BJJ Scout Breaks Down Maia vs Askren

In case you want to watch fights at 7 or 8am this weekend, the best grappling MMA match-up in quite awhile is buried on a Singapore UFC card this weekend:

Augusto Mendes Next UFC Fight Booked

It's not an amazing match-up, but he actually needs some polishing anyway: 

Grind of the day Award to Mr. Demian Maia

MMA continues to force the grappling game to evolve. Shorter rounds, stand-up happy referees, the cage rather than ropes ala Pride; they all have nuances, limitations, considerations, and advantages to be considered. JiuJitsu's original ace was ignorance and outright lack of information in addition to have been battle-tested in Vale Tudo and challenge matches. In addition, it's basis on leverage, a positional hierarchy, closing the distance, achieving of positions where I can maximize the strength of my body versus the neck or an isolated limb all make it one of the cornerstones of fighting and self-defense. 

7 years ago Demian Maia challenged Anderson Silva for the middleweight belt. Since then he's fought 12 times: Won 10 of those, suffered stoppage losses, retooled his submission and wrestling arsenal, improved his striking, and won by domination and/or submission in the vast majority of those wins. 

This is all after a career as a JiuJitsu competitor who became World champion at purple belt, 3x Brazilian World Cup Chanpion, ADCC Chanpion, and ADCC silver medalist. 

Rafael Lovato Jr 2nd Bellator Fight Booked

Another BJJ champ making moves in MMA. Lovato has been plying his wares in smaller stages and now begins a slow climb in Bellator. I'm all for guys growing into the game and making strides over time (I'm looking at you Augusto Mendes). Look at how long Demian Maia has been at it, to give you an idea. His protege Rader has also been doing the same and will be interesting to see if/when he transitions to the UFC Bc as it is, I'm wanting some new blood for the flyweights and bantamweight divisions. DJ has beaten (sometimes more than once) and finished most of the available roster and the bantamweights are tied up with Garbrandt injured and Dillashaw and Cruz both offering compelling storylines as contenders. 

Mackenzie Dern MMA Debut in July

Merry Christmas/While You Were Sleeping: Kron Gracie Wins MMA Debut/Pulls Guard in MMA!

When you're the son of legend Rickson Gracie, I guess it's appropriate to defy expectations and pull guard in MMA. In it's own way, I'm somehow not surprised.










I'm also interested to hear the purists of Jiu-Jitsu find a way to rationalize guard pulling in MMA as being realistic/unrealistic....or some farcical argument about how Kron's fundamentals blah blah blase. The reality is that even Kron Gracie, son of Rickson Gracie will pull guard in MMA if it suits him....realist for the streets or not and all that other politics aside.


"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

Enjoy.

And while we're at it, here's his match with Claudio Calasans from the ADCC, because why not?