Tournament Results
-
| Age | Skill | Weight | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Florey | Adult | Blue Belt | Open | 2nd |
| Wayne Johnson | Adult | Blue Belt | Middleweight (<180 lbs) | 1st |
| Kwami Mensah | Executive | Beginner | Middleweight (<180 lbs) | 1st |
| Julius Park | Adult | Purple Belt | Middleweight (<180 lbs) | 1st |
| Jovie Soriano | Executive | White Belt | Middleweight (<180 lbs) | 2nd |
| Phil Thorn | Adult | White Belt | Super Heavyweight(>220 lbs) | 1st |
| Adult | White Belt | Open | 1st | |
| Dave Zwanetz | Adult | Beginner | Bantamweight (<130 lbs) | 1st |
Mike "Bottom Game" Florey had his first taste of the Advanced division - in the Open division no less. BG faced Rob Mudrak, a purple belt from Balance Studios. After a leg lock battle, BG went right into his closed guard and managed to get a high-guard armbar. It looked like BG would be able to submit the upper belt but Mudrak showed his skill, defending well, and almost passed off the escape. The match was now tied at an advantage a piece but BG was in a bad spot, turtled up, defending the choke, and the back mount. He turned to face the purple belt and got in on a single leg but his opponent defended quickly and managed to get behind BG again, securing a second advantage, and winning the 0-0 match.
In the Gi division, BG had a close match with a 4-stripe blue belt from Maxercise. Despite outweighing his opponent, BG had to fight hard and managed to pull off the 4-2 victory in the last minute by sweeping his opponent with an UmaPlata. The semifinal bout was a rematch against the blue belt who had defeated him last weekend in the Open. This match turned out differently, with Bottom Game submitting his opponent with a Kimura from the Side-Mount. In the finals, BG faced a HUGE guy from Balance Studios. Our strategy was to grip and try to get on top (don't want to be on the bottom of a guy that size no matter what your nickname is). Unfortunately, the giant hit a beautiful foot sweep to take BG down and then methodically worked his top game for the victory.
Despite a long layoff, Wayne Johnson looked like he hadn't lost a step. He took his first opponent down and then went through the entire range of top positions to win his first match 15-0. In the finals of the blue belt division, he and his opponent were gripping hard when his opponent was unable to continue due to an injured wrist from his previous match. It was a dissapointing finish but at least Wayne got another 1st place.
It was a good opener for the Open where Wayne was matched up first with the eventual division winner. Wayne managed to get on the board with an early sweep attempt but couldn't hold off the giant and would eventually lose on points. Great to see Wayne back on the mats after all his shenanigans.
Kwami Mensah didn't look like his usual self today but still brought back the Gold in the Executive No-Gi despite having to bump up to Middleweight.
Julius Park fought up a weight class to get more matches and managed to submit 2 opponents (cross-choke and brabo) and defeat another on points to win the division.
Jovie Soriano came out flat in the No-Gi division, losing his first match. However, he managed to shake off the cobwebs (he hadn't trained in 2.5 weeks due to a car accident) in time for the Gi competition. He added some strong submission skills to his already potent positional abilities; he Kimura'd his first opponent and then armbarred his second. In the finals, he strayed away from his gameplan and got caught in a submission himself, forcing the tapout.
Phil Thorn finally put the gi on and submitted all but one of his opponents to win both the Super-Heavyweight and the Open division.
Dave Zwanetz only had one match in the no-gi but managed to upload it for us. Here it is...
Dave then competed in the gi where he made a few strategic errors that cost him the division. We will be reviewing the tournament on Thursday so make sure you're there so you don't make the same micalculations.
Overall, it was a solid performance. The veteran members looked like they have been improving steadily. The newbies made a a few tactical errors but were not outclassed technically in any of their matches (not sure if that's good or bad).
In the Gi division, BG had a close match with a 4-stripe blue belt from Maxercise. Despite outweighing his opponent, BG had to fight hard and managed to pull off the 4-2 victory in the last minute by sweeping his opponent with an UmaPlata. The semifinal bout was a rematch against the blue belt who had defeated him last weekend in the Open. This match turned out differently, with Bottom Game submitting his opponent with a Kimura from the Side-Mount. In the finals, BG faced a HUGE guy from Balance Studios. Our strategy was to grip and try to get on top (don't want to be on the bottom of a guy that size no matter what your nickname is). Unfortunately, the giant hit a beautiful foot sweep to take BG down and then methodically worked his top game for the victory.
Despite a long layoff, Wayne Johnson looked like he hadn't lost a step. He took his first opponent down and then went through the entire range of top positions to win his first match 15-0. In the finals of the blue belt division, he and his opponent were gripping hard when his opponent was unable to continue due to an injured wrist from his previous match. It was a dissapointing finish but at least Wayne got another 1st place.
Wayne Being "Emo"
It was a good opener for the Open where Wayne was matched up first with the eventual division winner. Wayne managed to get on the board with an early sweep attempt but couldn't hold off the giant and would eventually lose on points. Great to see Wayne back on the mats after all his shenanigans.
Wayne Being Serious
Kwami Mensah didn't look like his usual self today but still brought back the Gold in the Executive No-Gi despite having to bump up to Middleweight.
Julius Park fought up a weight class to get more matches and managed to submit 2 opponents (cross-choke and brabo) and defeat another on points to win the division.
Julius Chokes Opponent Unconscious!
Brabo is Coming
Jovie Soriano came out flat in the No-Gi division, losing his first match. However, he managed to shake off the cobwebs (he hadn't trained in 2.5 weeks due to a car accident) in time for the Gi competition. He added some strong submission skills to his already potent positional abilities; he Kimura'd his first opponent and then armbarred his second. In the finals, he strayed away from his gameplan and got caught in a submission himself, forcing the tapout.
Jovie in the Final
Phil Thorn finally put the gi on and submitted all but one of his opponents to win both the Super-Heavyweight and the Open division.
Big Phil Smooshes Some Guy
Big Phil Smooshes Another Guy
Dave Zwanetz only had one match in the no-gi but managed to upload it for us. Here it is...
Beautiful Armbar Escape!
Dave then competed in the gi where he made a few strategic errors that cost him the division. We will be reviewing the tournament on Thursday so make sure you're there so you don't make the same micalculations.
Overall, it was a solid performance. The veteran members looked like they have been improving steadily. The newbies made a a few tactical errors but were not outclassed technically in any of their matches (not sure if that's good or bad).