Four regional MMA promotions will compete in a team-based grappling competition tonight with a cash prize on the line, as the inaugural UFC Fight Pass Invitational takes place tonight live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Current UFC fighters associated with their promotion serve as team captains as a mix of alumni and current fighters compete on each team.
Two men from each team will grapple with the winner staying on the mat to face another member of the other team. In the event of a draw, where no submission is completed after eight minutes, both grapplers are eliminated. If both teams have an equal number of competitors at the end of the round, judges will render a decision for the winner. The winning team is the team with grapplers remaining. The weight limit for each team was 776 total pounds.
Former LFA middleweight champion Gregory Rodrigues captains the LFA team, joined by current UFC lightweight and former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Davi Ramos, former Bellator middleweight champion Rafael Lovato Jr., and decorated BJJ competitor Ary Farias. They will face the CFFC team in the semifinal round, headed up by UFC lightweight Joe Solecki. Solecki is joined by four-fight MMA veteran Jonathan Piersma, TUF 19 and Dana White’s Contender Series alum and former CFFC light heavyweight champion Anton Berzin, and Bellator vet Mike Wilcox.
On the other side of the bracket, Fury FC takes on FAC. Fury FC is led by UFC featherweight Daniel Pineda, who was originally set to compete in a superfight in this event, but took over the captainship after UFC welterweight and Fury FC commentator Alex Morono was unable to compete. Joining Pineda is dangerous BJJ threat and Fury FC amateur welterweight champion Kody Steele, 2020 IBJJF No-Gi PanAms champion Ricardo Evangelista, and BJJ black belt Travis Tooke. Glory MMA and Fitness coach, UFC welterweight, and FAC part-owner James Krause heads up the Kansas City-based promotion. Joining him are his pupils from his gym: UFC lightweight Grant Dawson, UFC, BKFC, and PFL veteran Jason High, and fast-rising prospect Mikey England.
|
Fury FC |
FAC |
| Daniel Pineda – Captain | James Krause – Captain |
| Kody Steele | Grant Dawson |
| Ricardo Evangelista | Jason High |
| Travis Tooke | Mikey England |
|
LFA |
CFFC |
| Gregory Rodrigues – Captain | Joe Solecki – Captain |
| Rafael Lovato Jr. | Jonathan Piersma |
| Davi Ramos | Anton Berzin |
| Ary Farias | Mike Wilcox |
Along with the team competitions, five “bonus bouts” are scheduled to take place. Proclaimed by some to be the “queen of competitive BJJ”, Danielle Kelly will face Alexa Yanes. UFC and Bellator veterans Benson Henderson and Ben Saunders will square off, while UFC lightweight Bobby Green faces Shane Shapiro and UFC middleweight Brendan Allen faces the always-game MMA fighter and grappler Gabriel Checco. The card will also be opened by a lightweight bout between Jerry Shapiro, brother of the aforementioned Shane Shapiro, and Cristian Guzman, who competes for the first time as a black belt.
MMA Sucka has fight fans covered with UFC Fight Pass Invitational results, with the event starting at 8pm ET/5pm PT on, as the event title suggests, UFC Fight Pass.
UFC Fight Pass Invitational Results
Opening Bouts
Cristian Guzman def. Jerry Shapiro via Unanimous Decision
Brendan Allen def. Gabriel Checco via Unanimous Decision
Semifinal Round – FAC vs. Fury FC
Jason High vs. Kody Steele ends in a Time Limit Draw
Mikey England vs. Travis Tooke ends in a Time Limit Draw
Grant Dawson vs. Daniel Pineda ends in a Time Limit Draw
Ricardo Evangelista def. James Krause via Submission (Straight Armbar) at 1:39
Fury FC advances after all FAC grapplers eliminated
Semifinal Round – LFA vs. CFFC
Gregory Rodrigues vs. Joe Solecki ends in a Time Limit Draw
Rafael Lovato Jr. def. Mike Wilcox via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 5:44
Rafael Lovato Jr. vs. Jonathan Piersma ends in a Time Limit Draw
Davi Ramos vs. Anton Berzin ends in a Time Limit Draw
LFA advances after all CFFC grapplers eliminated
Bonus Bouts
Shane Shapiro def. Bobby Green via Submission (Kneebar) at 1:05
Alexa Yanes def. Danielle Kelly via Split Decision
Benson Henderson def. Ben Saunders via Unanimous Decision
Final Round – Fury FC vs. LFA
Ary Farias vs. Ricardo Evangelista ends in a Time Limit Draw
Davi Ramos vs. Daniel Pineda ends in a Time Limit Draw
Rafael Lovato Jr. vs. Travis Tooke ends in a Time Limit Draw
Gregory Rodrigues vs. Kody Steele ends in a Time Limit Draw
LFA def. FURY FC via Unanimous Decision to WIN EVENT
