It was a big day on Saturday last weekend (23/02/2019) for our Absolute MMA grappling team with both Grapplefest 4 in Liverpool, England and the UAEJJF National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Sydney, Australia.
Internationally at Grapplefest we had a team of three competing with Craig Jones on as the main event, Lachlan Giles on the co-main and Izaak Michell (visiting from Arruda BJJ) on the main card. Izaak was first up against opponent Nathan Dunne (Next Gen) in an U70kg bout, looking super cool, calm and collected on the mat. Izaak avoided all submission attempts, and after displaying good top pressure and positional control, secured a win via heel-hook! Congratulations Izaak!
The co-main event saw Coach Lachlan Giles up against Braulo Estima black belt Bradley Hill in an U80kg bout. Lachlan found himself in trouble initially with Hill landing a rolling take down, but recovered, stringing together a series of attacks which resulted in another win via submission with an unorthodox inside heel-hook just ahead of the five minute mark. Job well done Lachlan!
In an exciting match up against 2 x IBJJF Gi World Champion Gabriel Arges, Craig Jones‘ U90kg bout rolled around on the main card and it was time to throw down! Craig kicked off the match with a slower than normal start for him, having just coached teammates Izaak and Lachlan in their bouts. Arges was first to pull guard, with Craig displaying his strong top game, passing the guard to mount. The clash continued with Craig throwing a number of leg attacks at Arges which were defended successfully, but once Craig took the back around the 10 minute mark, he wasted no time in sinking in a RNC to finish the match. Great result for Craig and the team with 3 wins via submission!
On the local scene in Sydney, the UAEJJF National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship saw our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team go to work! Well done to everyone who competed and earned their medals on the day. Results from the team were as follows:
GIRLS GI / TEEN / 63KG / ORANGE/GREEN – Nacinta Tuuholoaki (Gold)
MALE GI / BLUE / ADULT / 85KG – Clay Lyne (Bronze)
MALE GI / BLUE / ADULT / 110KG – Luis Gabriel Contreras Olave (Gold)
MALE GI / PURPLE / ADULT / 69KG – Journ Tang (Silver)
MALE GI / PURPLE / ADULT / 77KG – Vincent Rogato (Bronze)
MALE GI / PURPLE / MASTER 1 / 94KG – George Miller (Gold)
FEMALE GI / BROWN / BLACK / ADULT / 90KG – Shantelle Thompson (Silver)
MALE NOGI / BLUE / ADULT / 108KG – Luis Gabriel Contreras Olave (Gold)
MALE NOGI / PURPLE / MASTER 1 / 83KG – George Miller (Gold)
Special mention to Clay Lyne who fought his way through his first interstate competition and through four matches (3 wins-1 loss) to receive Bronze in the gi (blue belt) and Vince Rogato who competed in the gi, winning one and losing one to eventually fight for the bronze and secure it in his third match via submission. Luis Gabriel Contreras Olave and George Miller stormed through multiple divisions to both claim double Gold, with George getting bumped up to the 94kg division as there was no opponents in the 83kg division. Amazing results, congratulations team!
Written by Emilie Yap. Photos: Foto Rolls Photography, George Miller and Lachlan Giles.