Weekend grappling recap: Polaris, Emerald City Invitational, Submission Only Series, and IBJJF Houston Open
We take a look at all the major happenings over the weekend in the BJJ and submission grappling competition scenes.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling have no off-season. Over the weekend, a number of elite competitors were in action under a variety of rulesets.
From a middleweight grand prix at Polaris 22, to EBI rules tournaments at the Emerald City Invitational and Submission Only Series, to IBJJF action, there was something for everyone.
Roberto Jimenez impresses at Polaris 22
In one of the best performances of his still-young career, Ecuadorian black belt Roberto Jimenez defeated Shane Fishman on points, and submitted Hunter Colvin and Jed Hue to win the eight-man middleweight grand prix at Polaris 22. Jimenez now owns the title recently vacated by former champion Craig Jones.
And in the main card’s lone superfight, three-division Polaris champion Ash Williams took on the significantly larger former UFC champion Carlos Condit. Williams, a recent ADCC veteran, made relatively quick work of Condit, securing a heel hook win in the first five minutes.
View full results and a recap here.
Dan Manasoiu wins absolute grand prix at Emerald City Invitational
The fifth Emerald City invitational saw a slew of last-minute changes, losing top competitors like Andrew Tackett, Kyle Boehm, and Devhonte Johnson in the days and hours leading up to the event.
Still, New Wave’s “Big” Dan Manasoiu put on stellar performances against top grapplers to take home gold, defeating fast-rising black belt Austin Baker in the final.
Just a purple belt, Manasoiu showed off a varied submission game throughout the event, attacking both the lower and upper body without discrimination.
Ryan Aitken captures gold at Submission Only Series 8
In other EBI-rules action, CJJ world champion Ryan Aitken took home gold in a 16-man middleweight grand prix at Submission Only Series 8.
The 10th Planet black belt looked in top form throughout the competition and, in the final, survived some tough spots in regulation to earn a submission win in overtime against ADCC veteran Kenta Iwamoto.
IBJJF Houston Open gi and no-gi results
Finally, the IBJJF returned to Houston, TX for a gi and no-gi open tournament.
Number-one ranked black belt competitor Fellipe Andrew continued his run of dominance in the gi, capturing gold in the heavy and open class divisions.
Also, a couple of elite grapplers shined in both gi and no-gi action. Top Atos competitor Andy Murasaki performed well in the middleweight division, taking home gold in gi and no-gi.
Similarly, Checkmat’s Raquel Canuto didn’t lose a match the entire weekend. She won gold in the gi in the middleweight division, closed out her no-gi division with Checkmat teammate Thamires Monteiro, and won the no-gi open class.
View complete Houston open gi results here, and no-gi results here.
