioning himself well to prevent Notturna advancing to mount.
We've been hearing good reports from Notturna'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.
Notturna controlling the action here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merlin is controlling Notturna's trapped leg to prevent Notturna from advancing to side control.
Notturna perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Notturna prevents Merlin from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Notturna seems content to control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merlin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Notturna controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Notturna'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.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Notturna wants to pass the guard but Merlin is keeping the position.
Notturna sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Merlin's guard.
Notturna not doing much here.
Merlin wants to get back to full guard.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Notturna with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Merlin keeping hold of Notturna's head, controlling as best he can.
Notturna controlling the pace.
Merlin is looking to improve his position.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna controlling the pace.
Merlin trying to control but Notturna postures up.
Notturna keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Merlin is trying to maintain the position but Notturna is very close to passing his half guard.
Notturna controlling the pace.
Merlin wants to improve his position but Notturna is controlling well.
Notturna controlling the action here.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Notturna.
Merlin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are battling for position here. Merlin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Merlin is pulling down on Notturna's head. It's preventing any offense from Notturna, at least for the moment.
Notturna is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Merlin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Notturna is one step ahead there.
Merlin is controlling Notturna's posture.
Merlin controls Notturna momentarily but Notturna frees himself.
Notturna avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Merlin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Notturna controls the pace.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Notturna is stinking the place up with his stalling.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to sweep but no luck.
Notturna engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Merlin can't keep his opponent in guard - Notturna advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Notturna is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Notturna has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Merlin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Notturna not doing much here.
Merlin is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Merlin wants to get back to full guard.
Notturna sitting and controlling from the half guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Notturna.
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.
More hug and hope from Notturna.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that's the end of the fight!
Notturna takes the fight on points by 2 to 0.
Our winner, Strega Notturna, 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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