It was a mixed bag for the professional mixed martial arts fighters trying their hand at elite submission grappling. For those like Vinny Magalhaes – a decorated grappler before he became an MMA fighter – the day was hugely successful. In the +99kg division, Magalhaes advanced to the semifinals, winning both of the days matches by submission. He submitted Paul Ardilia in the first round, following it up with a twister of Rodrigo Artilheiro in the quarterfinals. The Brazilian faces Fabricio Werdum training partner Orlando Sanchez on Sunday.
Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson did not fare so well. He was submitted in the very first round of the tournament by Abdukadirov Magomed after a takedown to back-take combination allowed the Russian to secure a rear-naked choke.
Magomed met his match, however, when he faced former top jiu-jitsu competitor and now UFC lightweight Gilbert Burns. The Brazilian defeated Magomed in the quarterfinals of the -77kg weight division. Burns moves onto Sunday’s semifinals opposite Davi Ramos.
Last, but certainly not least, currently-suspended UFC welterweight Hector Lombard was able to get past the first round by defeating Jason Bukich on points in the opening round of the -99kg division tournament, but lost a referee’s decision to multiple-time world champion Xande Ribeiro.
Full results of the first day can be found here. Sunday’s semifinal brackets are as follows:
Male -66kg
Rubens Charles vs. Augusto Mendes
Bruno Frazzato vs. Geo Martinez
Male -77kg
Otavio Souza vs. Lucas Lepri
Davi Ramos vs. Gilbert Burns
Male -88kg
Romulo Barral vs. Yuri Simoes
Rustam Chsiev vs. Keenan Cornelius
Male -99kg
Joao Assis vs. Felipe Pena
Xande Ribeiro vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Male +99kg
Orlando Sanchez vs. Vinny Magalhaes
Jared Dopp vs. Joao Rocha
Female -60kg
Michelle Nicollini vs. Tammy Musucemi
Mackenzie Dern vs. Beatriz Mesquita
Female +60kg
Ana Lauta Cordeiro vs. Amanda Santana