A rundown of the biggest headlines and news from the world of competitive grappling.
Polaris put on their second squads event this week with Team UK and Team Europe clashing in the gi, with a number of lineup changes from the first event. The UK won the first Polaris Squads event by a razor-thin margin as the eighty minute battle produced only one submission finish. This second event was the polar opposite, with Team Europe putting on a dominant display and winning 9-0 with plenty of finishes.
Tommy Langaker and Leon Larman led the charge for Europe with both men submitting three opponents in phenomenal performances, while Dinu Bucalet and Luca Anacoreta got a finish each. In the half-time superfight, Ashley Williams became a triple champion in a dominant decision win against Tom Halpin, adding the Featherweight title to his Bantamweight and Lightweight crowns.
The full play-by-play for Polaris Squads 2 can be found here.
Combat Jiu Jitsu Ready to Crown First Female Flyweight World Champion
CJJ is now a staple of the grappling world and Eddie Bravo had already announced one World Championship event before the end of 2020. Now, the lineup is ready for a second World Champion to be crowned by the end of the year, the first in the female Flyweight division. As usual with CJJ, there are a number of experienced MMA fighters vying for the title with half the field currently fighting for Invicta FC.
Pearl Gonzalez stands out as the most experienced MMA fighter on the card as a former and future Invicta FC title-challenger, but she will have plenty of challenges to overcome. There are a pair of EBI veterans in Gabby Romero and Rachael Cummins, alongside experienced ATOS black belt and elite masters competitor, Nikki Sullivan.
Kennedy Maciel Continues Stellar Run at Fight 2 Win 156
As the son of Rubens Charles ‘Cobrinha’, there have always been high expectations put on Kennedy Maciel’s shoulders and he is living up to them in a big way lately. As competition picked back up after the forced break from the pandemic, Maciel has been on an absolute tear. He started back at Fight 2 Win 151 in September by claiming the promotion’s Lightweight gi title in a close match against the more experienced Osvaldo Moizinho.
He followed this up by winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam tour event in Miami at Welterweight with a flawless run through the bracket. When the match at F2W 156 against Edwin ‘Junny’ Ocasio was announced, the leglock specialist was seen as a big challenge for Maciel in a no gi bout. He upped the ante however by finishing his opponent with an Armbar and becoming a double champion at F2W.
John Danaher Promotes Two New Black Belts, Nicky Ryan & Ethan Crelinsten
The Danaher Death Squad are already one of the most famous competition teams in the sport thanks to the success of senior members like Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, and Eddie Cummings. Over the years, a number of junior members of the squad have also rose to prominence as they progress through the belt rankings, namely Gordon’s younger brother Nicky, and Ethan Crelinsten.
This week, those two athletes received their final belt promotion from John Danaher, although it’s unlikely to change much for them as they’ve both already beaten a number of black belts in competition. Nicky only spent roughly a year as a brown belt and Crelinsten has only spent 8 years training in total, but both of these young athletes will certainly achieve big things in the years to come.
Quick Hits
- IBJJF World Champion Mahamed Aly publicly admitted this week that he’s used PEDs in the past, but claims that it didn’t actually help his performance in the end.
- Tristar Head Coach and MMA wizard Firas Zahabi took an unusual stance recently when he declared that he always refuses to roll with women in training.
- Glover Teixeira became a part of UFC history at UFC Vegas 13 when submitted Thiago Santos to equal the Light-Heavyweight records for most finishes, and most submissions.
- Bellator MMA star James Gallagher claimed that Sean O’Malley was ducking him after Chael Sonnen openly asked for an opponent for him on the next Submission Underground event.
Technique Corner
Spider Guard to X-Guard with Lapel Grip, to Kneebar
K-Guard to Backside 50/50, to Heelhook