UFC vet Tom Breese and ADCC European trials champ Ross Nicholls are signed on for the Polaris13: UK Grand Prix event, taking place July 11th.
Back in February, Polaris 13 was announced as an ‘Absolute Grand Prix’ openweight tournament. Unfortunately, however, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a change of course for the pro-grappling promotion. However, the even it still set to go ahead, just with a slightly more limited scope.
While social distancing still remains in the UK, Polaris have elected to hold a show behind closed doors featuring some of the best grapplers on the British circuit.
Tom Breese is a black belt under Inglorius Grapplers and a coach at Renegade Jiu Jitsu, which is home to Leon and Fabian Edwards. Breese is 4-2 in the UFC and is best known for a win over Dan Kelly and a memorable one-sided beating of Cathal Pendred in Dublin. Breese has competed a number of times on the UK grappling scene and is regarded as a high-level grappler.
In addition to Breese, the tournament will also feature Ross Nicholls, who is undisputed the best no-gi grappler at 77kg (169 lbs) in the UK. Ross holds win over Gianni Grippo, Darragh O’Connail and Nathan Orchard. Nicholls is the most accomplished grappler in the field but also probably the smallest.
Freddie Vosgrone has also been penciled in for the tournament, and is the only man from the proposed original Polaris 13 card to still remain in this new incarnation. Vosgrone is a Carlson Gracie black belt and known for his varied game. He is unbeaten in Polaris and will likely be the biggest man in the bracket, as he routinely walks around at 105kg (231 lbs).
The card will also feature a rematch between Jed Hue and Dinu Bucalet, who fought an epic battle at Polaris Contenders event. Hue is being touted as one of the leading figures in the next wave of European grapplers.
Polaris 13 goes down on July 11 and will be aired on UFC Fight Pass