The Polaris GP is here with a lot of interesting names, which you can see above. One thing to note however is that Davis Asare is out as he has missed weight. Shane Curtis is going to step in for him. There is also a match between Keith Krakorian and Cam Donnelly, a match between UFC vets Alex Caceres and Nathaniel Woods, as well as the title fight between Ffion Davies and Brianna Ste-Marie. Let's watch this together and please wait a day or so for my breakdown and stats post.
CAM DONNELLY vs KEITH KRIKORIAN
The first match here is CAM DONNELLY vs KEITH KRIKORIAN. Cam is a dangerous European that represents B-team and has an impressive leglock game. Keith is very well rounded and has recently been working on his standup game.
Cam pulls guard and Keith moves around from the outside, looking for an opening.
Cam is grabbing the lgs and look for RDLR and DLR. Keith looks for a heelhook quickly, but Cam gets away. There is an nose hit and they stop the action for a sec. Keith goes back to the outside passing and Cam gets to a leg and knocks Keith down, but he gets back up on top after a second. Cam enters the legs again, but he can't get anything going. Keith suddenly jumps over the guard and grabs an arm, He turns it into an armbar and gets the tap. It seems like he did a jumping shoulder crunch/arm saddle/choi bar.
Keith wins via armbar becomes the new Polaris LW champion.
Alex Caceres and Nathaniel Woods
Alex Caceres and Nathaniel Woods are up next with the final prelim match. I don't think either of them have done a grappling match before. I hope this is exciting.
They get started by tying up standing. Woods gets a quick takedown, but Alex gets up quickly. Woods gets another takedown and then plays from top. After about 30 sec Alex stands again. They tie up standing again and Woods hits another single leg. Woods goes for a kouchi gari, but Alex seeing it coming and turns it into a kosoto gari takedown. Alex plays from top halfguard, but after about 30 sec, Woods stands to his feet. A few close foot sweeps for Woods and then he accidently pokes Alex in the eye and the action stops. They start again and Woods gets another takedown. Woods is playing from top and holding Alex's legs so he can't stand up, but Alex eventually gets back to his feet. Alex shoots for a single leg, but can't get it. Woods almost hits a harai goshi, but Alex defends at the last moment. Woods hits another kosoto, but lets Alex up. There has been little ground work, but based upon standing grappling, Woods is winning. The ref warns them to push the pace. I don't feel the pace is that low, but there isn't much work on the ground. Woods hits another foot sweep and Alex pops up again. Alex goes for a single leg that is defended and then Woods gets a single. Woods is on top trying to pass now. After about a min Alex stands again, but he can't get anything going. Woods goes for a single leg again, but Alex sprawls and spins to Wood's back. Alex lock up the body triangle and is in great position with 1 min left. Alex goes for the RNC, but it isn't close. Alex tries to choke over the face, but it is easily defended.
Nathaniel Woods wins via decision.
Luiz Paulo vs PJ Barch
PJ Barch wins by decision.
Levi Jones-Leery vs Shane Curtis
As expected Levi pulls guard. Shane tries a leg lock. Levi bolos left and the switches back to the right side, with a legdrag and gets on top and passes. Levi is working from north-south now and tries to isolate an arm, but as he does Shane gets his guard back. Levi hits a torreando and passes again, but Shane gets his guard back after a few sec. Levi sits down and bolos Shane again and passes. Levi is working side control and Shane is trying to hit him with something called a "goth-lock", which I can only assume is some sort of buggy choke meme submission. It doesn't seem to be working though and Levi doesn't seem to be in danger. Shane stands and after a few takedown attempts from Shane Levi sits. Another bolo into a legdrag pass and Levi is up by 3 points. Shane stands again and Levi sits. Shane tries a wrecking ball pass, but it isn't close. Levi bolos again and uses it to sweep. Shane stands again and tries to hit Levi with a quick double leg, but it doesn't work. Shane tries to play bottom, but Levi just pulls guard. Levi working the bolo again, but Shane defends this time. Shane sits to defend the bolo and Levi simple sits up and scores on him. Shane wrestles up and almost scores, but Levi stands up before getting scored on and then sits to guard. Levi is up 5-0 and is working at a relaxed pace. Levi bolos again and takes Shane's back. Levi is up 6-0 now and is trying to work the RNC. Levi gets under the chin and gets the finish.
Levi Jones-Leery wins via RNC.
Max Hansen vs Epsen Mathiesen
Max Hansen vs Epsen Mathiesen is the next match and this might be hard to call. Max is on a run and has much more experience with nogi, but Epsen has been competing at a high level for a while.
Epsen sits to guard and Max follows him. Epsen starts inverting quickly and Max backs out. Epsen using RDLR now and knocks Max down, but he gets back on top. Epsen goes for a kiss of the dragon and then switchs to a bolo, but Max escapes by the skin of his teeth. Max tries to pass and then drops back for a leglock, but as he does Epse comes on top and Max as to wrestle back to the top. Epsen inverts for a bolo again and almost catches Max again. Max tries to mix in some leglocks with his passing, but can't really get his game started. Epsen works his underhook DLR and knocks Max down and tries to take his back, but Max knocks him off and comes back on top. Max continues to try to pass, but every time he does he gets tangled up. Epsen goes for a bolo and spins 3 times trying to take the back, but Max slips out.
2 min left and neither man wants to change strategy. Epsen seems to get the better of the exchanges, but hasn't scored. Epsen goes for a matrix attack and almost comes on top, but Max slips away. Another bolo attempt from Epsen is foiled. Epsen is trying to come on top for the sweep, but couldn't get it and time runs out.
Epsen Mathiesen wins via decision.
Jozef Chen vs Harrison Wood
Harrison Wood vs Jozef Chen is the last match of the first round. They start out standing and Wood is starting to get aggressive. Chen tries a kosoto gari, but can't get it, He tries a slide by deashi bari and can't hit that either. Chen hits an armdrag to kouchi gari and is now working from top position. Wood inverts and tries to catch a leg, but Chen defends. Wood enters 50/50 and tries to slow Chen's passing down, Chen catches an inside heelhook and Wood looks worried, but escapes at the last moment. They are playing in 50/50 now and trying to change up the entanglement to catch a foot. Chen escapes and is back on top. Chen gets close to a pass and Wood is able to get to closed guard and hit a lumberjack sweep, but Chen defends and then goes for a leg lock. Wood gets on top and ties things up at 1-1. Chen is still controlling the leg entanglement, but uses it to roll on top into 50/50. Chen escapes 50/50 and is up by 1 pt. Wood goes for a waiter sweep and then goes to the saddle, but Chen takes his back. Chen has the body triangle with about 3 min left.
Wood spins and gets out, but Chen is back on top and quickly passes to side control. Chen tries to get the yoko sankaku, but then switches to the kimura and gets the tap.
Jozef Chen wins via Kimura.
PJ Barch vs Epsen Matheisen
PJ Barch vs Epsen Matheisen is coming up now. This is a very interesting stylistic match up. Epsen pulls guard and PJ is working his passing. Epsen is looking to entangle the legs and finnaly gets it as he looks to come on top with a 50/50 sweep. As he goes PJ falls back on an inside heelhook. That's all she wrote.
PJ Barch wins via Inside heelhook.
Levi Jones-Leery vs Jozef Chen
Levi Jones-Leery vs Jozef Chen is our next match. Levi sits and Chen starts getting into his passing. Levi is looking to entangle Chen's legs, but Chen is trying to keep his feet away and use Torreando's and legpin passing. Levi goes to K-guard and uses it to move to a crabride and then takes Chen's back. Levi scores and is working to get secure control of the back. Levi gets it and Chen looks to be stuck for the time being. Levi is trying to hand fight, but Chen's back defense looks solid. Levi goes for a choke over the face and Chen grimaces. Chen is trying to releive the pressure and eventully Levi gives up. Chen spins and ends up in Levi's closed guard. Levi goes back to open guard and Chen is on top trying to pass with 4 min left. Chen is moving back and forth, but getting nowhere. Levi seems to be content to just defend. Chen tries to turn up the heat and almost gets the pass. Levi's guard defense looks impenetrable right now. Levi tries to get into a bolo, but Chen does a good job blocking it. There is less than 2 min left and it looks like Levi might pull off the upset. Chen is still working his Torreando passing, but the match is getting away from him and Levi is just chilling on bottom.
Levi Jones-Leery wins via decision.
Ffion Davies vs Brianna Ste-Marie
Ffion Davies vs Brianna Ste-Marie is the coming up and is a rematch off the ADCC finals. This is for the flyweight title. Ffion sits to guard and tries to wrestleup from DLR. Bri defends and Ffion goes back to it again and gets the sweep. Bri catches her in a tight closed guard with a toplock on the shoulder. Bri tries to tighten it, but Ffion slips out. Ffion stands up and Bri hits a lumberjack sweep, but Ffion gets back on top. Ffion stands again and defends the sweep, but then Bri goes K-guard to Matrix and sweeps and Ffion goes for an ankle lock. Ffion goes belly down for a sec, but Bri defends and escapes. Ffion tries to sweep, but can't get it, so she works DLR and tries to hit a Caio Terra ankle lock. She can't get it, so she goes back to working her DLR. Ffion goes waiter sweep and then X-guard, but can't get it, so she goes back to the ankle lock. Ffion triesd to counter with a Junny lock, but can't get the grip. Bri gets the grip and tries to rip the Junny lock, but Ffion doesn't care. Ffion spins to a Matrix and has a calf slicer with both legs. Ffion can't get it so she slides back and uses a crabride to take the back. Ffion locks up an RNC and it looks deep, but Bri escapes. 2 min left and Ffion is on the back looking for the choke. Bri is trying to shake Ffion off, but Ffion is stuck to her like glue. Ffion moves from the back into a tarikaplata, but they run out of time.
Ffion Davies wins via decision and gets the Strawweight belt.
Levi Jones Leery vs PJ Barch
PJ Barch wins on points and becomes the 2024 Polaris WW GP Champ and gets $20k.
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