BJJ Scout's BJJ Digest - Mesquita Combat JiuJitsu, IBJJF HW Grand Prix Fills Out, Neiman Talks Truth, et al

BJJ Scout's BJJ Digest 96-97: NoGi Worlds Results & Brawl, Dern, Neiman & Robson, et al

Combat Sports Wrap-Up: 2 Bellator's & a UFC (and Gordon Ryan Pillaging the NoGi Worlds)

Friday:
We got the long awaited Brent Primus vs Chandler rematch and Chandler did his best Chandler which was wade through dangerous strikes to outwrestle and ground and pound forehead on chest old school Mark Kerr/Coleman style Primus in a lopsipded decision.
AJ McKee picked up a quick submission win. Robson Gracie picked up a win in his first fight. Robson I see at Renzo's on the regular, he's always been cool to me, glad to see him fighting and picking up a win.

Saturday:
I was headed home at 1030pm after finishing the UFC on Fox final card/main card. What a gift. Normally, we're one fight into a main card at that time. I headed home just in time to see Neiman in a tough fight with a ton of skills on display take out a very dangerous opponent in Ed Ruth. I see Neiman at Renzo's in passing, and it was a pleasure to see his attacking style of Jiu-Jitsu off his back using a variety of things in the fight. Williams guard/clamp- trapping, leg attack entanglements, armbar reversal to a backtake, Ruth with some phantom tapping, and eventually old school get to mount, force your opponent to turtle, and the RNC. Can't wait to see him face the winner of Rory vs Jon Fitch. Machida picked up a narrow win over Carvalho and looks to challenge for a belt sooner rather than later.

Over in the UFC, Hooker faced the brutal stand-up onslaught of Barboza in a fight that should've been stopped a solid 2 minutes before it was and the man simply slumped down onto both knees in the middle of the cage after repeated heel/spinning back heel hicks to the mid section and torrid punches and punishment. His corner also could've taken a cue from what was happening and seen that no further punishment was necessary and saved him face and further unnecessary abuse.

Iaquinta and Lee put on a real scrap with Lee taking the back twice but not finishing and Iaquinta decisively winning the other 2 rounds and a very close first round between the two of them. The backpedaling of Lee throughout the stand-up portion of the fight likely cost him the nod from the judges in that crucial first round as the 2-5 rounds were decidedly for either guy at 2 and 2.

Rob Font showed that Pettis is in fact NOT a bantamweight with a clear cut unanimous decision with takedowns, ground and pound, a kimura reversal/escape from bottom and about 200 jabs landed. Oliveria used a body lock mat return style takedown to put Miller in trouble early and sink in a RNC putting an emphatic win to his resume over Miller who was the first man to beat him professionally 8 years ago. Wild. 8 years ago, man.

I was getting my haircut by my barber and missed the rest of the prelims and I'll have to go back over them tomorrow at some point after NoGi Worlds wraps late tomorrow evening.

Gordon Ryan savaged a number of opponents (not sure but that 40 something to 0 score prior to armbar finish may be a black belt record) and Team Lloyd Irvin which is always spouting the "no bitchassness" mantra did 2 high profile no shows (Aly and Spriggs). Hmmm. I guess the street only goes one way for them. If Gordon had pulled out "due to injury" last minute and avoided Aly they would have milked it for all it's worth. 

Bellator Welterweight Grand Prix Brackets Announced & Alternate Bout

No easy matches first round anywhere in this bracket. Lima hopes to rebound against Koreshkov, Daley got his wish and will face MVP in a striker vs striker affair first round. Rory Macdonald faces Jon Fitch in a battle of UFC alums, and Neiman Gracie comes in as well. My pick for the overall win is Neiman Gracie. He's overwhelmed and finished his opponents in classic fashion: close distance, clinch, take down, pepper with shots and finish via submission. I'm pretty excited, between this and the HW Grand Prix, Bellator still offering up a ton of match-ups that I'll sit down to watch. I'm as excited for this as I have been to watch Covington vs RDA or the insanely terrible repeat rematch of Woodley vs Thompson....and by that I mean, this is more engaging for me as a fan than watching any of the UFC welterweight offerings for quite some time. I had high hopes for RDA to bum rush the title, but Covington's huggy bear Clay Guida attack ended that.

Bellator Announces 9/10 Welterweight Tourney Names

 Yo, Dillon Danis, where you at? Weird how he goes MIA when something like this comes up or Neiman Gracie offers to fight. All of a sudden his phone stops working and he has other things to do.....

Bellator Tomorrow Night: Fedor, Mir, Gracie, Lovato, Danis

Bellator has quite a stable of wrestling prospects but had also singed some notable JiuJitsu talent with the likes of Lovato and Neiman Gracie. Danis makes his much discussed ebut after what feels like ages talking about it. We'll see how the Fedor vs Mir Legends match unfolds. 

This Friday Bellator has Mousasi, Neiman Gracie, & Heather Hardy

Neiman Gracie Continues the Family Business @ WSOF 5

I was working downtown at my other job and managed to miss the WSOF & the Mayweather/Canelo fight.

From what I've heard it was a meh showing and another dominating/decisive/one-sided display of Mayweather's technical prowess.

At any rate, Neiman Gracie is the latest to carry the family torch.