Submission Underground
Without controversy Mason Fowler beats Craig Jones in overtime to retain SUG Absolute world title.
Submission Underground 17 went off last night, live on UFC Fight Pass. In the main event there was a trilogy match between SUG Absolute champ Mason Fowler and Craig Jones.
There was controversy there last time these two tangled, at SUG 16 in July. In that bout BJJ brown belt Fowler won the Absolute title after a ‘verbal tapout’ from Jones, a black belt. However, Jones maintains that—regardless what the referee heard—he did not tap, he was merely making a noise. Either way, Fowler raised the title and put it back on the line versus Jones last night.
And this time around there was no controversy or room for interpretation over what went down in the main event. Fowler and Jones, who is often called the most dominant force in submission grappling were at a stalemate over 5 minutes, so their championship bout went to overtime.
In overtime, Fowler was able to escape Jones’ back control twice. But when Fowler took Jones’ back in the second round of overtime we have able to get the clear and undeniable tapout. To get the win Fowler utilized a brutal body triangle to crank on Jones’ spine, forcing his opponent to concede.
Before the main event UFC fighter Gillian Robertson took on SUG favourite and BJJ black belt Amanda Loewen (who tapped Jessica Eye at SUG 15 in June). Regulation time didn’t provide a winner for this one either. Robertson kicked off overtime with an armbar attempt, but Loewen escaped in just 5 seconds. After they reversed position, Loewen quickly tapped the UFC and TUF veteran.
Also on the main card, a battle between black belts ended when Richie Martinez submitted Ben Egli via armbar in overtime. And another TUF veteran, Jesse Taylor who disqualified from the final of TUF 7 in 2008 and then won TUF: Redemption in 2017.
Full results:
Main Card
Mason Fowler def. Craig Jones via Submission (Body triangle/spine crank), overtime (round 2).
Amanda Loewen def. Gillian Robertson via Submission (Armbar), overtime (round 2).
Richie Martinez def. Ben Egli via Submission (Armbar), overtime (round 1).
Roberto Jimenez def. Jesse Taylor via Submission (Armbar), 1:46.
Undercard
Ethan Crelinsten def. PJ Barch via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), overtime (round 2).
Pierre-Olivier Leclerc def. Sid Skrob via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), overtime (round 1).
Frank Rosenthal def. Phill Schwartz via Submission (Armbar), 1:28.
Justin Renick def. Don Stoner via Fastest Escape Time after three rounds of overtime.
Aaron Tiegs def. Nicholas Maximov via Submission (Collar Choke), overtime (round 1).
Chase Davis def. Kyle Hinkle via Submission (Heel Hook), 1:19.