Results/Reflections on ACB JJ 10 & Bellator: Larkin vs Gonzalez

Some marginally organized thoughts having watched the event stream live:

5 mins rounds do seem to produce a decent amount of action. The rule against guard pulling the first minute is also interesting but means that minus a takedown, we're left with 4 minutes of mat time which is simply not a lot of time to pass a top flight competitor's guard, but guys also push harder to pass knowing they've only got 4-5 minutes? I don't know. Having worked as a referee, competed many times, and competed in Judo, JiuJitsu, MMA, and submission grappling, and Sub Only grappling matches....what is the right rule set? I could blame the lack of finishes on the time limit, but frankly, the Kasai event recently had very few finishes and it was NoGi and allowed heel hooks, y'know? So, I don't want to wax too much on that. I think the size differential in some of the matches did lead to some finishes, but overall, everyone got paid, and a ton of good matches did occur.

I tuned in as the Simoes Bilarov match was beginning. Bilarov is definitely one to watch in the Gi and NoGi as despite high profile IBJJF background of others he's faced, he definitely holds his own against the top tier guys. The fact he avoided the collar drag takedown Yuri hit on Travis Stevens is a testament to his overall ability. Had he kept the pace high, I think he would have bested Yuri, but he let Yuri suck him into a more static game and slow down his advantage in that department.

As for the commentary team. I could be nice and say it's not their job to research every big name guy on the card and their background, but oh wait, it is. I doubt the ACB team skimped on paying them, you're a commentator, research the competitors. They're only the biggest names in all of Sport JiuJitsu. Pull out your iPhone man, c'mon. It was lazy at best, and shoddy work at worst. At various instances, it was painfully obvious commentators honestly did not know much about various competitors ala grand generalizations like "Calasans is a Judoka, I think." A 6 second google search with the phrase "Calasans BJJ Heroes" links directly to his bio page with info such as: "He is the son of Judo personality Calasans Camargo, the youngest Brazilian Judoka to have ever received his coral belt (white and red – received when he was 38 years old), and his uncle (who is his father’s identical twin) is also a black belt in Judo" and "winning a spot with the Brazilian National Wrestling Team."

But y'know, you could just wax over all that and say "I think he's a Judoka." Do your homework man, this is literally the biggest Sport Gi JiuJitsu event of ALL TIME and you didn't bother to look up basic bio's on the competitors.  I could off the top of my head say more about virtually every competitor featured than what was espoused during the broadcast. Wasted opportunity to stress the insane level of talent and accolades of the competitors gathered for this incredible talent pool.

Gaudio did some hulking out on Calasans who I have every reason to believe is ridiculously strong but Gaudio was simply more aggressive and just consistently not letting Calasans get started. Gaudio just was all on him with even some near sweep to mount points from closed guard. Calasans conservatism cost him as it has in the past in some other high profile matches.

Erberth blew it against Wardzinski, inexplicably tapped/had a meltdown ala his loss to Langaker recently at the Euros. Not sure what's going on with his recent flake out, but who knows. Guy is all over the place in general so maybe some humility will do him well. 

Marcio Andre attempted to use lapel guard to shut down Lepri's passing but no dice homey. Otavio tried the same against Lo, with much the same effect. That being said, Lepri is absolutely huge now and looked less impressive against Otavio than he did when they were in the same weight class.

Buchecha vs Aly - Moral victory for Aly in that he actually did manage to score  points twice, no easy feat but as per usual, Buchecha just pumped it up a half step and went super hulk mode and beasted the F&@$ outta him. Aly was lucky Buchecha didn't really attempt to counter some telegraphed throw entries while standing and big foot sweeps misses where he was very much outta balance.

Mendes paid the price for his switch to MMA and ADCC prep against Paulo's Gi-centric style. The first deep berimbolo attempt was a good suggestion that Mendes wasn't quite as sharp in the Gi as he'd need to be to fend off Miyao's bottom game.

All in all, it's hard to not enjoy a card that features such an incredible portion of the current sport landscape's top notch talent, but as I'm training full-time NoGi, I'd be lying if I didn't say I found myself bored during extended tie-ups with the lapel. The two halves of the sport are diverging further and further, and that's not a bad thing. Let them be what they are. They can differentiate and overlap at times.
For FULL RESULTS, BJJ Heroes has a more in depth write up HERE of matches not mentioned.  

Bellator - Larkin poured it on in the last 30 seconds of the third round, but did the necessary deed to just make sure he got a win and the monkey of losing his previous fights in Bellator after being a high profile UFC roster member to jump ship to Bellator.
Watched the Saad Awad/Ambrose fight and Larkin then called it a night. A real lowly card for Bellator but they doing big things and for a night with no UFC.
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