Third Coast Grappling Kumite 6 is right around the corner on September 12th and the promotion has just revealed the bracket for their absolute gi tournament where 8 elite grapplers will compete for the $10,000 grand prize. The event will feature the man who walked away with the last $10,000 cheque at Third Coast Grappling Kumite 5, Roberto Jimenez, even though he didn’t officially walk away with the victory due to a refereeing error. He’s also the only person who’s opening round match is yet to be announced as he was due to face Ricardo Evangelista until the multiple UAEJJF Grand Slam winner was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.
The other half of his side of the bracket features an exciting match between Gabriel Almeida and Gustavo Batista. The latter actually won the very first 3CG Kumite event while Almeida is coming off a huge win at Fight 2 Win 149 against the legendary Manuel Ribamar. On the opposite side is a man who has beaten both Almeida and Batista in previous 3CG Kumite events, Fellipe Andrew. Not just that of course, but Andrew is also less than a year removed from joining Gordon Ryan in becoming one of only two men to submit Keenan Cornelius. He faces off against Arian De Melo, a Gracie Barra brown belt who has won five consecutive matches under the 3CG banner and was put into the tournament as a wildcard entry.
The final matchup features a pairing that could easily have been the final had they not been slated to meet in the first round. Victor Hugo is another returning 3CG Kumite champion and the 2019 IBJJF no gi absolute World Champion who is a fantastic well-rounded grappler who has yet to be submitted as a black belt. He comes up against an absolute powerhouse in Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa who has already become a five-time IBJJF World Champion and registered over 150 competitive wins at black belt despite being only 28 years old.
All in all, the absolute gi tournament looks like it will produce some elite grappling action and it will definitely be one to look forward to. That’s not all of the excitement that the night will provide, as there will also be a set of 10 superfights leading up to the main event. They will feature primarily local fighters and colored belts who have some previous experience on fight night events and will no doubt be eager to make a big impression.
Brandon Gambucci vs Curry Gaut
Micheal Esquivel vs Omar Hillail
Orin Nova vs Jordan Vaisman
Ricky Peoples vs Jordan Plutin
Abel Salazar vs Duke Edwards
Jay Spiegel vs Isaiah Malik Carlson
Andy Cordova vs Sergei Zack Edwards
Casidy Welch vs Shannon O’Shea
Cristian Guzman vs Brandon Gutierrez
Kristin Kotinek vs Jessica Crane
The full Third Coast Grappling Kumite 6 event will be streamed live on FloGrappling on September 12th, click here to subscribe and watch.
