Polaris Squads 3 is only a matter of weeks away and the promotion has made some changes to the lineup for Team UK & Ireland v Team USA, with five out of the sixteen competitors having been replaced. Team UK & Ireland will no doubt miss the presence of Polaris triple champion and one of the most exciting grapplers from the first squads event, Ashley Williams. He is being replaced by another veteran of the Polaris mats in Jed Hue, and the young Englishman is more than capable of providing an upset against his American opponents.
In the same under 75kg category, Team USA has had both Kade Ruotolo and Edwin Najmi withdraw. One of their replacements will be the remaining half of the most impressive duo to come out of 10th Planet, Geo Martinez, who’s brother is already on the team. He will be joined by Adam Benayoun, an exciting grappler who earned his black belt under Ryan Hall and looks to be one of the dark horses on Team USA. The 95kg category of Team USA has also had two pullouts as both William Tackett and the original Team Captain JT Torres will no longer be competing.
One of their replacements also happens to be one of the most successful young grapplers to arrive on the scene in recent years and the reigning Combat Jiu Jitsu Welterweight world champion, Roberto Jimenez. Joining him is an ATOS black belt and IBJJF no gi Pan-ams bronze medalist, Mike Perez. With the loss of Torres, the captaining duties will now be shared between both Geo and Richie Martinez instead of a single person.
Polaris Squads 3 Full Team Lineup
Team UK & Ireland Team USA
-75kg
Jed Hue Adam Benayoun
Tom Halpin Geo Martinez
Ross Nicholls PJ Barch
Darragh O’Connaill Nick Ronan
-95kg
Kieran Davern Jon ‘Thor’ Blank
Bradley Hill Mike Perez
Dan Strauss Richie ‘Boogieman’ Martinez
Ben Dyson Roberto Jimenez
The full play-by-play and live results for the first Polaris Squads can be found here, along with the full play-by-play and live results for the second Polaris Squads event here. Rest assured, we’ll be on hand again to provide the same for Polaris Squads 3.
Polaris Squads 3 featuring Team USA v Team UK & Ireland will be streamed live on 7th August on UFC FightPass, click here to subscribe and watch.
