On Thursday night, the spotlight was on Craig Jones and Felipe Pena as they took center stage in the highly anticipated main event of the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4 event in Las Vegas. The crowd eagerly awaited this thrilling clash between two grappling titans.
Throughout the 12 minutes of the regular part of the match, Jones and Pena showcased their incredible skills, but neither fighter could fully assert dominance over the other. The contest remained evenly matched, intensifying the anticipation for the outcome. As the fight entered the extra time (EBI), the stakes were raised even higher.
In the end, it was Craig Jones, the esteemed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach of Alexander Volkanovski, who emerged victorious. Jones, a two-time ADCC silver medalist, faced off against the former ADCC absolute champion, Felipe Pena. With a display of speed and technical prowess, Jones secured the win based on a faster escape time, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
Completely unnecessary shot by Eddie Bravo 😂😂😂#FPI4 pic.twitter.com/LuW1Pg2nLL
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 30, 2023
Teixeira once again emerged as the victor in their fight, securing a unanimous decision from the judges after three intense rounds. Throughout the majority of the three four-minute rounds, the seasoned Brazilian showcased superior control over the ground game, skillfully advancing his position. Although Anthony Smith made a notable “submission” attempt with a triangle, Teixeira managed to escape smoothly without encountering significant obstacles. Based on the overall performance witnessed, Teixeira’s victory was well-deserved and celebrated.
Smith with a pretty good look#FPI4 pic.twitter.com/rAlMl7B1zD
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) June 30, 2023
The tournament itself was filled with action-packed fights, featuring eight talented fighters, including Nick Rodriguez, Dan Manasaoiu, Felipe Andrew, Vagner Rocha, Gabriel Arges, Fedor Nikolov, Haisam Rida, and Roberto Jimenez. In the end, it was Nick Rodriguez who emerged as the tournament champion, claiming the $30,000 prize. Rodriguez showcased his skills by defeating Manasaoiu in the finals, utilizing a rear naked choke in overtime after narrowly escaping an armbar attempt earlier in the match. Along his path to victory, Rodriguez conquered formidable opponents in Jimenez and Rocha, further cementing his reputation as a rising star in the world of grappling.
RESULTS:
Tournament Finals:
In the tournament finals, Nick Rodriguez defeated Dan Manasoiu with a rear naked choke in overtime, securing the championship title.
Glover Teixeira vs. Anthony Smith:
Glover Teixeira claimed a unanimous decision victory over Anthony Smith in an intense matchup.
Other Match Results:
- Nicholas Meregali secured an armbar win in overtime against Roberto Abreu.
- In the tournament semifinals, Nick Rodriguez advanced by securing a rear naked choke victory in overtime against Vagner Rocha. Dan Manasoiu defeated Fedor Nikolov with an inverted kneebar in just 38 seconds.
- Roman Bravo-Young and Alex Perez fought to a time-limit draw in a closely contested bout.
- Helena Crevar emerged victorious over Emily Fernandez with a rear naked choke submission at 7 minutes and 26 seconds.
- In the tournament quarterfinals, Nick Rodriguez advanced by winning on escape time against Roberto Jimenez. Vagner Rocha defeated Fellipe Andrew via an inside heel hook at 6 minutes and 18 seconds. Fedor Nikolov secured a win on escape time against Haisam Rida. Dan Manasoiu defeated Gabriel Arges with an outside heel hook at 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
The event showcased remarkable skills and competitive matchups, leaving fans excited for more high-level grappling action in the future on UFC Fight Pass.
