Tag: Metamoris 4

Metamoris 4 Videos: Andre Galvao Chokes Out Chael Sonnen, Josh Barnett Submits Dean Lister

(Props: GrapLandTeam Nalchik. Get it while it lasts.)

Chael Sonnen‘s headlining appearance at Metamoris 4 against Andre Galvao on Saturday ended pretty much how we expected: with Sonnen tapping to a far, far superior grappler.

From the opening seconds of the match — when Sonnen took Galvao to the mat with a virtually undefended single-leg takedown — Sonnen’s strategy was to remain in top position and defend whatever Galvao was throwing at him from below. Outside of a cut that Sonnen sustained near his right eye, possibly due to an early clash of heads, the American Gangster did well to keep himself out of danger for the first ten minutes of the match.

Eventually, Galvao gets tired of playing around, and sweeps his way onto Sonnen’s back (see: 13:38-14:44 in the video above). From there, Galvao is relentless in his attack on Sonnen’s neck, looking to sink a rear-naked choke despite Sonnen’s game defenses. But it’s only a matter of time before Galvao advances to checkmate, and Sonnen taps at the video’s 17:28 mark, while a pleased Anderson Silva celebrates in the crowd. Watch until the end to hear Sonnen cut the obligatory pro-wrestling style promo before exiting the building.

After the jump: The Metamoris heavyweight championship bout between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister, which Barnett won via scarf-hold choke with just ten seconds left in the match.


(Props: GrapLandTeam Nalchik. Get it while it lasts.)

Chael Sonnen‘s headlining appearance at Metamoris 4 against Andre Galvao on Saturday ended pretty much how we expected: with Sonnen tapping to a far, far superior grappler.

From the opening seconds of the match — when Sonnen took Galvao to the mat with a virtually undefended single-leg takedown — Sonnen’s strategy was to remain in top position and defend whatever Galvao was throwing at him from below. Outside of a cut that Sonnen sustained near his right eye, possibly due to an early clash of heads, the American Gangster did well to keep himself out of danger for the first ten minutes of the match.

Eventually, Galvao gets tired of playing around, and sweeps his way onto Sonnen’s back (see: 13:38-14:44 in the video above). From there, Galvao is relentless in his attack on Sonnen’s neck, looking to sink a rear-naked choke despite Sonnen’s game defenses. But it’s only a matter of time before Galvao advances to checkmate, and Sonnen taps at the video’s 17:28 mark, while a pleased Anderson Silva celebrates in the crowd. Watch until the end to hear Sonnen cut the obligatory pro-wrestling style promo before exiting the building.

After the jump: The Metamoris heavyweight championship bout between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister, which Barnett won via scarf-hold choke with just ten seconds left in the match.

Chael Sonnen Still Plans on Showing Up to Metamoris 4 on Saturday, Despite NSAC Threats


(Galvao may have the accolades, but he’s never dealt with an elite-level oil-check artist like Sonnen. /Photo via Sherdog)

Chael Sonnen’s jiu-jitsu coach Fabiano Scherner confirmed to MMAFighting.com last night that Sonnen will indeed travel to Los Angeles for his scheduled headliner against Andre Galvao at the Metamoris 4 grappling event on Saturday. Sonnen runs the risk of being fined hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, for violating his two-year suspension from competition. But as the man himself put it…

(Sonnen’s twitter bio still describes him as “Godfather of integrity.” Awesome.)

It should be pointed out that the NSAC’s ability to fine Sonnen for competing in a grappling competition in California is still a major point of contention. Earlier this month, Sonnen’s lawyer Ross Goodman sent NSAC chairman Francisco Aguilar a letter explaining why a jiu-jitsu competition doesn’t fall under the commission’s jurisdiction:

“The term ‘unarmed combat’ is defined in NRS 467.0107 as ‘boxing or any form of competition in which a blow is usually struck which may reasonably be expected to inflict injury. There is no dispute that the NSAC has no jurisdiction or authority to regulate, license or sanction jiu-jitsu and other forms of grappling. Moreover, jiu-jitsu does not fall within the Nevada definition of unarmed combat because it does not involve “blows” of any kind. Likewise, it would be a violation of due process to expand the interpretation of ‘fighting’ broader than the statutory definition of unarmed combat…


(Galvao may have the accolades, but he’s never dealt with an elite-level oil-check artist like Sonnen. /Photo via Sherdog)

Chael Sonnen’s jiu-jitsu coach Fabiano Scherner confirmed to MMAFighting.com last night that Sonnen will indeed travel to Los Angeles for his scheduled headliner against Andre Galvao at the Metamoris 4 grappling event on Saturday. Sonnen runs the risk of being fined hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, for violating his two-year suspension from competition. But as the man himself put it…

(Sonnen’s twitter bio still describes him as “Godfather of integrity.” Awesome.)

It should be pointed out that the NSAC’s ability to fine Sonnen for competing in a grappling competition in California is still a major point of contention. Earlier this month, Sonnen’s lawyer Ross Goodman sent NSAC chairman Francisco Aguilar a letter explaining why a jiu-jitsu competition doesn’t fall under the commission’s jurisdiction:

“The term ‘unarmed combat’ is defined in NRS 467.0107 as ‘boxing or any form of competition in which a blow is usually struck which may reasonably be expected to inflict injury. There is no dispute that the NSAC has no jurisdiction or authority to regulate, license or sanction jiu-jitsu and other forms of grappling. Moreover, jiu-jitsu does not fall within the Nevada definition of unarmed combat because it does not involve “blows” of any kind. Likewise, it would be a violation of due process to expand the interpretation of ‘fighting’ broader than the statutory definition of unarmed combat…

“Further, Mr. Sonnen is headlining Metamoris 4 on August 9, 2014 which has been promoted and marketed almost 1 month before the July 23, 2014 hearing. Mr. Sonnen’s due process rights certainly mandated that any discussion by the NSAC precluding Mr. Sonnen from participating in this jiu-jitsu competition should have been addressed at the hearing.”

As of yesterday, Goodman has yet to receive any official response from the NSAC. And then there’s this inconvenient little clip filmed after Sonnen’s disciplinary hearing last month, in which Aguilar specifically states that “wrestling” competitions aren’t subject to NSAC jurisdiction:

Which raises the question: Was the NSAC even aware of Sonnen’s Metamoris gig during the July hearing? It seems like that detail might have somehow slipped past the commission, and now the NSAC looks foolish, trying to make an issue of something that should have been formally addressed two weeks ago.

My prediction: The American Gangster walks away from this one scot-free. Legally speaking, I mean. Galvao is still going to crush him this weekend, obviously. You can order the iPPV for $30 right here.

NSAC Attemps to Block Chael Sonnen From Competing at Metamoris 4, Threatens Him With Massive Fines


(Life was so much simpler then.)

Last month, the Nevada State Athletic Commission smacked Chael Sonnen with a two-year suspension after he tested positive for a pharmacy’s worth of unapproved substances, following two separate random drug tests back in May. As Sonnen and PED-apologist Ralek Gracie see it, that suspension shouldn’t stop the American Gangster from headlining a submission-grappling event in California this weekend. But according to the NSAC, it should stop him from competing, and they’re pretty upset about it.

Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter broke the news that the NSAC is attempting to prevent Sonnen from competing at Metamoris 4, scheduled for this Saturday, August 9th, in Los Angeles. As Botter wrote:

“Multiple sources confirm NAC has threatened to fine Sonnen $250,000 per failed drug test violation if he competes at Metamoris. Sonnen has hired Vegas lawyer Ross Goodman to represent him in the case…Sonnen camp’s contention is that grappling is not fighting and suspension shouldn’t cover it.”

A follow-up report from MMAJunkie adds more details:


(Life was so much simpler then.)

Last month, the Nevada State Athletic Commission smacked Chael Sonnen with a two-year suspension after he tested positive for a pharmacy’s worth of unapproved substances, following two separate random drug tests back in May. As Sonnen and PED-apologist Ralek Gracie see it, that suspension shouldn’t stop the American Gangster from headlining a submission-grappling event in California this weekend. But according to the NSAC, it should stop him from competing, and they’re pretty upset about it.

Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter broke the news that the NSAC is attempting to prevent Sonnen from competing at Metamoris 4, scheduled for this Saturday, August 9th, in Los Angeles. As Botter wrote:

“Multiple sources confirm NAC has threatened to fine Sonnen $250,000 per failed drug test violation if he competes at Metamoris. Sonnen has hired Vegas lawyer Ross Goodman to represent him in the case…Sonnen camp’s contention is that grappling is not fighting and suspension shouldn’t cover it.”

A follow-up report from MMAJunkie adds more details:

A source close to the commission, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, today told MMAjunkie that the commission sent a letter to Sonnen this past week informing him that the grappling match violated the terms of his suspension, which was handed down in July after a disciplinary hearing on multiple failed drug tests at UFC 175.

In turn, Sonnen’s legal rep, Jeff Meyer, sent a response that challenged the NSAC’s definition of competing. At the time of this writing, it appears Sonnen will meet Galvao as scheduled…Although the grappling competition is not sanctioned by a state athletic commission, as it isn’t considered a combat sport in the same way as are boxing and MMA, the NSAC wants Sonnen to withdraw from the event.

The NSAC’s motivations behind this pursuit are obvious, and fairly logical. Even though submission grappling isn’t technically defined as a “combat sport” — which is bizarre, but whatever — the mere sight of Sonnen participating in any athletic competition directly after a suspension makes the Nevada commission look toothless. In other words, the NSAC needs to drop the hammer in order to send a message that their suspensions should be respected.

But how much jurisdiction does Nevada actually have to regulate what goes on in California? That question might only be settled by a long legal dispute. We’ll keep you posted…

If You Need a Laugh, Here’s Ralek Gracie Arguing That Steroids Don’t Enhance Performance in Jiu-Jitsu

(Props: AXS TV via BloodyElbow)

In light of his high-profile career–ending PED bust, you might be surprised to learn that Chael Sonnen is still headlining the Metamoris 4 grappling tournament against Andre Galvao, August 9th in Los Angeles. I mean, doesn’t Metamoris test for steroids and EPO and all that other crap that Sonnen had floating around in his system? No, actually they don’t. In a statement released earlier this month, Metamoris promoter Ralek Gracie said the following:

“[W]e don’t currently test for PED’s and we are not an MMA organization. Metamoris is a grappling event with different rules and we require our own unique set of regulations for all aspects of participation.

“We are concerned about the issue of PED’s overall but we have a lot of research and work to do before accurately defining our stance. Due to the instability and controversy surrounding the regulation of PED’s we are taking our time to discover the best approach and fit for our organization.

“Lastly, for the people who understand the level of opposition Chael is facing at Metamoris 4, his use of any supplement or drug is not likely to provide any advantage whatsoever.”

Yes, I’m sure Metamoris has its best scientists working around-the-clock to determine whether steroids give an athlete a competitive advantage or not. (Spoiler alert: They do, and we figured that out decades ago.) Plus, for anybody who thinks that Sonnen’s PED-use shouldn’t matter in this case because he’s already at an enormous talent-disadvantage against Andre Galvao, allow me to blow your minds: What if Galvao is using PEDs too? Remember, Metamoris isn’t testing any of its fighters, so there’s nothing preventing the entire lineup from juicing.

Honestly, Ralek Gracie should just stop talking about this subject, because it’s only going to draw negative attention to his operation. Instead, he went on Inside MMA to further explain why steroid use isn’t such a big deal in jiu-jitsu competition. I mean, what are steroids, anyway? Does anybody really know? Here’s what he told Kenny and Bas:


(Props: AXS TV via BloodyElbow)

In light of his high-profile career–ending PED bust, you might be surprised to learn that Chael Sonnen is still headlining the Metamoris 4 grappling tournament against Andre Galvao, August 9th in Los Angeles. I mean, doesn’t Metamoris test for steroids and EPO and all that other crap that Sonnen had floating around in his system? No, actually they don’t. In a statement released earlier this month, Metamoris promoter Ralek Gracie said the following:

“[W]e don’t currently test for PED’s and we are not an MMA organization. Metamoris is a grappling event with different rules and we require our own unique set of regulations for all aspects of participation.

“We are concerned about the issue of PED’s overall but we have a lot of research and work to do before accurately defining our stance. Due to the instability and controversy surrounding the regulation of PED’s we are taking our time to discover the best approach and fit for our organization.

“Lastly, for the people who understand the level of opposition Chael is facing at Metamoris 4, his use of any supplement or drug is not likely to provide any advantage whatsoever.”

Yes, I’m sure Metamoris has its best scientists working around-the-clock to determine whether steroids give an athlete a competitive advantage or not. (Spoiler alert: They do, and we figured that out decades ago.) Plus, for anybody who thinks that Sonnen’s PED-use shouldn’t matter in this case because he’s already at an enormous talent-disadvantage against Andre Galvao, allow me to blow your minds: What if Galvao is using PEDs too? Remember, Metamoris isn’t testing any of its fighters, so there’s nothing preventing the entire lineup from juicing.

Honestly, Ralek Gracie should just stop talking about this subject, because it’s only going to draw negative attention to his operation. Instead, he went on Inside MMA to further explain why steroid use isn’t such a big deal in jiu-jitsu competition. I mean, what are steroids, anyway? Does anybody really know? Here’s what he told Kenny and Bas:

“With EPO, that’s kind of something I hadn’t really looked into as much, but with steroids, for us in jiu-jitsu, if you’re using a lot of steroids, you’re gonna run out of strength, you’re gonna run out of energy faster.

“Maybe if you’re doing a weight-lifting competition, or you’re doing a fight with three 5-minute rounds, or two 2-minute rounds, or whatever, and you’re gonna go in there and just let everything go and take a 30-second break or whatever, a minute break. With Jiu-jitsu, with 20-minute rounds in Metamoris, my stance for the most part has been ‘Man, let’s see these guys go in there and let’s see what they have to offer.’

“I think the EPO thing as far as being a boost for endurance…it’s messed up. And we have to look into that. As a new organization, we’re playing it, we’re trying to get as much as we can, we’re trying to put as many exciting fights together as possible, and it’s a lot of work. People are blaming us, people are giving us a lot of trouble, but a lot of people just want to see this interesting match up…

“Everybody knows in our community, that Chael is up against the works, he’s up against a huge opponent. So, I’m like, okay, the UFC kicks him out, it’s exciting, let’s see what he can do against Galvao. If he survives, he’s considered the winner. It’s not a title on the line. Chael is probably, he’s on the way out as everybody’s talking about. Let’s see what he can do and if he can do something exciting.”

There’s nothing stopping Metamoris from bringing in Chael Sonnen to draw some heat around its event; I’m not completely clear on how the promotion avoids being regulated by athletic commissions, but drug-testing just isn’t a requirement for the operation, somehow. It is what it is. “A lot of people just want to see this interesting match up,” Gracie says. Fine.

What bothers me is Ralek Gracie relying on some bullshit bro-science about recovery time, to justify Sonnen’s inclusion as legitimate, and to suggest that the normal rules of human performance — and performance enhancement — don’t apply to jiu-jitsu, because jiu-jitsu is soooooo special, you guys. Look, we know why steroids and other PEDs are illegal in major sports, and how they affect the body. The jury is not still out on this crap. It’s an unfair advantage. Unless of course, everybody in Metamoris is using PEDs, in which case the playing field is level again.

Is it still cheating if nobody seems to care?

Report: Chael Sonnen vs. Andre Galvao to Headline Metamoris 4, August 9th in Los Angeles


(Yeah, this should go well. Photo via MMAWeekly)

The fourth installment of submission-only grappling series Metamoris will be headlined by a stunt-match that makes very little sense from a competitive standpoint, but we’ll probably watch it anyway. According to an MMAFighting report, Metamoris 4 (August 9th, Los Angeles) will feature freshly-retired superheel Chael Sonnen vs. highly decorated jiu-jitsu champion Andre Galvao.

Though Sonnen will enjoy a size advantage against Galvao — who has spent most of his competitive grappling career between 181-194 pounds, and used to compete in MMA as a welterweight — this is a talent mismatch of cosmic proportions. Galvao’s accomplishments include seven gold medals at the BJJ World Championships between 2002-2008, and three golds at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, including his first-place finishes in the 88kg and Absolute categories in 2011.

Sonnen has no such pedigree to rely on. His effective ground-game earned him submission wins against Mauricio Rua and Brian Stann later in his UFC career, but keep in mind, this is the guy who used to get subbed by Brazilians on a regular basis. Our prediction: Sonnen sells a lot of tickets, then gets styled on. (And I guess Metamoris doesn’t drug test its competitors, huh.)

Metamoris 4 is also expected to feature a heavyweight match between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister.


(Yeah, this should go well. Photo via MMAWeekly)

The fourth installment of submission-only grappling series Metamoris will be headlined by a stunt-match that makes very little sense from a competitive standpoint, but we’ll probably watch it anyway. According to an MMAFighting report, Metamoris 4 (August 9th, Los Angeles) will feature freshly-retired superheel Chael Sonnen vs. highly decorated jiu-jitsu champion Andre Galvao.

Though Sonnen will enjoy a size advantage against Galvao — who has spent most of his competitive grappling career between 181-194 pounds, and used to compete in MMA as a welterweight — this is a talent mismatch of cosmic proportions. Galvao’s accomplishments include seven gold medals at the BJJ World Championships between 2002-2008, and three golds at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, including his first-place finishes in the 88kg and Absolute categories in 2011.

Sonnen has no such pedigree to rely on. His effective ground-game earned him submission wins against Mauricio Rua and Brian Stann later in his UFC career, but keep in mind, this is the guy who used to get subbed by Brazilians on a regular basis. Our prediction: Sonnen sells a lot of tickets, then gets styled on. (And I guess Metamoris doesn’t drug test its competitors, huh.)

Metamoris 4 is also expected to feature a heavyweight match between Josh Barnett and Dean Lister.