About 110,000,000 million people watched 22 players on the field the Super Bowl this year, a spectator to athlete ratio of 5,000,000 to one. At a major BJJ or grappling event, a ratio of something like three to one is more common. That is a problem.
The Eddie Bravo Invitational is on the cutting edge of making grappling and Jiu-Jitsu more fan friendly and viable, and on Sunday, he added something new, as promised to back in October.
“Everything will be exactly the same except open palm strikes the head are legal on the ground, coming 2017 #ohshit,” he wrote on Instagram. The new division allows open hand strikes to the body and face on the ground. No striking is allowed during overtime.
EBi Combat Jiu-Jitsu Four-Man Bantamweight Tournament
Opening Round
Chad George beat JM Holland via D’Arce Choke
Nick Honstein beat Sheridan Moran via Rear-Naked Choke
Finals
Nick Honstein beat Chad George via Twister to become the inaugural EBI Bantamweight Combat Champion
EBi Welterweight 16 Man Tournament
Round 1
Gordon Ryan beat Jean Paul Lebosnoyani via RNC
Chris McKarski advanced as Dustin Akbari suffered a rib injury
Marcel Goncalves beat Oliver Taza via overtime
Dan Borovic beat Kyle Griffin via mounted triangle/kimura
Sergio Ardila beat Richie Martinez via straight ankle lock
Vagner Rocha beat Joe Baize via overtime (fastest submission)
Darragh O’Conaill beat Jose Llanas via overtime (fastest submission)
Craig Jones beat Nathan Orchard via inside heel hook
Round 2
Gordon Ryan beat Chris McKarski via arm in guillotine
Marcel Goncalves beat Dan Borovic via overtime
Vagner Rocha beat Sergio Ardila via palm-to-palm choke
Craig Jones beat Darragh O’Conaill via kneebar
Semifinals
Gordon Ryan beat Marcel Goncalves via cross face choke from the back
Vagner Rocha beat Craig Jones via overtime
Finals
Gordon Ryan beat Vagner Rocha via RNC
The event is available exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
