The Emerald City Invitational 2 took place just recently and the promotion put on another epic 32-man tournament with a $10,000 cash prize up for grabs which naturally attracted some elite grappling talent. The first event was a resounding success when PJ Barch stormed past the competition by racking up four submission wins in one night, so the promotion decided to repeat that formula in the 145lbs division this time around. When the second event was announced, it was uncertain whether they’d be able to match the excitement surrounding their debut but it turns out that they were able to stack the bracket with even more big names than before.
The opening round saw a huge upset when teenager Raul Rosas Jr managed to continue his record of defeating black belts when he submitted Luis Quinones in EBI overtime. There were a few other overtime wins but most of the opening round was finished within the regulation time period as Damien Anderson made short work of Richard Alarcon with a kimura, Kennedy Maciel caught Jeff Mock in a reverse triangle choke, and Gianni Grippo submitted Ellis Karadag with only the second heelhook of his career.
In the quarter-finals Grippo shut down Rosas Jr and ended his Cinderella story early by defeating him in EBI overtime while Anderson and Maciel submitted Gabriel Sousa and Frank Rosenthal respectively. Both semi-finals were incredibly tough matches as Grippo and Anderson met, and Maciel came up against 10th Planet black belt Keith Krikorian. Both of them came down to who had the fastest escape time in EBI overtime and then the final between Grippo and Maciel was set.
It was another difficult match for both men with Grippo spending the majority of his time on the bottom but transitioning between several different guards and working them all to great effect to try and unsettle his opponent. Maciel was working his passing game but wasn’t ever able to secure a dominant position before the time ran out. They went to EBI overtime and again, neither man was able to finish from the gifted positions but Grippo went on to win by having the fastest escape time, and he went home with the $10,000 grand prize.
Emerald City Invitational 2 Results
Preliminary Superfights
Jaidyn Mueller defeats Adelina Alvarez via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
John Lyons defeats Dylan Garofalo via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Albruce Touaev defeats Dez McDonald via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Trinity Pun defeats Fleur Wayman via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Savion Maranon defeats Jacob Rodriguez via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Laura Kent defeats Eve Isaacs via Submission – Triangle-Armbar
Andrew Solano defeats Dillon Masington via Submission – Armbar (in EBI overtime)
145lbs Tournament – Opening Round
Kennedy Maciel defeats Jeff Mock via Submission – Reverse Triangle Choke
Frank Rosenthal defeats David Weintraub via Submission – Reverse Triangle Choke
Keith Krikorian defeats Suraj Budhram via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
Estevan Martinez defeats Cameron Mellott via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Gianni Grippo defeats Ellis Karadag via Submission – Heel Hook
Raul Rosas Jr. defeats Luis Quinones via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Gabriel Sousa defeats John Battle via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Damien Anderson defeats Richard Alarcon via Submission – Kimura
Superfight
Andrew Kochel defeats Nick Willey via Submission – Guillotine
145lbs Tournament – Quarter-Finals
Kennedy Maciel defeats Frank Rosenthal via Submission – Neck Crank
Keith Krikorian defeats Estevan Martinez via Decision – Fastest Escape in EBI overtime
Gianni Grippo defeats Raul Rosas Jr. via Submission – Rear-naked Choke (in EBI overtime)
Damien Anderson defeats Gabriel Sousa via Submission – Heel Hook
Superfight
Rey de Leon defeats Jack Stapleton via Submission – Shoulder Lock
145lbs Tournament – Semi-Finals
Kennedy Maciel defeats Keith Krikorian via Decision – Fastest Escape in EBI overtime
Gianni Grippo defeats Damien Anderson via Decision – Fastest Escape in EBI overtime
Superfight
Joe Baize defeats Drew Puzon via Submission – Heel Hook
145lbs Tournament – Final
Gianni Grippo defeats Kennedy Maciel via Decision – Fastest Escape in EBI overtime
The full Emerald City Invitational 2 event replay will be available to watch on FloGrappling, click here to subscribe and watch.
