Cook vs Luukkonen
Despite Cook being on Luukkonen's back for the last 3-5 minutes of the match and Luukkonen basically face down in turtle doing nothing, they gave her the match. I'm confused.
Ross Nichols vs Nathan Orchard
Orchard sits. Nichols nearly passes then rolls forward and over looking to pass. Orchard to his feet, in the low, backstep into the legs position you'll often see in his matches when addressing a seated opponent. He uses Nichols' low head position to attempt a kimura, to a backtake but loses it in transition. A similar repeated transition of Orchard backstep/circling, locking up a kimura, rolling through, this time with the kimura briefly isolated and behind the back but Nichols countering, and coming up, escaping a straight armbar then separating. Nichols appears to consider a body lock takedown, then remembers this is Nathan Orchard and wisely fearing the closed guard, addresses the guard, and stands up with Orchard body triangling him from closed guard to then shake/peel him off. Orchard over the top rolling through for another kimura attempt but Nichols defends. Nichols defending Orchard's attempts to pass and utilizing them to come up to top, some heavy guard passes/cut through, to front head lock, but unable to turn it into a backtake et cetera. 4 minutes left, and I guess on the basis of guard passes you would give it to Nichols? Not frankly sure, TBH. I spoke too soon, with 3 1/2 minutes left, Orchard on a guard pass that Nichols turtles to avoid, and Orchard in a crucifix-like position. Both guys really working for and through every position in this match, no bullshitting whatsoever. No stalling, no disengaging and flitting about on the outside to stall or buy time. Straight forward working for it/at it. Nichols passes to full mount after some form of bottom triangle that Orchard goes for with about a minute left.
Nichols by Decision (unanimous)
Nicky Ryan vs Phil Harris
Harris resetting and disengaging after realizing his down on both knees posture won't get him into any decent passing opportunities. Roughly 90 seconds in and Harris has legitimately disconnected, stood up, circled then dropped back to both knees on the ground 5-7 times. Nicky looking for arm drags and a front head lock at one point to take advantage of Harris' posture. His low posture is okay for defending the space between the knees and leg lock entries, but makes him virtually incapable of any legitimate passing threat/attempts. From this poor, head front posture, he gets caught between double unders with one arm in/one arm out and the triangle finish looms for Nicky. Harris in real danger, but gets his posture back, and still on both knees semi looking to pass. Harris disconnects, circles and drops to his knees. His (I assume) fear of leg lock entries means he's only looking to pass from down on both knees, making the likelihood of him passing from this non-mobile stance, and head forward position exceedingly unlikely, and showing Nicky only one look/one guard, meaning Nicky will continue to set up attacks and entries from relative comfort, especially having seen how early Harris fell into the triangle set-up.
Nicky on a good looking leg lock entry, but Harris immediately gets his free foot, bottom of the foot posted on Nicky's hamstring to prevent the wedges/bite necessary to apply breaking pressure.
Nicky on a kimura from bottom that almost turns into a triangle and/or armbar.
Nicky with a beautiful inversion to swing through to an armbar. Fluid.
Williams vs Imanari
What a joke. Imanari had the legitimate attacks. Williams had a head/arm choke but Imanari had his leg in between them meaning unless Imanari was reverting to being a white belt and panicking there's no way he was gonna tap. Home cookin' by Polaris to drum up their boy in the final. Silliness. No part of that match was a win for Williams. I'm not gonna degrade myself by writing out a full breakdown with such an obvious snow job by the promotion to put their favorite in the final against Nicky. That being said, seeing how much trouble Williams found himself in at the last EBI and in this match against Imanari, I don't see Williams being Nicky. Nicky has too many weapons from bottom and top and too many entries and arm drags and submission attacks however Williams thinks he is going to pass. Nicky has far superior entries and transitions on the legs than guys Williams has faced, and that combined with his threats in other areas (handfighting to the triangle or enter the legs against a standing opponent) I don't see many ways or times out of even 10 matches that Williams beats Nicky Ryan.
Oliver Taza vs Lachlan Giles
Taza on a wrist grip to arm drag to takedown into shin to shin guard by Lachlan Giles. Giles on a palm to palm grip looking to rotate through and end up with Taza's leg wedged inside, but Taza defends and it's back to the feet. Taza collar tie cycles then gets to a Russian/2 on 1 and circles Giles down to the mat. Taza's wrestling looking sharp. Taza looks for a kimura reversal or back take but ends up with Giles in his closed guard. Taza utilizes an ude garami grip/attack to sweep Giles and come up on top and looking to pass.
Taza on an armdrag, Giles reverses, Taza Granby rolls, and Giles with the body lock looking to crab ride up to the back.
Giles from bottom in single leg X, Taza peels the foot off the hip, then Giles in outside ashi garami, Taza steps around and is on his own heel hook entry/leg entanglement. They separate. Taza on the pass attempt again. The control by Taza inside the knees, with the top leg shelved onto his shoulder is preventing a lot of the Craig Jones style leg attacks/inversions I suspect we would've otherwise seen from Giles when on bottom. Taza with a reverse collar tie and leg lace grip looking to pass and pressure Giles. Giles slowing down a bit, the constant pressure, movement, and attacks and transitions by Taza wearing him down at the match winds down to the last few minutes. Taza continues to use guard passing to then set up falling back on the legs into attacks and maintaining a diverse approach.
Handfighting on the feet, Taza looking to snap down Giles' hands to the mat, Giles with a double leg, sprawl by Taza, then ends up back on the legs, a reset, and time runs out.
Taza with the decision win.
Gregor Gracie vs Gilbert Burns
From a takedown to a backtake at about the 11am mark, Gregor gets to full mount then back to half-guard but with one arm isolated. Later, Gregor hits an amazing sweep from closed guard, to play on top and look to pass. Both men work from bottom and top at various points over the duration of the match. In a tightly contested match, Gregor dislocates his shoulder from a suplex by Burns with 1:45 left. Disappointing turn of events to say the least.
