A rundown of the biggest headlines and news from the world of competitive grappling.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Submission Underground were clearing up after their 19th event, but Chael Sonnen doesn’t waste a good opportunity. Only a matter of days after that event, SUG finished off 2020 with one more action-packed card before New Year’s Eve. One of the biggest moments of the night saw Jones do what Mason Fowler couldn’t at the previous event when he submitted Satoshi Ishii within the regulation period.
Richie Martinez also came out on the winning side of his match with UFC veteran CB Dolloway, submitting his opponent in under a minute. The main event then saw Mason Fowler defending his SUG Absolute title for the second time in December, and he also secured a tap within the regulation period by locking up an Armbar against Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Ryan Bader.
Full results for the event can be found here.
RIZIN FF 26 Ends the Year with Plenty of Submissions
New Year’s Eve and Japanese MMA, name a more iconic duo. For nearly two decades now, fight fans around the world have been able to ring in the new year to the sights and sounds of high-level MMA action. This year was no exception, with RIZIN FF having taken responsibility for putting on the final MMA event of the year for the fifth time in a row.
The event was split into three sections with a total of sixteen fights, but only twelve of them were contested under MMA rules. Out of those twelve, half of them ended in submission, including the fight for the vacant RIZIN Super Atomweight Championship. Ayaka Hamasaki claimed the title by submitting Miyuu Yamamoto with an incredibly unusual submission in the first round, locking up a leg-scissors choke.
Full results for the event can be found here.
The First BJJ Video Game Hits Google Play Store
Be Jiu-Jitsu (BEJJ) may not be fully finished just yet, but the mobile app has now been released to stores for beta testing. The app was developed by Smash Mountain Studio and is the brainchild of the founder, CEO, and BJJ black belt, Luiz Eduardo Adler. It’s essentially a free-to-play strategy card game based around the sport, and it’s even been given the seal of approval by none other than Roger and Kyra Gracie.
The initial announcement by the studio indicated that it would be available on both Andriod and IOS platforms, although the beta test is currently only available through the Google Play Store. The game is still in it’s infancy and several features of the game are likely to develop further before the game is fully finished, but they have decided to start their very first competitive season with the rankings opening on January 1st, 2020.
Media Outlets Announce Their End-of-year Awards
AJ McKee cleaned up this year as a result of his brutal neck crank of Darrion Caldwell, edging out strong competition to win Bloody Elbow’s MMA Submission of the year for 2020. He was also awarded that same honor from Jits Magazine, who gave out a grappling Submission of the year title to Kade Ruotolo as well for his unique Buggy Choke submission against PJ Barch in the Combat Jiu Jitsu Lightweight World Championship finals.
Roberto ‘Cyborg’ Abreu then won the title of No Gi Grappler of the Year after beating elite grapplers like Kaynan Duarte and Lucas ‘Hulk’ Barbosa despite turning 40 at the end of this year. He was also part of one of the picks for Best Jiu-Jitsu Match for JiuJitsuTimes, where one editor agreed with JitsMagazine in declaring Who’s Number One: Ryan v Diniz the best event of 2020. Voting is still open however for the 2020 FloGrappling awards.
Quick Hits
- Three-time NCAA Champions, Bo Nickal and Jason Nolf, were seen picking up BJJ over the holidays and starting out as white belts.
- 6’3” and 245lbs Bodybuilder/YouTube star Bradley Martyn decided to have a friendly grappling match with a Judo black belt and BJJ brown belt, it didn’t go too well for him.
- Nicky Rodriguez announced he was following the rest of the Danaher Death Squad to Puerto Rico and would be aiming to capture double gold at ADCC 2022.
- Three-time IBJJF World Champion Gilbert Burns had some kind words to say about fellow UFC star Conor McGregor, namely that his grappling was definitely underrated.
Technique Corner
Seated Guard to K-Guard, to Backside 50/50, to Belly-down Ankle Lock
Countering the Reverse X-Guard Saddle Entry with a Berimbolo
Rear Clinch to 50/50, to Heelhook Finish