Grappling Rewind: Breakdowns of Professional BJJ and Grappling Events

#94 2019 IBJJF Heavyweight GP, Shugyo Ep 2 Recap, Preview of Polaris 11, Fight to Win 123

Grappling Rewind Staff Episode 94

This week on the show Maine and Emil recap the 2019 IBJJF Heavyweight GP, The Shugyo Invitational Episode 2, Preview Polaris 11, Fight to Win 123 in Sacramento, CA, and talk professional BJJ News.   Get the video show on YouTube. 

In the news section we talk about Garry Tonon potentially returning to grappling.  We mention that Damien Maia Vs. Ben Askren has been booked in the UFC for October 26th.  Talk about Daniel Strauss lifting the Dinnie stones.  As well as a big thank you to Footlock Fire for helping Maine out with some long running audio issues that have plagued the show for multiple years. 

In the recap section of the show we kick things off with the 2019 IBJJF HW GP talking about replacements and each of the 7 matches that were part of the event in the quarterfinals we saw Joao Gabriel Rocha Patrick Gaudio, Vinicius Ferreira versus Luiz Panza that has some passing and rule issues, that affected the pace of the event.  We saw Lucas Barbosa take a decisive shutout victory over Tim Spriggs via points 12-0, and in the last match of the quarters Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Victor Hugo 0-0, in what the hosts thought was one of the best on paper matchps.  

In the Semifinals we break down Joao Gabriel Rocha Vinicius Ferriera and lots of advantages, then Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Lucas Barbosa in a matchup full of controversy and penalties the Maine and Emil agree and disagree with 

In the finals we break down how Cyborg defeated Joao Gabriel Rocha and earned himself 40,000 dollars and Joao 10K in prize money.  After that the hosts discuss some of the odd pacing and breaks in the event including a 2 hour break between the semifinals and the main event. 

After that we move into our recap of Shugyo Invitational Episode 2 and talk about how much we love the format and the narrative elements in the shows production.  What we gleam from the competitors and generally how great the event is to watch. We break down Keith Krikorian Vs Max Rohskopf in their first round bouts and talk about how cool it was to hear Krikorian break down the submission that he gets it done with.  Then we move into the recap of the Ethan Crelinsten Vs. Josh Bacallao match that saw Ethan take it with an impressive back take trapping the arms, and sinking in a deep rear naked choke to get the win.  Tune in every week for this ongoing event.  

We briefly touch on ACE grappling and their event that run this weekend, and how to find the promotions matches. 

After that we move into the preview section of the show taking about Polaris Pro 11.  Headlined by Ffion Davies VS Talita Alencar in a matchup that Maine thinks will determine the next grappler to compete for the belt.  Edwin Najmi VS Mansher Khera a bout that could have potentially taken place last week in another organization, but that we get to see for real here.  Cage Warriors star Paddy Pimblett takes on Steven Ray. A sleeper match on the main card in the Gi Marcos Tinoco VS Tommy Langaker, this is very well matched, and both hosts are looking forward to this style clash.  Heavyweight Judoka Satoshi Ishii is pitted against No-Gi specialist Arya Esfandmaz, and Ben Dyson takes on Nick Rodriguez a seemingly unstoppable ADCC bound Blue Belt.  We have been seeing a ton of Nicky Rod in recent weeks and he has not disappointed us yet.  Looking forward to this whole event as well as some really outstanding matchups on the undercard.  

After that we preview Fight 2 Win 123, in Sacramento, California.  This event is main evented by a matchup you do not want to miss Dante Leon vs Gabriel Arges, Leon is a grappler that we have seen push the action against event the highest level of competitors and Arges is just that this has fight of the night written all over it.  In the Co-Main event we see Jose Carlos Lima vs Samir Chantre, and in the third