Polaris 18 marked a return to form for Europe’s premier grappling promotion, and the results certainly speak for themselves. The promotion spent the majority of the last eighteen months revolutionizing team grappling by devising their squads format that really broke the mould and put a unique twist on the popular style of professional Jiu-Jitsu. After three squads events, Polaris decided to revert back to the traditional superfight format instead with Polaris 17 where Craig Jones defended his middleweight title against UFC veteran and IBJJF world champion Davi Ramos.
Polaris 18 saw another reigning champion emerge victorious as triple belt-holder Ashley Williams decided to put on a gi to take on the legendary Paulo Miyao and the pair had an incredibly close match from start to finish, with Williams just getting the nod in the judge’s eyes. Fellow Polaris fan-favorite Jed Hue also put on an impressive display in the co-main event as he shut down AJ Agazarm and managed to secure the unanimous decision win pretty confidently. At the top of the preliminary card, Williams’ twin brother Josh was also competing in the gi for his Polaris debut against Adam Adshead and managed to finish him with a tight armbar after nine minutes of action.
Aside from the Williams brothers, the Welsh natives competing in the latter half of Polaris 18 did not get the results they wanted. The main card saw their teammate Tom Barry drop a close decision to Lloyd Cooper, shortly before Craig Ewers was submitted by UFC veteran Stevie Ray, and Bryn Jenkins lost to his opposition from Polaris Squads 2, Leon Larman. The remaining main event match saw Igor Tanabe secure the upset by submitting Norwegian legend Tommy Langaker with a bow and arrow choke, while the preliminary card also delivered plenty of action.
Polaris 18 Full Results
Ashley Williams defeats Paulo Miyao via Split Decision
Jed Hue defeats AJ Agazarm via Unanimous Decision
Igor Tanabe defeats Tommy Langaker via Submission – Bow and Arrow Choke (9:05)
Stevie Ray defeats Craig Ewers via Submission – Modified Twister (8:20)
Leon Larman defeats Bryn Jenkins via Unanimous Decision
Lloyd Cooper defeats Tom Barry via Split Decision
Preliminary Card
Josh Williams defeats Adam Adshead via Submission – Armbar (9:15)
Aled Rees defeats Ash Amos via Submission – Lapel Choke (3:55)
Tom Cellamare defeats Oli Cole via Submission – Triangle Armbar (7:33)
Owen Livesey defeats Max Bickerton via Unanimous Decision
Ashley Bendle defeats Kate Bacik via Unanimous Decision
Jamie Dicks defeats Finn Carey via Unanimous Decision
William Southern defeats Rhys Davis via Submission – Triangle Choke (5:17)
All of the results from the full Polaris 18 event will be available to watch on UFC FightPass, click here to subscribe and watch.
