Polaris 29 results and highlights: AOJ scores clean sweep, Jay Rod suffers upset loss
View results and video highlights from Polaris 29, which saw a mixture of both gi and no-gi submission-only matches.
On September 7, leading UK grappling promotion Polaris returned to action with Polaris 29. The card featured elite competitors in both gi and no-gi matches and was headlined by a gi clash between multiple-time IBJJF world champion Diego “Pato” Oliveira and former three-division Polaris champion Ash Williams.
The main event saw Art of Jiu-Jitsu representative “Pato” largely control the action against Williams, finding plenty of success from the top position while keeping the Welsh grappler on the defensive. Williams acquitted himself well and never looked entirely out-classed, but ultimately Oliveira walked away with the clear-cut decision.
The evening’s co-main event saw a significant upset, as Mohammed Avtarhanov was able to secure a narrow split-decision win over recent ADCC silver medalist Jay Rodriguez. Both athletes had moments of success through the opening two-thirds of the 10-minute contest, while Rodriguez essentially dominated the final third, nearly sinking in the rear-naked choke. However, Avtarhanov had done enough early to earn the decision.
Before that, AoJ athletes Tainan Dalpra and Cole Abate both looked dominant in their gi matches. Dalpra looked effectively unstoppable from the top position en route to a submission victory by way of kimura over Tarik Hopstock. For his part, Abate found plenty for dominant positions on his way to a unanimous decision over Ireland’s Sam McNally.
Also of note, New Wave representative Davis Asare was originally slated to face Fellipe Andrew on the card, but when news broke that Andrew had been hit with a doping violation by the IBJJF, Polaris – consistent with the organization’s new anti-doping policy – removed Andrew from the match. Local grappler George Pearse stepped up on just hours’ notice and nearly pulled off the massive upset, dominating Asare in the contest’s closing few minutes.
Polaris 29 results
- Diego “Pato” Oliveira def. Ash Williams via unanimous decision (gi)
- Mohammed Avtarhanov def. Jacob Rodriguez via split decision
- Tainan Dalpra def. Tarik Hopstock via submission (kimura – gi)
- Cole Abate def. Sam McNally via unanimous decision (gi)
- Davis Asare def. George Pearse via unanimous decision
- Jed Hue def. Julian Espinosa via split decision
- Cam Donnelly def. Dom Dillon via submission (heel hook)
