135lb Tournament Final
João Miyao (Unity) def Edwin “Junny” Ocasio (Unity) via Points (2-1)

Kasai Pro 6 Tournament in Atlantic City, New Jersey ended with the members of Unity fighting each other in a fast-paced match. It was João Miyao who ended up taking the win and the belt, by one extra point, over Junny Ocasio. The fight was very evenly matched with great action from both sides.

A couple of superfights earlier, it was Murilo Santana, Unity’s head, who took the win over Jonavin Webb. The match saw Murilo use his closed guard against Webb, who was able to avert submissions but was not able to do much in terms of points against Santana.

Unity also had a few guys on the undercard that did really well. Looks like that new Unity facility in NYC is starting to produce a good crop of champions.

As promised earlier by Kasai’s CEO, Rich Byrne, the tournament did not disappoint – all the matches were really fast-paced, with quite a few leg lock attacks and a few great submissions. In one of them, Rafael “Barata” Freitas got caught hard and ended up having to leave the tournament due to the injury.

The superfights brought their own amount of excitement. Local Tom DeBlass had the whole crowd with him when he took the stage. He was able to finish off with a great kneebar over Nick Caggia. Matheus Diniz was able to capitalize when Josh Hinger fell on his neck and sunk in a tight RNC to take home the win. The match was a great back-and-forth of styles. Diniz looked like he was on a tear to return the loss to Hinger from when they had faced off before.

Kaynan Duarte had a great back-and-forth match with Patrick Gaudio on the last superfight of the day. Gaudio was able to thwart Duarte’s relentless attempts for submission, even attempting some of his own, but in the end it was Duarte who took the win by points.

Below the full results and the gallery coming up.

135lb Tournament Final
João Miyao (Unity) def Edwin “Junny” Ocasio (Unity) via Points (2-1)

Super Fight
Kaynan Duarte (Atos) def Patrick Gaudio (GF Team) via Points (4-1)

135lb Tournament Third place match
Richard Alarcon (ONE) def John Calestine (Bancho MMA) via Points (4-0)

Super Fight
Matheus Diniz (Marcelo Garcia) def Josh Hinger (Atos) via Submission (RNC)

135lb Tournament Round 3
John Calestine (Bancho MMA) draws Geo Martinez (10 Planet)
Edwin “Junny” Ocasio (Unity) def Masakazu Imanari (Team Roken) via Points (8-1)
João Miyao (Unity) draws Ashley Williams (Chris Rees BJJ)

Super Fight
Murilo Santana (Unity) def Jonavin Webb (Webb BJJ) via Points (7-0)

135lb Tournament Round 2
Edwin “Junny” Ocasio (Unity) def John Calestine (Bancho MMA) via Points (5-2)
Geo Martinez (10 Planet) def Masakazu Imanari (Team Roken) via Points (7-1)
Richard Alarcon (ONE) def Ashley Williams (Chris Rees BJJ) via Points (3-2)
João Miyao (Unity) def Rafael “Barata” Freitas (Gracie Barra) via Submission (Heel Hook)

Super Fight
Tom DeBlass (OCBJJ) def Nick Caggia (KDOJO) via Submission (Kneebar)

Round 1
John Calestine (Bancho MMA) def Masakazu Imanari (Team Roken) via Submission (heel hook)
Edwin “Junny” Ocasio (Unity) def Geo Martinez (10 Planet) via Points (4-0)
Ashley Williams (Chris Rees BJJ) def Rafael “Barata” Freitas (Gracie Barra) via Submission (RNC)
João Miyao (Unity) def Richard Alarcon (ONE) via Submission (RNC)

Undercard
William Tacket def Nick Ronan via Points (9-0)
Mike Wilcox def Tim Williams via Points (6-4)
Fiona Watson def Yaz Almonte via Submission (Armbar)
Athos Miranda def Garrte Lavaggi via Points (7-0)
Marcio Bittencourt def Marcelo Mattos via Points (4-0)
Daniel Tavares def Nakapan Phungephorn via Points (4-2)
Italo Moura def Izaak Mitchell via Points (6-2)
Lucas Protasio def Jeferson Guraesi via Points (4-2)
Gracie Gundrum def Gabby Etzel via Submission (Guillotine)
Aaron Harris David Brennan via Submission (Heel Hook)
Steve Ramos def Chris Marti via Submission (Baratoplata)
Chloe McNally def Lydia Coleman via Points (2-0)

During Kasai weigh ins for Kasai Pro 6 in Atlantic City we caught up with Kasai’s CEO Rich Byrne, who has great plans for the event. “We started out with some NY shows and all we are hearing from fans is ‘when are you going to come to our city?’, ‘When are you coming to our country?’”. Kasai took their even on the road, with their “Super Series” event which is comprised of only super fights. The Atlantic City event shows a departure from this model. Rich explains “Originally we contemplated only doing Kasai Pros in NY. As we toured we started the Kasai Super Series. Because the reception has been so great in all these other cities we decided to mix it. We are agnostic now. Kasai Pros are our tournaments – 8 man round robin tournament. We have done 6 weight classes so far. Kasais pro 6 is our Bantam weight. After that we have only one left which are the heavy weights. We are going to do that in NY beginning 2020. We are picking the best guys in the world at that weight class. Our rules set is a good blend. We can attract people no matter what their discipline. We also have superfights between the tournaments.” The difference between Kasai Pro and Kasai Super Series is that the latter is only Super Fights “On average 12 super fights. We are just having fun. Just making our dream match ups. We are trying to match styles to have super exciting fights – All of our dream match-ups. In Orlando some of the fights we have put together are still being talked about as some of the great super fights of the year.”

When asked about future plans Rich explained, “We are going to keep doing it. We are going to go to Brazil, Europe, Asia. The sky is the limit for Kasai! Brazil is going to be Kasai Super Series. It will be a special version. Brazil against the world. Main card will have 12 or 13 fights. It will be a Brazilian against a guy that is not a Brazilian. They are going to blow people away. We were originally thinking Brazil against the US but there are a lot of guys from Europe and Australia that fit the bill perfectly. We are going to get some good guys against these Brazilians.“

In regards to this event, happening today in Atlantic City “Bantam weight is 135 lbs. This is our lowest weight, but these guys are killers! Some of these guys are leg lock specialists. You’re going to see some crazy stuff. These guys move fast. The rounds are only 6 minutes and the action is usually frenetic. This is a hard one to pick a winner.”

“We have 4 super fights of big guys. 2 of our guys are champs from prior tournaments. Our 185 lbs. champ is Matheus Diniz and he is fighting Josh Hinger who is a world champion. 2 of the most highly credentialed guys in the sport. They fought once before and the match was crazy so we wanted to have them on our stage.”

“Our heavyweight, Kaynan is our belt holder at 205 who will be fighting Patrick Gaudio – one of the best fighters in the world.”

“We also have Murilo Santana, the famous professor at Unity Jiu Jitsu, who have 6 guys in our card. It’s a big day for Unity.”

“And we have Tom de Blass, who is a local NJ guy. Tom is coming into his house to fight in front of his crowd. We’re excited for that.”

The event in happening at the Showboat in an intimate setting. The card is promising some really great matches.

All fighters were at weight.

Check out the gallery!

Renato Canuto def. Dante Leon via points (5×4)

[Press release.]

Jiu Jitsu at Disneyworld! It sounds utopic but Kasai made it a reality. In the land of Mickey Mouse, the resort was filled with martial artists of all kinds – It was the International Sports Karate Association yearly US Open, labeled the “The largest open martial arts tournament in the world!”.

Just walking to the event was a different proposition all together… You go past a bridge, which broadcasts the best of Spanglish muzak, enter the Resort’s pavilion where a multitude of kids, all sizes, dressed is all sorts of different colorful gis taggin along with the parents and coaches. The signs on the hallway read: “Do not practice on the hallways, due to safety concerns”. You peek into a room and there’s a kid throwing a sword up in the air, gyrating his body and picking up with the sword on his other hand. A sword lands on another, he pops it around then bounces it right back up in the air and picks it up with the hand on his back. In another room they are running seminars for all sorts of different weapons – Nunchakus, Tonfas, Bo sticks, Kamas – all glittery and seemingly for demonstrations purposes only.

Kasai had a whole pavilion ready to go. No glittery weapons but there was a beautiful Jiu Jitsu mat surrounded by colorful lights and one of the best cards in Pro Jiu Jitsu so far this year!

Renato Canuto def. Dante Leon via Points via Points (5×4)

And the card didn’t disappoint! What a finish to a great night. This is how it ended (spoiler alert!): Canuto and Leon were in a mad scramble the whole match. With 10 seconds to go the score was 5×4 for Canuto who also had one penalty. Leon attempts to take the back. Canuto, who’s been great at avoiding most attempts fights hard and avoids it. 5 seconds are left now, and Leon goes around, takes Canuto’s legs and performs what looks to be a takedown. Leon gets 2 points and the match is called to an end. Leon breaks into wild celebration. Canuto and his camp protest. The whole crowd goes insane! Luckily there was video of it – The 3 match referees gather together at Flograppling’s booth and spend what seems to be a long 10 minute gasp. There’s a crazy energy in the air. Some of the video makes it to the big screen to the oohs and aaahs of the crowd. So, here are the possibilities: 1. It was a takedown and the call was right – Dante gets 2 points wins the match. 2. It was a takedown, but the time to stabilize it was not there – Dante gets one point for the attempt and wins the match by the one penalty point. What ends up happening is that it was not really a takedown as Renato defended it by pulling guard. Referees back on stage, 2 points are removed and Renato takes the win. The public definitely got their money’s worth on this match alone. But there had been more! The co main even between two OG Jiu Jitsu Root’s guys was a sure battle showcasing the best of what is Jiu Jitsu tradition. Vagner Rocha and Celsinho Venicius traded non-stop, all over the mat, with little care for its limits – a few times being grabbed by yours truly and the other folks around the mat. It was only half way through the match that Celsinho was able to secure 2 points for a takedown. And it was almost by the end when Vagner was able to take the back and get his 4. It was sure a great introduction to Grappling to all those folks with the glittery weaponry.

Vagner Rocha def. Celso Venicius via points (4×2)

In sum, none of the matches were skippable. Including a very exciting undercard. This was an event not to be missed.

Kasai also announced their next Super Series tour cities – Atlantic City, NJ and São Paulo, Brazil. Back to NYC for Kasai Pro 6 at the end of the year.

Here are the full results:

MAIN CARD

Renato Canuto def. Dante Leon via Points via Points (5×4)
Vagner Rocha def. Celso Venicius via Points (4×2)
Craig Jones def. Tex Johnson via Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Talita Alencar def. Sofia Amarante via Submission (Armbar)
Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante def. Jorge ‘Macaco’ via Submission (Arm-in Guillotine)
Mansher Khera def. Enrico Cocco via Submission (Inside Heel Hook)
Richie Martinez def. Gleison ‘Tibau’ via Points (0 x -1)
Matheus Lutes def. Valdir Araújo via Points (6×3)
Tony Way def. John Lineker via Submission (Inside Heel Hook)
Maggie Grindatti def. Bridget Grace via Points (5×0)
Fabin Rosa def. Ricky Nelson via Points (8×0)

KASAI PRO 6 135LBS TOURNAMENT TRIALS

Finals:
Richard Alarcon def. Junny Ocasio via Points (2×0 Golden Score)

Semi-Finals:
Junny Ocasio def. David Weintraub via Submission (Inside Heel Hook)
Richard Alarcon def. Spencer Mumme via Points (8×1)

UNDERCARD

Dan Martinez def. Chase Owen via Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
Thiago Domingues def. Josh Souder via Points (13×0)
Kevin Gallagher def. Aaron Conway via Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
John Ortolani def. Julian Synan via Points (11×2)
Quentin Rosenzweig def. Andre Porfirio via Submission (Inside Heel Hook)
Phil Rowe def. Jose Velez via Submission (Arm-in Choke)
Igor Feliz def. Dylan Whyte via Submission (Bow and Arrow Choke)
Maria Llaguno def. Tiffani Friedman via Points (pts)
Mike Perry def. Gabriel Napolitano via Points (4×2)
Geraldo Gomes def. J. Uffelman via Points (31×0)
Lucas Napolitano def. Jay Enoch via Points (9×4)
Elias Ramirez def. Mikey Conlon via Submission (Triangle Choke)

[Press release.]

Kasai is in Orlando, that’s right, Jiu Jitsu at Disney!

“As the premier professional grappling show we were invited by the ISKA US Open to integrate in their traditional martial arts weekend. We believe this is a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful art to a non practitioner crowd” said Kasai’s president Rolles Gracie about Kasai’s choice to be have their show alongside the ISKA yearly multi martial arts show, which showcases all types of martial arts including sparring, brick and board breaking, kata demonstrations and more. They have over 50 rings, 3 ballrooms and 2 stages, Kasai center stage.

The card is stacked. The main event is set to be a great match between double Kasai belt holder Renato Canuto and Dante Leon. Very different grappling styles, each with the ability to completely stop the other. It will be interesting to see the back and forth between these styles and see which will come on top.

Then there is a showcase of old style OG Jiu Jitsu talent between Celsinho Venicius and Vagner Rocha. Once done with his weigh-in, Vagner stated “The fans are the ones who win when guys like us step on stage. Tomorrow we will just let Jiu Jitsu be Jiu Jitsu. Go out there and show what we love.”

Here is the full card:

MAIN CARD

Dante Leon vs Renato Canuto
Celso Venicius vs Vagner Rocha
Tex Johnson vs Craig Jones
Sofia Amarante vs Talita Alencar
Mansher Khera vs Enrico Cocco
Richie Martinez vs Gleison Tibau
Matheus Lutes vs Valdir Araújo
Jz Cavalcante vs Jorge ‘Macacao’ Patino

UNDERCARD

John Liniker vs Tony Way
Ricky Nelson vs Fabin Rosa
Josh Souder vs Thiago Domingues
Kevin Gallagher vs Aaron Conway
John Ortolani vs Julian Synan
Jose Velez vs Phil Rowe
Dylan Whyte vs Igor Feliz
Tiffani Friedman vs Maria Llaguno
Gabriel Napolitano vs Justin Primrose
Jay Enoch vs Lucas Napolitano
Elias Ramirez vs Mikey Conlon