The AIGA Champions League USA Qualifier 2024 took place on October 19th and 20th, 2024 and six teams from all around the country were looking to deliver the results needed to earn a spot in the finals next year. They were separated into two groups where they would battle it out in a round-robin format, with the winners of each group meeting to determine who would win the qualifier. Things were tough for Legion Jiu-Jitsu in group A, as they didn’t win either match and went out with a total record of 3-7 in single matches and gave up 4 matches by not being able to field a competitor.
The team that Finishers Sub-Only put together came within inches of winning group A, as it all came down to the last match of the group against Checkmat. Finishers had some great individual performances but it wasn’t quite enough to put them on top of the group. Sid Tavolaro and Alan Sanchez in particular stood out for getting two submission wins each, but in the end it was Checkmat who won the first group by beating Team Finishers 4-3. Group B was much closer though, as 10th Planet, Team Vanguard, and Fight Sports all went 1-1 in their team matchups. With each team’s record completely even at 7-7 each, it was 10th Planet who won group B thanks to the fact that they had the most submission finishes.
David Stoilescu stood out as the top performer from Team Vanguard with two submission wins in two matches, but Nick Ronan and Josh Saunders also got two wins. Fight Sports on the other hand was much more of a collective effort, as multiple competitors managed to win a single match. Checkmat won another close battle in the final, going 3-3 in actual matches but winning the 7th match by default when Geo Martinez couldn’t compete due to injury. Ryan Aitken stood out for 10th Planet thanks to a perfect 3-0 record with two submissions while the top performer for Checkmat was undoubtedly Francisco Lo, who submitted all three of his opponents.
AIGA Champions League USA Qualifier 2024 Full Results
Group A
Team Finishers vs Legion Jiu-Jitsu
-60kg: Legion Jiu-Jitsu did not have a valid competitor – Team Finishers wins by default
-65kg: Isaac Cordova defeats Tu Dang via Submission – No Gi Ezekiel Choke
-70kg: Sid Tavolaro defeats Tyler Brown via Submission – Inside Heel Hook
-76kg: Alan Sanchez defeats Scott Boehler via Submission – Anaconda Choke
-83kg: Bobby Winther defeats Rene Sousa via Decision – Points
-91kg: Adam Bradley defeats Drew Dyer via Submission – Straight Ankle-lock
+91kg: Breylor Grout defeats Connor Dixon via Submission – D’arce Choke
Team Finishers defeats Legion Jiu-Jitsu 4-3
Checkmat vs Legion Jiu-Jitsu
-60kg: Legion Jiu-Jitsu did not have an valid competitor – Checkmat wins by default
-65kg: Michael Esquivel defeats Tu Dang via Decision – Points
-70kg: Tyler Brown withdrew due to injury – Checkmat wins by default
-76kg: Matheus Luna defeats Scott Boehler via Decision – Points
-83kg: Francisco Lo defeats Bobby Winther via Submission – Armbar
-91kg: Adam Bradley withdrew due to injury – Checkmat wins by default
+91kg: Alex Filho defeats Ian Daube via Decision – Penalties
Checkmat defeats Legion Jiu-Jitsu 7-0
Checkmat vs Team Finishers
-60kg: Igor Moreira defeats Eric Naples via Submission – Outside Heel Hook
-65kg: Isaac Cordova defeats Michael Esquivel via Decision – Points
-70kg: Sid Tavolaro defeats Gustavo Lopes via Submission – Outside Heel Hook
-76kg: Alan Sanchez defeats Matheus Luna via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
-83kg: Francisco Lo defeats Rene Sousa via Submission – Straight Ankle-lock
-91kg: Dory Aoun defeats Jake Coleman via Decision – Points
+91kg: Elder Cruz defeats Alex Grandy via Decision – Points
Checkmat defeats Team Finishers 4-3
Group B
Team Vanguard vs 10th Planet
-60kg: Fabian Ramirez defeats Chris Crawford via Decision – Points
-65kg: Geo Martinez defeats Dylan Garofalo via Decision – Points
-70kg: David Stoilescu defeats Ben Eddy via Submission – Kneebar
-76kg: Nick Ronan defeats Sam Schwartzapfel via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
-83kg: Kyle Chambers defeats Luke Martin via Submission – Outside Heel Hook
-91kg: Ryan Aitken defeats Anthony Poliseno via Submission – Arm-triangle Choke
+91kg: Josh Saunders defeats Kevin Berberich via Decision – Points
Team Vanguard defeats 10th Planet 4-3
Fight Sports vs Team Vanguard
-60kg: Victor Delibero defeats Fabian Ramirez via Decision – Judge’s Decision
-65kg: Angel Morales defeats Dylan Garofolo via Decision – Penalties
-70kg: David Stoilescu defeats Bernardo Delibero via Submission – Inside Heel Hook
-76kg: Nick Ronan defeats Rodrigo Francioni via Decision – Judge’s Decision
-83kg: Enrique March defeats Luke Martin via Submission – Outside Heel Hook
-91kg: Enrico Said defeats Anthony Poliseno via Submission – Toehold
+91kg: Josh Saunders defeats Joao Costa via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
Fight Sports defeats Team Vanguard 4-3
10th Planet vs Fight Sports
-60kg: Geo Martinez withdraws due to injury – Fight Sports win by default
-65kg: Anthony O’dell defeats Chris Crawford via Decision – Points
-70kg: Ben Eddy defeats Pedro Nakano via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
-76kg: Rodrigo Francioni defeats Sam Schwartzapfel via Decision – Points
-83kg: Kyle Chambers defeats Felipe Porto via Submission – Outside Heel Hook
-91kg: Ryan Aitken defeats Enrico Said via Submission – Outside Heel Hook
+91kg: Kevin Berberich defeats Joao Costa via Submission – Inside Heel Hook
10th Planet defeats Fight Sports 4-3
Final
-60kg: Igor Moreira defeats Chris Crawford via Decision – Points
-65kg: Geo Martinez withdraws due to injury – Checkmat wins by default
-70kg: Ben Eddy defeats Gustavo Lopes via Submission – Hindulotine
-76kg: Matheus Luna defeats Sam Szchwartzapfel via Submission – Triangle Armbar
-83kg: Francisco Lo defeats Charles Rials via Submission – Armbar
-91kg: Ryan Aitken defeats Dory Aoun via Decision – Points
+91kg: Elder Cruz defeats Kevin Berberich via Decision – Points
Checkmat defeats 10th Planet 5-2 and the results mean that they win the AIGA Champions League USA Qualifier 2024!
The full AIGA Champions League USA Qualifier 2024 event replay, including all of the above results, is available to watch on FloGrappling, click here to subscribe and watch.
