Jitsmagazine will be on hand to provide the live results, play-by-play, analysis, and highlights of Polaris 25, which will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass on Saturday, September 30th, 2023. This is a big moment for the promotion and they’ve decided to celebrate the landmark event by putting together an incredible Absolute Grand Prix lineup. There’s a $30,000 grand prize available for the winner and 3 elite opponents awaiting them in the tournament bracket, along with an exciting superfight between Aljamain Sterling and Mike Grundy as the main event.
Click here to see our full preview of the Polaris 25 Absolute Grand Prix and main event match.
Polaris 25: Absolute Grand Prix Live Results
Opening Round
Fabricio Andrey v Owen Livesey
Fabricio Andrey and Owen Livesey both look happy to stand to begin with as they get to work handfighting. Livesey dives in for the fireman’s carry and gets under Andrey’s hips but he can’t finish it, and Andrey circles back to the center. A footsweep doesn’t quite land for Livesey but he shoots in for a double-leg shortly after and drives Andrey off the mat. They reset and Andrey almost secures an ankle-pick but Livesey pops back up. They get reset in the center and Livesey snaps Andrey down into the front headlock, but Andrey frees himself and gets back to his feet.
Andrey tries a duck-under but gets hit with a counter judo-throw and they go clean off the mat once again. Livesey manages to snap Andrey into a front headlock after the reset, although Andrey is working hard to hit a takedown from there. They get reset in the center again and the referee warns Andrey about backing up too much, with Livesey getting in on the snapdown once again. Livesey tries to turn to his back but Andrey almost manages to wrestle up, having to settle for a neutral standing position. Andrey hits a beautiful duck-under and drags Livesey down to score the first point of the match, but Livesey scrambles to his feet shortly after.
They clinch up and Andrey gets close on an uchi mata, but they go out of bounds again. Livesey tries for a single-leg after the reset but another uchi mata attempt by Andrey sees them go off the mats and into a cameraman. They’re reset and they battle in the clinch again, before going out of bounds after a while. Livesey shoots in after the reset and gets really deep on the single-leg but Andrey does an incredible job to stay standing by re-balancing even while he’s lifted in the air. Livesey gives up on the takedown and Andrey tries to take the back, but the pair go out of bounds when he’s shucked off.
They reset and Livesey gets double-unders, but Andrey almost lands another counter uchi mata. Livesey avoids it and tries for a throw one way before sending Andrey the other way when he defends, he lands this takedown but he can’t keep Andrey down. No points are scored and Andrey goes for another duck-under shortly after they engage again. Livesey tries to counter with an uchi mata of his own but he ends up on the bottom in turtle, slowly working his way to his feet without being scored on. They clinch again and Livesey tries for another takedown in the dying seconds but he can’t secure it in time.
Fabricio Andrey defeats Owen Livesey via Decision – 1-0 on Points
Marcin Maciulewicz v Giancarlo Bodoni
Marcin Maciulewicz and Giancarlo Bodoni are both refusing to give up the center but Bodoni hits a lovely backtake from standing that forces Maciulewicz to the ground. Maciulewicz escapes back control and is bridging hard in order to avoid being stuck under Bodoni, eventually managing to force Bodoni off him entirely. Bodoni steps in to pass his guard and Maciulewicz tries to attack the legs, eventually managing to pull Bodoni into outside ashi garami. Bodoni stays standing and although he’s off-balanced a few times, he’s able to free his leg and start passing from standing again. Bodoni almost manages to secure a quick pass but Maciulewicz is able to recover half-guard by a matter of inches.
Bodoni disengages and steps in to pass again but Maciulewicz is much quicker to keep half-guard and is using it to counteract Bodoni’s heavy knee-slice game. After a quick off-balance, Maciulewicz is able to hit a false reap and almost expose Bodoni’s back. Bodoni escapes though and he’s in a better position when he returns, securing the bodylock to force the pass. He’s able to transition to a half-nelson when Maciulewicz turns away from him and uses it to force back-exposure, diving over him to take the back and score points. The officials barely have time to add the point though, as Bodoni applies a rear-naked choke over the face and forces his opponent to tap.
Giancarlo Bodoni defeats Marcin Maciulewicz via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
Roberto Jimenez v Izaak Michell
Roberto Jimenez comes out with his trademark fast pace in the clinch but Izaak Michell is keeping up perfectly well as they pummel for position. Michell slips by and gets a bodylock on Jimenez from behind, dragging him to the mat and working to get his hooks in. Jimenez is able to escape but Michell maintains top position and secures side control to score the first point of the match. Jimenez turns to his knees and wrestles up, returning to standing and attempting a quick takedown that pushes Michell off the mats. They reset in the center and after a short battle in the clinch, Jimenez goes for a quick shot that doesn’t pay off and he returns to his feet.
Both men are using heavy collar-ties to wear each other down and Jimenez shoots again, but Michell sprawls and manages to defend. Jimenez tries an armdrag to an inside-trip but he only off-balances his opponent and can’t get him to the mat. Michell hits a slick footsweep and although there’s a scramble as Jimenez tries to recover, he secures the position and scores another point for the takedown. They get reset in the center and Jimenez is in butterfly half-guard, he tries to shoot through for a triangle choke and transitions to a guillotine but he can’t finish either of them as Michell stays in control.
Michell is working to pass but he disengages a little and Jimenez uses the space to stand back up. Jimenez is really picking up the pace now and he drives forward for a takedown but Michell is able to use the collar-tie to drop him to the ground. Jimenez immediately pops up and tries another shot but he can’t get in on Michell’s hips. Michell manages to snap Jimenez down but he can’t keep him there, and Jimenez pulls seated guard shortly afterward. Jimenez gets a deep reverse de la riva that threatens Michell but he disengages to avoid the danger before resuming passing.
Jimenez takes reverse de la riva again and he tries to invert but he can’t keep a connection to Michell, so he stands back up with him. There’s a little more work in the clinch and Michell takes an underhook that allows him to land a big throw, but he can’t hold the position and the pair get reset in the center. They’re both working for collar-ties and Jimenez manages to force a little scramble on the feet that allows him to jump to closed guard. Michell forces him to open it though and he jumps on the opportunity to attack Jimenez’s legs, but Jimenez defends and they return to standing shortly before the match ends.
Izaak Michell defeats Roberto Jimenez via Decision – 2-0 on Points
Jason Rau v Kaynan Duarte
Kaynan Duarte immediately hits a single-leg in just a few seconds and scores the first point of the match. He starts working on a knee-slice pass but Jason Rau is doing a great job of shutting him down with a reverse de la riva hook. Rau is switching between inside and outside control really fluidly and although Duarte is trying to switch direction he’s not able to get anywhere. Rau uses a de la riva hook to almost get an entry to K-guard but Duarte is able to strip the grips and disengage. Duarte continues trying pass but every time he stuffs one of Rau’s legs, Rau is able to recover and pummel them back through.
Duarte gets control of Rau’s upper body and immediately drops to his knees, working his way to double underhooks when Rau prevents the crossface. Duarte eases off a little before blasting through and finishing the pass, immediately stepping into mount afterwards to score two points for the full sequence. He has Rau’s arms above his head and he smothers him at first before transitioning to the arm-triangle choke and squeezing hard to get the tap.
Kaynan Duarte defeats Jason Rau via Submission – Arm-triangle Choke
Semi-Finals
Fabricio Andrey v Giancarlo Bodoni
Bodoni leans on Andrey in the clinch and Andrey almost gets an ankle-pick but he can’t finish it, before Bodoni snatches the front headlock. Bodoni throws him to the ground but he can’t get him to his back, so he doesn’t score a point. Bodoni latches on to a cradle and transitions to an armbar attempt that looks close, but Andrey turns free and manages to take top position shortly before the ref stops the action to reset them in the center. Andrey is working his passing but Bodoni is using a reverse de la riva to threaten him and eventually manages to sit him down. Bodoni wrestles up and is almost hit by a counter takedown as he does so, but he manages to scramble to his feet.
Andrey tries to pick up a single-leg in the scramble and uses it to transition to the back, securing a bodylock. He can’t finish the takedown and Bodoni breaks the grips, but Andrey shoots in for a takedown and forces Bodoni to defend. He does manage to do so but he decides to pull guard shortly afterward. Andrey is passing a little slower this time and isn’t stepping in, as Bodoni is trying dummy sweeps and footsweeps to off-balance him. Andrey hits a quick hip-switch that almost ends in a pass but Bodoni scrambles to recover. Bodoni wrestles up and manages to get a bodylock but Andrey hits a slick counter uchi mata and manages to score a point by stabilizing.
Bodoni secures a shoulder-crunch but Andrey is able to slip his arm free and return to standing. Andrey steps in to pass and Bodoni is trying to attack from his back but Andrey uses another beautiful hip-switch to counter the movement. Andrey can’t secure the pass this time either, but he drops to his knees this time to pressure into Bodoni’s half-guard. Bodoni tries to use a butterfly hook to sweep him and enters the legs when Andrey tries to balance, but Andrey is able to strip control and free his leg. Andrey drops into half-guard again and Bodoni is trying to get the grips he wants, but Andrey is able to strip everything before he can actually use it.
Andrey disengages and drops into pass again, but Bodoni hits a butterfly sweep this time. He can’t hold Andrey down but he wrestles up with him when he stands, trying to secure some control over him and slow him down. Bodoni gets a cradle around him and tries to dump him down on the edge of the mat but he quickly gets a hip out and turns towards his opponent to take top position. The referee goes to reset them but the time actually runs out before he can do so.
Fabricio Andrey defeats Giancarlo Bodoni via Decision – 1-0 on Points
Izaak Michell v Kaynan Duarte
Duarte pulls guard early on and lands a beautiful tilt sweep that forces Michell to turtle in order to avoid getting scored on. Duarte latches on to the front headlock and turns Michell to his back, scoring the point he was looking for as he starts working for a guard pass. Michell gets butterfly hooks but Duarte drops his hips heavy on them and shuts down any elevation. Duarte tries to pass to the side but he gives Michell the opportunity to create some space in the process. Michell is working with a de la riva hook but Duarte shuts it down and reaches for a bodylock grip in order to use his weight more effectively.
Duarte can’t quite get his hands to meet and they get reset in the center as they drift out of bounds. Michell creates space again and tries to wrestle up, but he exposes his back in the process. Duarte tries to secure the position but Michell uses it to enter the legs and is able to re-guard when that fails. Duarte is driving his knee through the center and his forward pressure is incredibly hard to stop, as he eventually forces his way through to mount to score another two points for the sequence. Michell gets back to half-guard and Duarte attempts a chair-sit, but he can’t secure the back and has to return to top half-guard instead.
Michell is trying to use reverse de la riva to produce some offense but Duarte is heavy on top and it takes Michell a little while to initiate a brief scramble. Duarte dives over the top for an arm-in guillotine but Michell disengages and the pair return to standing in the center. Duarte sits to guard briefly before standing back up and Michell shoots for a takedown, but Duarte counters with another guillotine attempt. Michell frees his head and secure top position just long enough to score his first point of the match, but Duarte is able to return to his feet shortly after. The pair are reset in the center, with both men happy to fight for a dominant position in the clinch.
Michell shoots in again but Duarte is able to sprawl and shut it down, with the pair reset in the center once again. Michell tries a footsweep and follows it up with another shot but Duarte defends both and the time winds down shortly afterward
Kaynan Duarte defeats Izaak Michell via Decision – 3-1 on Points
Final
Fabricio Andrey v Kaynan Duarte
Duarte sits to guard immediately after contact is made, but he wrestles up on a double-leg once Andrey tries to pass. That allows Duarte to score early on and he has some heavy top pressure, but Andrey is able create some space and start working his guard. Andrey inverts and Duarte backs off to avoid the threat, giving him enough space to burst back to his feet. Duarte catches the front headlock in doing so and he tries to transition to Andrey’s back, but Andrey threatens him with a counter-throw. Duarte dives over the top and tries to secure the back but Andrey scrambles free and immediately tries to hit another throw.
Andrey lands the throw but can’t keep Duarte down and Duarte scrambles up to his feet quickly. As soon as contact is made, Duarte sits to guard again. Andrey is trying to pass to the side quickly but Duarte is securing half-guard each time that he tries to drop into a passing position. Andrey is pinning his opponent’s legs whenever he’s standing but Duarte is doing a good job of preventing him from securing the pass afterwards. Andrey drops down to his knees again and Duarte gets in on a shoulder-crunch from half-guard as he pressures forward.
Duarte uses it to sweep and scores a point, before starting to set up a giftwrap. Duarte uses the giftwrap to expose Andrey’s back and starts to work his hooks in, eventually securing the body-triangle and his third point. Duarte is able to sink in the rear-naked choke after a little handfighting and Andrey taps.
Kaynan Duarte defeats Fabricio Andrey via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
Aljamain Sterling v Mike Grundy
Both Aljamain Sterling and Mike Grundy come out in traditional wrestling stances, and both men are fighting hard in the clinch. Sterling tries to throw Grundy by a few times but he can’t keep hold of him as he does so. Sterling is feinting a lot and Grundy is starting to react to some of them a little bit more than he was at the start. Grundy hits a good snap down but he can’t get hold of Sterling when he goes down, and another one immediately after is less successful. Sterling tries a snap down of his own but Grundy circles out and the pair are reset in the center.
Grundy hits a big snap down again but he’s too far away to take advantage, and Sterling hits a quick throw-by and uses it to back Grundy on to the edge of the mat. Sterling shoots in but they go off the mat and get reset again. Sterling picks up the pace and gets in on another shot, but he’s worked Grundy too close to the edge of the mat again and they go off it. The pair are both working in the clinch and they drift off the mat, but this time the referee calls them both for stalling on the reset.
They both immediately pick up the pace and Sterling shoots in after a quick clinch exchange, re-shooting immediately after when it fails. Grundy sprawls and tries to secure a front headlock but Sterling works his way back to his feet. Sterling shoots again but Grundy is too far away this time, and Grundy tries another unsuccessful snap down shortly afterward. The referee gives them another stalling call and this time he starts them both in combat-base, and Sterling goes in for a leg shortly after. Grundy tries to get to the front headlock again but Sterling is able to scramble free.
Grundy gets close to Sterling’s hips but Sterling latches onto an arm-in guillotine as they go off the mat. The action continues just off the mat as Sterling tries to crank on the guillotine but he can’t finish it and Grundy eventually escapes to standing. They get reset in the center and Sterling gets a bodylock soon after, but Grundy hits a counter uchi mata and almost manages to finish it. Sterling re-balances and they reset in the center, but he shoots in for another takedown shortly afterward. Grundy defends and after a little clinch exchange he shoots in as well, but there’s not enough time left on the clock for either men to advance position.
Aljamain Sterling defeats Mike Grundy via Decision – Unanimous
The full Polaris 25: Absolute Grand Prix event replay is available to watch on UFC Fight Pass.
