EBI 16 results and highlights: Mesquita wins women’s BW tourney

Beatriz Mesquita became first women’s bantamweight champion in the Eddie Bravo Invitational.

The Eddie Bravo Invitational once again brought out some of the best competitors in the game as EBI 16 featured the female bantamweights. The finals featured a contest between two women that are very familiar with each other, as Beatriz Mesquita and Bianca Basilio battled in the last match of the evening. In highlight-reel fashion, it would be Mesquita who found a way to win with a quick submission in the very first overtime period.

Mezquita won by triangle choke in the semifinals vs. Luanna Alzuguir, while Basilio got an armbar vs. Nikki Sullivan.

This was a rematch of sorts as Mesquita and Basilio met in the finals of the 60 kilograms division at ADCC 2017. It would be there that Mesquita earned a victory via rear-naked choke, and she once again got the win over her rival on the EBI mats.

In regulation time both women were aggressive, looking to get the finish. In all of their other matches, they found a way to get the tap before reaching the overtime round. That would not be the case for the finals as neither was able to get the win before the first timer would sound. They had their strong points though, as Basilio worked on an ankle lock and Mesquita attempted an inside heel hook, but both women have the technical prowess to fight off those submissions.

Then overtime came and Mesquita did not need much time to secure the victory and the bantamweight title. She needed only four seconds to lock on a tight arm bar from the spider web position to get Basilio to submit. That put her in an excellent position to win the title as all she would have to do is last for five seconds when Basilio attempted the same position. The start signal came and Basilio didn’t have much of an opportunity to open up the attack as time ended; crowning Mesquita as the first women’s bantamweight EBI champion in her first submission-only event of the year.

“I wanted to be here and get the belt,” Mesquita said during the post-match interview. “I believe in my coach and I knew I was ready for this. I’ve been doing this since I was five years old. This proves that this will work. Just believe in yourself.”

Richie “Boogeyman” Martinez was also victorious during EBI 16 when he defeated Bobby Emmons to keep his Combat Jiu Jitsu welterweight title. He secured a tight D’arce choke with a little more than three minutes remaining to get the victory and successfully defend the title that he won in October of 2017.

EBI continues to be one of the flagship promotions in competitive grappling. Featuring the women on yet another action packed card shows that they are willing to dedicate time and exposure to these athletes. Another women’s only event, this time featuring the strawweight division, is planned for later this year.

Check out the full EBI 16 results here. A UFC Fight Pass replay is available here.