Elkins takes Johnson’s back and pulls him to the ground to finish. Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

This Sunday kicked off the 2018 season of UFC events. And even though the fights of Vitor Belfort and Thiago Pitbull were cancelled, there was still some good jiu-jitsu on display.

Kyung Ho Kang vs. Guido Cannetti

On the preliminary card, South Korea’s Kyung Ho Kang used his ground skills to defeat Guido Cannetti. After trapping his opponent in the triangle and seeing him use the elbow to hamper some of the pressure, Kang needed cold blood to get the submission.

Desperate to escape, Cannetti got up and pressed Kang against the fence. The Argentinian’s error gave Kang a better option for his adjustment, and as he returned to the ground, Kang managed to apply the extra pressure needed and end the fight.

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Darren Elkins vs. Michael Johnson

The first bout of the main card saw Darren Elkins debut in style in the lightweight division. He was the underdog against Michael Johnson, but a good choke can do wonders.

Having taken the back and stabilized Johnson with hooks, Elkins set his sights on the neck. He didn’t succeed right away, but Elkins eventually passed his arm under Johnson’s chin. A swift hand-to-hand grip was crucial to squeezing and getting the tap.

Vitor Belfort subiu na balança e bateu os 84kg do peso médio para o combate. Foto: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

A bruxa está solta no card do UFC St-Louis, que rola neste domingo, dia 14. Depois do brasileiro Thiago Pitbull ficar sem adversário, após Zak Cummings sofrer um acidente na banheira horas antes da pesagem, agora foi a vez de Vitor Belfort sofrer infortúnio parecido.

Durante a pesagem que rolou na manhã deste sábado, dia 13, Belfort apareceu para cravar o peso limite para atuar no peso médio, com 10min para o fim do tempo permitido para os atletas se pesarem. Após o término do tempo regulamentar, o Ultimate informou que Uriah Hall havia passado mal e que a luta com Belfort havia sido cancelada.

“Já tive algumas notícias piores na minha vida, mas essa foi dolorosa.” disse Belfort em entrevista ao Combate.com logo após o ocorrido. “Nove semanas e meia de camp, cortei o peso… Fiquei sabendo agora. Fazer o quê? Estou bem chocado… Já recebeu uma notícia desse tipo? É horrível, muito ruim.”

Agora resta aguardar qual será o destino de Belfort com sua luta cancelada, se o velho leão irá pedir um novo combate para os próximos meses ou se não entrará em novo camp, assim declarando sua aposentadoria sem lutar. Com a queda das lutas de Pitbull e Belfort, apenas duas brasileiras entrarão em ação amanhã: Kalindra Faria e Talita Bernardo. Confira como fica o card do UFC St-Louis abaixo.

UFC Fight Night: Stephens x Choi
St-Louis, Missouri, EUA
14 de janeiro de 2018

Jeremy Stephens x Doo Ho Choi
Paige VanZant x Jessica-Rose Clark
Kamaru Usman x Emil Meek

Card preliminar

Darren Elkins x Michael Johnson
James Krause x Alex White
Matt Frevola x Marco Polo Reyes
Kalindra Faria x Jessica Eye
Talita Bernardo x Irene Aldana
Danielle Taylor x JJ Aldrich
Mads Burnell x Michael Santiago
Kyung Ho Kang x Guido Cannetti

JW Wright, head instructor of GMA Gracie Humaita St Louis will be in Springfield, MO to teach a seminar on JAnuary 31.

The second degree black belt under Royler Gracie will be teaching at 12 p.m. at Springfield BJJ located at 648 S. Scenic, Springfield, MO 65807.

The cost is $60 per person.

To reserve your spot, please contact Brian Stuebner at 417-841-8250 or email brian@springfieldbjj.net

Learn more about JW Wright and GMA Gracie Humaita St Louis at www.grapplingconcepts.com

JW Wright receives his second degree. Photo: Personal archive

GMA member Professor JW Wright is the head instructor of GMA Gracie Humaita St. Louis. He was honored at the Gracie Humaita annual meeting in San Diego, CA where he was promoted to second degree black belt under seventh degree red and black belt, Master Royler Gracie and fourth degree black belt Master David Adiv.

JW is also co-owner of Kozen Jiu-Jitsu, a clothing line and tournament series dedicated to promoting youth and adult Jiu-Jitsu in the Midwest.

Congratulations to JW and the GMA Gracue Humatia St. Louis team. To learn more, visit www.grapplingconcepts.com

Now we arrive in St. Louis, Missouri.

Black belt under Royler Gracie and David Avid, JW Wright is the head coach of Grappling Concepts,  RGDA school.

And to celebrate the school’s arrival to GMA, we promote a Royler Gracie seminar.

The Gracie will be teaching in St. Louis next July 10th.

For more info, go to grapplingconcepts.com.

“I’ll be there because I have to do some promotional shoots for the event. I’m going to watch it live,” he told GRACIEMAG.com.

Werdum in photo by Esther Lin

In the evening’s main event, Alistair Overeem, who lost to Werdum in the past, will face Brett Rogers for the heavyweight belt. The Southern Brazilian swapped notes with Rogers, who has faced Fedor, and places his bet for the matchup.

“At the last Strikeforce I went to, when King Mo fought, I ran into Brett. He knew I’d faced Overeem before and asked if he’s strong. I told him he is, but he’s the kind of guy who backs down, if you go at him with all you’ve got. He thanked me and then told me what he thought of Fedor. He said he’s not that strong. But damn, that Brett is a monster! He lifts over 140 kg. Fedor must not be strong to him! (Laughs)

“I think he’ll beat Overeem because Brett has a really heavy hand. And Overeem, when things get rough for him, he gets scared. He talks too much and, even though I think he really is good, I don’t like him much. Just because a guy’s good in the dojo doesn’t mean he has to be arrogant out of it, being full of himself and even denying fans autographs. I don’t think that’s cool. To me he’s a prick!” he adds, laughing.

Regarding the Brazilians in action on the upcoming card, Werdum hides not his patriotism.

“I have 100% faith Jacaré, Roger Gracie and Pezão will win,” he said in finishing.

Check out the card:

Strikeforce
St. Louis, Missouri
May 15, 2010

Alistair Overeem vs Brett Rogers
Andrei Arlovski vs Antonio Silva
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs Joey Villasenor
Roger Gracie vs Kevin Randleman
Antwain Britt vs Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante
Justin DeMoney vs Jesse Finney
Lyle Beerbohm vs Vitor Ribeiro
Lee Brousseau vs Fransisco France
Mike Chandler vs Sal Woods

Roger hits the mitts. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

Two-time absolute world champion of Jiu-Jitsu Roger Gracie could finally make his Strikeforce debut. According to MMAJunkie, he may appear on the card set for May 15 in St Louis, Missouri, to be broadcast live on Showtime.

Roger’s opponent hasn’t yet been named, but it is speculated that Kevin Randleman and Rameau Sokodjou, two veterans of the Pride and UFC events, are on the cards.

Despite his limited MMA experience, Roger won both his outings using pure Jiu-Jitsu. He submitted both Ron Waterman and Yuki Kondo while still in the first round.

On the same day Alistair Overeem is expected to face Brett Rogers and Antonio “Pezao” Silva is set to fight Andrei Arlovski.