Polaris Pro Grappling is Europe's longest running large-scale professional grappling event.[1] They have organized dozens of events, primarily in the UK but also elsewhere in Europe. The promotion has produced events with a variety of different formats like regular fight-nights, grand prix tournaments, and team grappling matches.
The event was the third the Polaris has hosted at the Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff, Wales and the first since Polaris 2.
This event featured three world title fights. The card was headlined by the current Polaris middleweight Champion Craig Jones and the former IBJJF champion Keenan Cornelius in a match to crown the inaugural Polaris Light Heavyweight Champion. It was a rematch from their fight at ADCC 2017, which Cornelius had won.
The event was the fourth the Polaris has hosted at the Indigo at The O2 in London, England. The card was headlined by a catchweight superfight between the multiple-time MMA champion Jake Shields and future Bellator MMA Middleweight Champion and grappling champion Rafael Lovato Jr.[10][11]
In the co-featured slot, for inaugural the Polaris Women Under 55KG Championship a bout between IBJJF(2018) champion Ffion Davies and IBJJF(2013/2014/2016) champion Gezary Matuda took place.[12]
Brad Pickett was scheduled to face Caol Uno at Polaris 10, but Pickett was forced off the card on March 12 with an injury. Leigh Remedios has stepped in on short notice to face Uno.
Vagner Rocha has had to pull out of his title fight against Mansher Khera. However, Edwin Najmi stepping up on short notice to face Khera.
Marc Diakiese has had to pull out of his match with Chris Fishgold, however, Diakiese's training partner and grappling instructor, Liam Cann, will be stepping in on short notice to test himself against the powerful UFC grappler.
Unfortunately due to a last minute training injury, Satoshi Ishii is unable to compete and so the match with Arya Esfandmaz will have to be postponed.
João Miyao has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled Polaris Bantamweight Championship bout against Ashley Williams due to an injury, Azize Hlali has stepped in as a replacement. Unfortunately, Hlali has been unable to compete. Williams instead faced Richard Alarcon, who stepped in on a weeks notice for this encounter.[14]
Differing from the previous Polaris events, the event was a one-night tournament with all eight competitors weighing in at under 90 kg.[15]
Fight Card
Polaris 13
Weight Class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Absolute Superfight
NO-GI
Jed Hue
def.
Dinu Bucalet
Kimura
Opening Round
NO-GI
Taylor Pearman
def.
Nastasa Silviu Georgian
Judge's Decision
Opening Round
NO-GI
Frederic Vosgrone
def.
Tom Breese
Points
Opening Round
NO-GI
Ross Nicholls
def.
Dominic Dillon
Points
Opening Round
NO-GI
Bradley Hill
def.
Shane Curtis
Rear-Naked Choke
Semi-Final Round
NO-GI
Frederic Vosgrone
def.
Taylor Pearman
Points
Semi-Final Round
NO-GI
Ross Nicholls
def.
Bradley Hill
Judge's Decision
Final Match
NO-GI
Frederic Vosgrone
def.
Ross Nicholls
Points
Polaris 14: Squads
Background
Polaris 14: Squads was the first event of the promotion's new format that featured two teams of eight grapplers, four under 75 kg and four under 95 kg on each team. They competed across an eighty-minute time period, split into two halves.[16] The first event of its kind to use this unique ruleset, it saw UFC veterans and elite BJJ black belts representing Team UK and Ireland,[17] and Team Europe.[18] The event also featured a non-title superfight between Ffion Davies and Magdalena Loska.[19]
After a total of seventeen matches, Team UK & Ireland won the event 1–0. Fifteen of the matches ended in a draw and double-elimination, with the only submission coming from Tom Halpin. He submitted Dinu Bucalet via Triangle Choke late in the first half. The main event superfight saw Ffion Davies defeat Magdalena Loska via Rear-Naked Choke.[20]
Polaris 15: Squads 2
Background
Polaris 15: Squads 2 changed the format slightly from their first Squads event, with this edition being contested in the gi instead[21] and the presence of Team UK instead of the addition of Ireland.[22] Team Europe remained unchanged, although the lineup for both teams was drastically different from the first event, owing to the switch from no gi to gi.[23] The superfight for this event featured a contest for the promotion's vacant Featherweight Championship between former Squads teammates, Ashley Williams and Tom Halpin.[24]
Team UK
-75kg
Bryn Jenkins
Adam Adshead
Tyrone Elliott
Sam Gibson
-95kg
Arya Esfandmaz
Bradley Hill
Jamie Paxman
Marcos Nardini
Team Europe
-75kg
Espen Mathiesen
Tommi Pulkkanen
Leon Larman
Dinu Bucalet
-95kg
Adam Wardzinski
Tommy Langaker
Luca Anacoreta
Max Lindblad
Results
After a total of twenty-two matches, Team Europe won the event 9–0. Eight of the matches ended in a finish, with the remaining fourteen being declared a draw and Team Europe being awarded a bonus point as Bryn Jenkins was forced to withdraw after half-time due to an injury. Tommy Langaker submitted Bryn Jenkins via Armbar, Marcos Nardini via Triangle Choke, and Sam Gibson via Cross-Collar Choke. Leon Larman submitted Tyrone Elliott via Bow and Arrow Choke, and both Adam Adshead and Sam Gibson via Collar Choke. Dinu Bucalet submitted Tyrone Elliott via Ezekiel Choke and Luca Anacoreta submitted Jamie Paxman via Reverse Triangle Choke.[25] The superfight between Ashley Williams and Tom Halpin went the full fifteen minutes before Williams was declared the victor by decision, making him the first three-weight champion in Polaris history.[26]
2021 in Polaris
Polaris 16: Squads 3
Background
Polaris 16: Squads 3 was an event that took place on August 7, 2021. This event saw a return to the competition being contested without the use of a gi, and will also be the first time that Team USA will appear, competing against Team UK & Ireland.[27] Darragh O'Connail returned to serve as captain for Team UK & Ireland, while Geo and Richie Martinez took up positions as Co-Captains for Team USA.[28] This event was also the first of the Polaris Squads events to feature preliminary matches as well as a superfight for the promotion's Heavyweight title, with the running order as follows:
After a total of twenty-seven matches, Team USA won the event 7–0. Three of the matches ended in a finish, with the remaining twenty-four being declared a draw. Nathan Orchard earned three points by submitting Kieran Davern with a modified twister, Roberto Jimenez earned a point by submitting Bradley Hill with a rear-naked choke, and Geo Martinez earned three points when Dan Strauss was injured during their match and could not continue. The superfight ended with Kyle Boehm submitting Nastasa Silviu Georgian with a belly-down heelhook in less than a minute to become the Polaris Heavyweight Champion.[29]
Polaris 17
Background
For the first time since Polaris 12, the promotion returned to the superfight format with the event held October 9, 2021 in the Central Hall, Southampton, UK.
Craig Jones defended his Polaris Middleweight title and Kendall Reusing capturing the Women's inaugural Polaris Openweight title.
Polaris 20: Squads 4 is a professional grappling event that took take place on 25 June 2022, in Newport, Wales. This was the fourth edition of the Squads format that featured Team USA defending their status as champions against Team Brazil.
Superfight
Demian Maia v Benson Henderson
Team USA
-75kg
Geo Martinez
Keith Krikorian
Nathan Orchard
Nick Ronan
-95kg
Mason Fowler
Richie 'Boogieman' Martinez
Jon 'Thor' Blank
Hunter Colvin
Team Brazil
-75kg
Luiz Paulo
Fabricio Andrey
Marcelo Fausto
Diogo Reis
-95kg
Kywan Gracie
Igor Tanabe
Isaque Bahiense
Mica Galvao
Results
After a total of twenty-six matches, Team Brazil won the event 2-1.[33] Three of the matches ended in a finish, with the remaining twenty-three being declared a draw. Mason Fowler submitted Kywan Gracie with an armbar to register the first point of the match, and the only point for Team USA. Mica Galvao then submitted Keith Krikorian with an armbar in order to bring the score to 1-1, before he submitted Krikorian once again with a triangle choke in order to take the score to 2-1. The superfight ended with Demian Maia defeating Benson Henderson by Decision.
Polaris 21: Grapple Island was a grappling event held by Polaris Pro Grappling on September 24, 2022, at the end of the BJJ Summer Week in Cagliari, Sardinia. This marked the very first time that the promotion held an event outside of the UK.[34]
Polaris 22: Middleweight Grand Prix was a grappling event held by Polaris Pro Grappling on November 5, 2022. The event featured several superfights along with a middleweight grand prix that saw the winner crowned the new Middleweight world champion.[35] Oliver Taza, Jed Hue, Mateusz Szczecinski, Roberto Jimenez, Hunter Colvin, Alan Sanchez, Owen Livesey, and Shane Fishman all competed in the tournament.[36]
Polaris 23 was announced in December, 2022, when the promotion confirmed that the event would feature a grand prix tournament in the women's 66 kg division.[38] The main event was announced as Owen Livesey v Chris Weidman, and the tournament was scheduled to feature Ffion Davies, Maggie Grindatti, Giovanna Jara, Amy Campo, Brianna Ste-Marie, Julia Maele, and Elisabeth Clay.[39] Jara missed weight by 0.9 kg prior to the event and she was allowed to compete, although she was not eligible to win the title in the event that she won. Elisabeth Clay won the tournament and was crowned the under 66 kg champion.[40]
Polaris 24 was a professional grappling event held by Polaris Pro Grappling on June 3, 2023.[41] It was first announced in January 2023 and the promotion confirmed that a men's under 70 kg tournament would take place at the event.[42] During the live broadcast of Polaris 23 the main event was revealed to be a lightweight title-fight between Ryan Hall and the reigning champion Ashley Williams.[43] Both men withdrew from the event and the title was vacated, with Ethan Crelinsten and Nathan Orchard competing for the vacant belt in the co-main event instead.[44] Jed Hue and Mateusz Szczecinski were also booked to compete for the vacant welterweight title in the main event.[45] The men's tournament was postponed and there were a number of superfights booked for Polaris 24 instead.[46]
Polaris announced that an absolute grand prix had been scheduled for their 25th event, with 8 men competing for a $30,000 grand prize.[47] The promotion also scheduled a Contenders tournament on August 26, 2023 to determine the final entrant into the tournament.[48] Marcin Maciulewicz won that tournament and became the final entrant.[49]
Polaris announced that Craig Jones will be competing against UFC middleweight veteran Gerald Meerschaert in the main event.[54] They later confirmed that Kendall Reusing will be making her return to professional grappling after over a year away due to injury, and she will be defending her openweight title against Leticia Cardozo.[55]Molly McCann is also scheduled to make her professional grappling debut against Julia Scardone.[56]
