A rundown of the biggest headlines and news from the world of competitive grappling.
The first IBJJF world championship where heelhooks and reaping were in play for adult brown and black belts went off without a hitch. Curiously, the introduction of those techniques didn’t have as much of an impact as many would have predicted. With adequate warning that they were going to be included, it seemed as though the majority of competitors have worked hard on their leglock defense before turning up.
Regardless, the event still saw several athletes claiming their first no gi world championship. Pedro Marinho in particular had a great weekend when he took home his first two titles, winning the absolute division as well as his own weight-class. The current generation of female competitors looked terrifyingly efficient too, with Mayssa Bastos, Ffion Davies, Elisabeth Clay, and Rafaela Guedes all coming home with gold medals.
Full results can be found here.
Mason Fowler retains title again at Submission Underground 27
For the ninth straight time, Mason Fowler emerged victorious in a SUG title match and reconfirmed his status as the most successful champion in the promotion’s young history. Gabriel Checco presented another tough match in a series of them that Fowler has had in the SUG cage, but in the end he managed to secure the victory in EBI overtime with a tight rear-naked choke.
Prior to Fowler’s title-defense there were a number of lightning-quick finishes in the preliminary card, with five of the seven matches ending within the five minute regulation time-period. Aside from three devastating heelhooks, Phelan Carron locked up a beautiful Peruvian Necktie against Josiah Iwamizu and Sean McCleary submitted Juan Bernardo with a tight Aoki ankle lock.
Full results can be found here.
Split results for Benson and Maria Henderson at Bellator 268
Former UFC Lightweight world champion Benson Henderson had a big opportunity to right the ship at Bellator 268 when he met former Bellator Lightweight world champion Brent Primus. He was 5-5 since joining the promotion back in 2016 and had lost his last two fights in a row, needing a big win on the night to stay relevant to the title-picture. Instead, he wasn’t able to impress the judges and lost a unanimous decision to Primus.
It isn’t all bad news for his family this morning however as his wife Maria Henderson fared much better in her promotional debut at the start of the card. This was only her second amateur fight but she managed to secure the win after just forty seconds of the first round. She showed the same smooth grappling her husband is known for in locking up a rear-naked choke and forcing her opponent to tap.
Full results for the event can be found here.
Checkmat emerges victorious with a big win at Subversiv 6
It was a great night for both Legion Jiu-Jitsu and Checkmat as both teams made it to the final of Subversiv 6 with a series of great performances. Legion’s Paige Ivette in particular had a series of fantastic performances as she won all three of her matches, including two heelhook finishes against Jackie Cataline, and Thamires Monteiro in the final. She led the charge for Legion as they entered the final undefeated and went 1-0 up immediately.
Checkmat managed to rally however as both of their male competitors, Elder Cruz and Jansen Gomes kept their clean records and won tough decisions against Sloan Clymer and Miha Perhavec respectively. The event also featured a number of superfights with Baret Yoshida retaining his masters gi title against Takahito Yoshioka, and Amanda ‘Tubby’ Alequin battling it out with Pati Fontes to win a decision in the main event.
Full results for the event can be found here.
Quick Hits
- Demian Maia was recently asked who he thought was the best MMA grappler of all time and somewhat surprisingly, he chose Khabib Nurmagomedov.
- Three-time NCAA champion Bo Nickal is set to have his second MMA fight very shortly after he finished his debut opponent in the very first round.
- EBI champion Erin Blanchfield steps in on short-notice against Maycee Barber at UFC 269, giving her an excellent opportunity to break into the Flyweight top 15.
- B-Team Jiu-Jitsu just got even stronger as Robert Degle will now be joining Craig Jones, Nicky Rodriguez, Nicky Ryan, and Ethan Crelinsten in Austin, Texas.
Technique Corner
Shutting down attacks from bottom side control
Securing the sweep from a failed Omoplata attempt
Peruvian D’arce Choke variation