A rundown of the biggest headlines and news from the world of competitive grappling.
It was announced last year that Mo Jassim would become the first person to host the world’s premier submission grappling tournament, the ADCC World Championships, for a second time after the success of the 2019 event. This week he gave a rare interview in which he revealed some exciting news both for ADCC 2021, and for the future of the tournament in general.
He started by revealing that the 2019 Double Champion Gordon Ryan may actually be allowed to compete in the tournament again despite his booking for the main event superfight. Jassim also went on to discuss the potential for adding more women’s divisions to future editions of the ADCC World Championships, along with a number of insights into his vision for the competition moving forward.
Click here to read the full interview.
Who’s Number One is Set to be the Best Event Flograppling Has Ever Put On
Last week we discussed how Flograppling had booked both Gordon and Nicky Ryan in great matches for their next Who’s Number One event. Since then, things have gone from good, to great, and all the way through to incredible as Flograppling have now revealed another four matches for the event. They started by announcing that the Ryan brothers’ training partner, Craig Jones, would take on the young prodigy Roberto Jimenez.
This is when things really started to heat up as ADCC veteran Dante Leon was booked against top-ranked UFC Welterweight, Gilbert Burns. Shortly after, Elisabeth Clay was set to take on a phenomenal challenge in the form of one of the most decorated female grapplers of all time, Gabi Garcia. The final addition then was another ADCC veteran in Paulo Miyao, who faces multiple-time EBI champion, Geo ‘Freakahzoid’ Martinez.
Khamzat Chimaev Awarded His Blue Belt Ahead of Potential Demian Maia Fight
After two phenomenal UFC fights in the space of 10 days, Chimaev was awarded his BJJ Blue Belt courtesy of his coach, Alan ‘Finfou’ Nascimento. Keeping up with the fan’s perception of him as a man that can rival Donald Cerrone for activity in the Octagon, Chimaev wasted no time in being set up with a fight against Gerald Meerschaert. Even this was a little too long of a wait for the Chechen, who was only prevented from fighting sooner due to Visa issues.
Meerschaert has alternated wins and losses over his last few fights but will prove a stiffer test for Chimaev than his first two UFC opponents. Dana White has already confirmed that should he get past Meerschaert in their proposed September 19th bout, he’s already got his next fight set up against Demian Maia on Fight Island, in what will be the last fight on the BJJ legend’s UFC contract.
Team UK & Ireland and Team Europe Now Fully Booked For Polaris Squads
After drip-feeding the fans information about the upcoming Polaris Squads events, the promotion decided to release the entire roster for Team UK & Ireland in one go. The eight-man team consists of four -75kg competitors, the previously announced Ashley Williams and Jed Hue being joined by Dominic Dillon and CJJ Featherweight Champion, Tom Halpin. Joining Bradley Hill in the -95kg category is Kieran Davern, Taylor Pearman and Darragh O’Connail.
It was only hours then before they dropped the full roster for Team Europe on us as well, headlined by Bellator and UFC veteran Marcin Held. Alongside him at -95kg is Santeri Lilius, Tarik Hopstock and his long-time coach, Eduardo ‘Teta’ Rios. In the -75kg category is a group of Polaris veterans including Dinu Bucalet, Kamil Wilk, and Tommi Pulkkanen. The final competitor for the team is ADCC European trials bronze medalist Mateusz Szczecinski.
Quick Hits
- After Vanessa Porto vacated the Flyweight title for a Bellator contract, Invicta FC 43 features two phenomenal grapplers competing for it, Erin Blanchfield v Pearl Gonzalez.
- Catch Wrestling World Champion Curran Jacobs was submitted in a matter of minutes at the Sapateiro Invitational by 10th Planet black belt, Quentin Rosenzweig.
- Third Coast Grappling Kumite 6 had several pullouts at the last minute but has managed to fill the spots with some top-quality late replacements, Arnaldo Maidana and Fellipe Trovo.
- Mikey Musumeci is no stranger to taking on opponents who outweigh him but he’s taken it a step further by signing up to the Heavyweight division of the IBJJF 2020 Pan-Ams, despite being less than 64kg.
Technique Corner
Top Half-Guard to Single-Leg X, to The Saddle and Heelhook Finish
Kneebar From Spider-Guard