Keith Krikorian has just been booked to defend his under 70kgs title against Gabriel Sousa at Grapplefest 18 on March 2nd, 2024. Both men are ADCC veterans and both of them have established themselves as being among the very best grapplers on the planet in the lighter weight classes. This isn’t actually the first time that these two men have stood opposite one another on the mats either, as they previously met in a superfight on the main card of Who’s Number One 12.
Krikorian won that match by referee decision and currently leads the series between them 1-0, but by the time ADCC 2022 came around they had both made adjustments in their game. They were both competing in the under 66kg division at the event and were even drawn on the same side of the bracket, but they had very different experiences. Krikorian was submitted by Diego ‘Pato’ Oliveira in the opening round and was knocked out of the tournament, whereas Sousa managed to win his first two matches before beating Oliveira himself in the semi-final.
Although Sousa lost to Diogo Reis in the final, he left with a silver medal for his efforts and had been in some incredibly entertaining matches during his run. Krikorian bounced straight back after ADCC though, as he beat Sam McNally at Grapplefest 15 to claim the under 70kgs title in his very next match. This is some great matchmaking from the promotion because it gives Sousa the opportunity to get revenge, while Krikorian has the chance to prove that the first time wasn’t a fluke and he belongs to be counted among the best grapplers in the world in his weight class.
The news that Keith Krikorian was going to defend his under 70kgs title against Gabriel Sousa at Grapplefest 18 was announced in a post to the promotion’s official Instagram account:
