The Best Backpacks For BJJ in 2024

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A key part of a grappler’s equipment is the bag they use to get to training. A good BJJ backpack can make a grappler’s life much easier. However, not all bags can play the role of BJJ backpack with much success. To that extent, some products are intended specifically for people’s Jiu-Jitsu needs. We bring you the best of the best in this review.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a sport that requires a lot of gear. When you first begin training you might be able to get away with a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. As you keep going, though, you’ll inevitably get your first Gi and there’s no turning back. The more you train Jiu-Jitsu, the more gear you have. Keep in mind that this is gear that you need to have with you every time you go training. First, you replace the shorts and T-shirt with a Gi. Then, you start exploring the world of rashguards for No-Gi training or wearing under the Gi. Once you start No-Gi, you’re going to need shorts too. By now, you already have a tweaked finger, a bad knee, or some other “small” injury that requires supportive gear. What you’re missing to be mobile and well-organized is a solid BJJ backpack.

On top of all the stuff, we already mentioned there are your gym essentials like water, towel, soap, shaker bottle… The list goes on and on and you’ll be surprised at how much stuff you need to store when you go training. To that extent, we’re going to cover the basic requirement a grappler has for a BJJ backpack. Once we all know what and why we’re looking for, we can move on to discover what’s on the market. There are great products out there that also need to fulfill certain design requirements, apart from grappling with specific needs. To spare you the blushes of being fooled by slick marketing, we’ll take apart the best BJJ backpacks out there and let you choose the best fit for your grappling needs.

The Best BJJ Backpacks On The Market

Now, that we have the anatomy of the perfect BJJ backpack, let’s see what’s available on the market for grapplers. Along with the worldwide spread of BJJ, so do companies that focus solely on products intended for grapplers. After all, a good BJJ backpack can and should double as a travel bag. The other way around is a much more rare occurrence. Here are our top picks:

Elite Sports Mesh

This backpack is a hybrid between a backpack and a drawstring bag. But only at first sight. The only similarity with a drawstring bag is the drawstring itself. The main compartment of this BJJ backpack closes via a drawstring which is preferred by some. The backpack has more than ample space to fit everything that you might need for Jiu-Jitsu. The material is very durable, yet surprisingly light, making the backpack very comfortable to wear. Furthermore, it has state-of-the-art ventilation, meaning no foul smell is going to stay trapped.

Get The Elite Sports Mesh Backpack For A Bargain

As far as organization goes there are two outside compartments, one on either side of the backpack. Where it lacks a little bit is with inside compartments. Apart from a few strategically placed small inside pockets, the inside is one big compartment. All in all, this is a great bag for any grapplers to have.

Venum Trainer Lite

A traditional shoulder strap bag rather than a backpack. It comes in a bunch of color varieties to keep things fresh. The bag is big enough for Jiu-Jitsu’s needs and has a great compartment system. You have enough space for two Gis without mixing sweaty and clean ones, in the main compartment. Furthermore, there are lots of pockets on both the inside and outside. This means you can arrange everything to be accessible and well-organized.

It is made of breathable mesh, once again guaranteeing that it won’t retain unwanted smells. The only trouble with this bag is that you can’t use it as a backpack. It is perfect for people preferring a single shoulder strap. Those that lie to have their weight distributed evenly across their back, might be better suited with one of the other BJJ Backpack options

Buy The Venum Trainer Lite Bag HERE

Datsusara Battlepack Core

This is a clear fan favorite and many consider it to be the cream of the crop when it comes to BJJ bags. Everyone who’s seen an EBI event knows the commercial for this product. After all, how can anything related to Eddie Bravo and hemp not be in the same spot? The backpack is entirely made of hemp which many consider being the best material. For reference, hemp is far stronger and lighter than cotton. The Datsusara is very spacious and has unrivaled accessibility. The zipper of the main compartment goes almost all around, allowing great access. Once again, hemp helps the antimicrobial properties of the backpack, which are very high level.

Extra Prices On The Best Backpack – The Datsusara!

There are four total outside compartments, two of which are more than big enough for your water bottles. There are two more on the top. Inside compartments are also perfect for anything you might need to bring. The only drawback of this BJJ backpack is the price tag. Although it is worth the money, it might be out of reach for some Jiu-Jitsu practitioners.

Hayabusa Ryoko Gym Duffel Bag

This bag has more of a traditional gym bag design than that of a backpack. That said, it is not much worse than any other BJJ backpack, apart from the way you carry it. Still, some people prefer a single shoulder strap to the two that a backpack has. This bag is not only durable but it is also scratch-resistant. It is completely ventilated meaning smells are not going to be an issue.

The bag has more than ample space, but no inner compartments. Moreover, there are no outside compartments meaning that accessibility to bottles is limited. However, the bag has an amazing 70l capacity which makes it the biggest one on the list. So, for all those who prefer a padded shoulder bag to a backpack, this might be the right choice. Plus, the price is very affordable.

Get the Hayabusa Ryoko Gym Duffel Bag Here At The Best Price

Moonstar Duffel

What this bag has, that most other contenders on this list lack, are plenty of outside compartments. This one is the clear winner, at least in that department. It even has a mesh pocket to store anything, from water bottles to stuff you don’t want to mix on the inside.

Top Deal On The Moonstar Duffel Bag

It is large enough to store everything you need and very accessible. Similar to the Datsusara, the zipper allows unrestricted access to the main compartment. It is very durable and doubles as a backpack and as a duffel bag. it is durable and practical, as well as reasonably priced.

Meister Duffel

This one has a very traditional duffel design, making it both a gym bag and a backpack. It is one of the largest capacity bags on this list, so everything is going to fit in perfectly. The material is an extremely light and breathable mesh. An amazing property is that despite its breathability the mesh is not see-through at all.

This bag is great for those looking to pack everything together and be on their way. It has no outer compartments, though, apart from one. While it is great for keeping supportive gear or smaller times, it is not nearly enough to fit your bottles. This is one of those bags that are minimalist and do the trick. If you want something higher-end, look at the other options on this list.

Ultimate Meister Duffel BJJ Bag Deals

Venum Challenger – EDITOR’s CHOICE

This water-resistant BJJ backpack is one of the best products

available on the market. Also, The Venum Challenger Backpack series is great so make sure you check them all HERE. The access to the main compartment is from the top, duffel bag style. It has an adjustable size and a very cool outside compartment that’s completely isolated. Talk about a cool way of keeping your dring…well, cool.

Buy The Venum Challenger Backpack HERE

This bag has all the necessary compartments for all your major Jiu-Jitsu needs, and then some. There’s even a scratch-resistant pocket for your phone and even a special headphones hole. The material is solid and very durable, as well as antimicrobial by nature. All in all, this bag is the best fit for your everyday BJJ practitioner who also likes to travel!

Sanabul Mesh

Sanabul is a top company when it comes to high-quality martial arts equipment. Their BJJ backpack is no different. Once again it is a single shoulder strap bag that can double up as a backpack. There’s more than ample space for everything as well as enough compartments to stay organized. On the outside, there’s a large compartment that can easily fit a couple of bottles. There’s also a smaller one, intended for little items that you might find useful.

The bag is made of very durable mesh, that allows for ventilation. It is also very light and has a very cool design. the bag comes in multiple color variants. It is affordable, durable, and very portable. All in all a great choice for any BJJ practitioner.

Click Here To Buy The Sanabul Mesh Bag

Grips Gi Sack Backpack – Currently Unavailable – Check Other Grips Backpacks

This BJJ backpack seems to be a favorite among lots of Jiu-jitsu practitioners. In terms of compartments, this bag has lots of them, all placed on the inside. All compartments have a zipper so they seal separately, which is a big plus. The Grips Gi Sack has very precisely designed shoulder straps that make it feel very light, They have shock-absorbing technology inside, earning another top mark for this backpack. The whole bag is made of durable material that is also waterproof. In terms of size, the bag definitely can carry everything a grappler might need for training or travel.

Check Other GRIPS Backpacks

As a flaw, there’s a very apparent lack of outside compartments. This means keeping your water and shaker bottle inside along with everything else. While there are inner compartments, and the whole bag is waterproof, this might be an inconvenience to some. After all, pulling a bottle straight out of a pocket when you need it is much more comfortable.

What To Look For In A BJJ Backpack

So, what do you need from a good BJJ backpack? The answer is not as simple as you might think. It is not just about size or accessibility. It also needs to have good organization, to be durable, to be ergonomic, and reasonably priced. The requirements go on and on but let’s take it from the top.

The first thing a solid BJJ backpack should do is hold two Gis. Yeah, you read that right. Although you might go to training with only one Gi regularly, there are times when you’ll need to pack double. Imagine having to carry an additional Gi wrapped with a belt only because you have no space. Space for two Gis is mandatory for any legit BJJ.

Furthermore, you need space to store your No-Gi gear. Who knows, you might have a double class without heading home. Or the class might just change because a visiting black belt has no Gi with them. You need to be ready, so you need to have your rashguard, spats, and a pair of shorts always ready to go. Only the shorts are extra here since you should be wearing the rashguard and spats under your GI when you train.

Next, let’s cover hygiene. You need a towel, clean flip-flops, deodorant, soap, etc. On top of that, you need to store your supportive gear as well. Any bandages, finger tape, knee or elbow braces, headgear, and the like need to have their spot in the bag too. And we’re still not done. No good BJJ backpack lacks a proper spot to hold a water bottle. Not only that but most grapplers like to chug a shake of some kind after training. That means an extra spot for a shaker bottle.

The Anatomy Of A Good BJJ Backpack

What we covered so far, are the bare essentials you must be able to fit inside your potential BJJ backpack. Now, let’s talk about the organization. A good BJJ backpack needs to have optimal organization and separation of the gear.

For example, you’ll need separation between sweaty and clean garments. To that extent, that second GI space needs to be separate from the space for the used Gi and rashguards. Furthermore, if you carry around a pair of flip-flops for moving around the dressing area, you’ll need to keep them separate as well. Also, a separate belt pocket is always a great idea, although it is not mandatory.

Out of the two main compartments, one can double as a before and after training, and the other needs to stay clean. An extra place in the clean one for the towel and shower equipment is the mark of an excellent BJJ backpack. A hidden pocket of some kind is also usually included and plays a huge role when traveling for competition or for training on the road.

On the outside, pockets that hold liquid (water, shaker bottle, and the like) need to be large enough to hold the appropriate bottles. Furthermore, water-proof compartments intended for bottles are highly recommended. That’s already at least two essential outside compartments. Most of your supportive gear can and should fit in an outside compartment as well, taking the number to three. This is the least amount of outside compartments a good BJJ backpack should have.

Conclusion

Finally, the perfect bag should also fit perfectly. That means state-of-the-art ergonomics and design. You shouldn’t suffer under the weight of a couple of GIs and all that supportive gear. Plus, the backpack has to be stink-proof and made from a material that doesn’t absorb sweat and smells.

Best BJJ Supplements Of 2023 – Guide And Reviews

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BJJ World

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Looking back a few decades, not many athletes apart from bodybuilders were so aware of the supplement industry. To be honest, the supplement industry wasn’t that big back then as well. Yet, today people go and buy a few tubs of supplements before they even decide on what sport or workout program they’ll do. For people involved in combat sports, the reality is that supplements are a big factor. However, not everything the supplement company has to sell is a good fit for people training in Jiu-Jitsu. Actually, your basic BJJ stack is quite small, and even if you extend it you’ll need less than 10 to cover all your needs. In order to provide you with the information on the very best BJJ supplements that you should consider for your stack in 2023, we did an in-depth review of the market. Our conclusions are below.

The main issue with supplements is that grapplers and athletes in general, usually see them as meal replacements instead of supplements. The basic notion of supplements is to aid in training, recovery, or specific aspects of nutrition. they’re not there to take the place of a solid nutrition plan, nor are they able to. The thing with supplements is that you need to use them correctly, and smartly, and understand exactly what you need. Once you know what can actually help your performance on the mats, you need to know the best BJJ supplements. The options out there seem endless, but we have you covered with our ultimate guide for supplement shopping in 20231.

Grappling Supplements

First and foremost, what are exactly the needs for supplements that grapplers face? Well, first and foremost, it is performance. However, before addressing performance directly, you need to be sure your body is working optimally. That means having a healthy gut, a good immune system, and a good metabolism to begin with. Only then can you look into things that can give you energy and help you maintain a high level of performance. Finally, there’s the nutrition supplementation aspect, where you use supplements to get essential nutrients in a hurry.

For easier understanding, we have a few categories where we put all the best BJJ supplements for 2023. First up we have our performance-boosting essentials. These are the supplements that will help you train better, recover better, and turn your body into a grappling machine. next up, you have the health supplements, which are essential if you are to train at a high pace on a daily basis. Finally, we have optional supplements that can help your cognitive function as well as balance your metabolism.

Finally, what you won’t see on this list are fat burners and pre-workout supplements. the reason is simple – they’re a scam and have absolutely no positive benefit for grapplers. Fat burners are just a ploy to get money from overweight people looking to get into fitness. For BJJ, a solid nutrition plan is all you need to keep your fat and weight in check. As for pre-workout formulas to give you energy and drive, there’s nothing more hazardous to your health than the ingestion of such cocktails of powerful stimulants in unregulated doses.

Best BJJ Supplements

Our list of the best BJJ supplements is designed to be the basis of a supplement stack. With our offering, the supplements listed from 1 to 4 are an absolute must for everyone invested in improving their Jiu-Jitsu. Supplements 5 and 6 are also essentials, but not just for BJJ. These are the two supplements you need to be taking on a daily basis, even when you’re not doing any sport or martial art. Finally, the last two supplements are completely optional, but they do make a difference, especially if you’re training a lot or are a professional grappler.

1. Scivation Xtend BCAA Powder

Protein is the building block of our bodies. In turn, the building blocks of protein are amino acids. There are a bunch of them, with some being essential to our normal functioning and others non-essential. Out of the essential amino acids, a few are incredibly important for people that train at a high level of exertion. Those are known as Branched Chain Amino Acids, or BCAAs.

Scivation has a powdered form of BCAAs, which are essentially leucine, isoleucine, and valine in a very specific ratio. This supplement should be the first thing you acquire when you’re building your BJJ supplements stack. Each dose has 7 grams of BCAAs that help support your muscles in grappling training. This supplement has zero sugar and contains no calories. As a bonus, this product also contains L-Glutamine and Citrulline Maleate, which only accentuate the effects of BCAAs. A real leader among the best BJJ supplements of 2023.

2. BulkSupplements Creatine Monohydrate Powder

There’s no way we can do a list of the best BJJ supplements and not include creatine. This is the most researched and safest supplement available today. As we now know, creatine is not just a way to help you grow your muscles, as was originally used, Instead, it boosts performance, helps the brain, protects the heart, and has a bunch of other key benefits.

There are a few forms of creatine supplements out there, but only one does the trick 100%. BulkSupplemets’ product is micronized creatine monohydrate that’s 100% pure. It has maximal bioavailability and comes in a 2.2 lbs (1kg) pack. Creatine is the essential muscular endurance supplement that grapplers need. It also provides you with much-needed explosive power, and the ability to sustain it. This lab-tested product is vegan-friendly as well.

3. MusclePharm Combat Protein Powder

Whey protein! As far as supplements go, there’s no other supplement that’s more recognizable than whey protein. This is exactly where the problem lies. Choosing the best BJJ supplements out of the whey protein category is an extremely difficult task. Yet, one brand made our job a lot easier, by delivering a highly dependable product of the utmost quality.

MusclePharm’s Combat Protein is a staple of combat sports supplements and has been reigning supreme for a very long time. It delivers 25 grams of extremely high-quality protein per serving. Moreover, the Combat Protein Powder supplement contains not only whey but protein from five different sources! On top of that, it comes enriched with BCAAs, glutamine, and digestive enzymes for those with lactose intolerance. Plus, the flavors are nothing short of astonishing! MusclePharm is so confident in their product that they offer a 30-day full money-back guarantee as well.

4. JYM Supplement Science Recovery

The real future of the best BJJ supplements lies in products like this one. JYM’s Supplement Science offers a high-quality product that’s the perfect fit for post-BJJ needs. Contrary to popular opinion protein is not the main thing to reach for after rolling. Carbs are actually more important, and not just any carbs. You need a high-quality source that won’t load you with sugar and will allow you to recover fast! Enter JYM.

This product is a great source of fast-acting carbohydrates that has the task of replenishing muscle glycogen. The effect of this is a lightning-quick recovery and stable insulin levels. The main ingredient is dextrose, the fastest-acting and absorbing carb available. Combining this product with MusclePharm’s protein and BulkSupplements’ creatine makes the most potent post-workout potion in the world! Not to mention all the delicious flavors it comes in, like mandarin orange or kiwi, for example.

5. Animal Pak Multivitamin

Taking multivitamins is something that we all take for granted. We’re either on the “we don’t need them” wagon or on the completely opposite side. However, even those that take them regularly, often make mistakes. The crucial one is just reaching for the first product you see in the supermarket. A good multivitamin supplement requires balance. Even more importantly, you need the correct dosage if you’re involved in high demands sports like Jiu-Jitsu.

“Animal” makes more than one supplement that features on our best BJJ supplements of the 2023 list. Their multivitamin supplement is the ultimate vitamin bomb for grapplers. It delivers the perfect combination of vitamins and minerals to support your training. However, it does not stop there. This product also contains essential amino acids, digestive enzymes, antioxidants, and a bunch of other essential stuff. This supplement will ensure you have a great metabolism, help you combat flu, and increase your performance on the mats.

6. Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega SoftGels

My favorite supplement of them all – Is omega 3! You can tell I have jacked-up joints from that statement alone. However, in Jiu-Jitsu, there are rarely grapplers that have intact joints. Omega 3 are essential fatty acids that are found in fish oil. they have enormous health and performance benefits. In that sense, everyone needs to take them on a daily basis, regardless of activity levels.

Nordic Naturals’ product is the one Omega 3 product that passes with flying colors. the trick is in the delicate ratio of fatty acids that make up Omega 3. They come in a pack of 90 soft gel capsules that deliver an astonishing amount of fatty acids per serving. They’re also made with the latest technology making them completely absorbable by the gut. What’s most impressive about this product is its’ origin. The Omega 3s are derived from non-GMO, organic, wild-caught fish only! Now you understand why this product is one of the best BJJ supplements of all time!

7. Nature Made Calcium, Magnesium & Zinc

When we talk about the best BJJ supplements, vitamins almost always get a mention. The equally important group of minerals, though, is something people easily overlook. In order to explain how important they actually are let me use an example. With a solid combination of calcium, magnesium, and zinc, you can boost testosterone in a natural fashion, so much so, that you won’t need TRT. Plus, it’s completely legal since it’s all-natural anyway.

Nature Made’s product contains key amounts of three essential minerals: calcium, zinc, and magnesium. On top of that, it also has Vitamin D, to help the absorption of calcium in particular. The product is completely natural, to the point that even the color is of natural origin. Comes in a bottle containing 300 tablets, which is a huge stack that’s going to last you for months!

8. Animal Flex Complete Joint Support Supplement

As we already said, Animal feature yet again on our best BJJ supplements of 2023 list. This time, though, they come in with something a lot of people might consider optional. Those are the people that are just starting or have been training for no more than a couple of years. More experienced grapplers are going to fight for a supplement like this!

Joint pain is something everyone faces and especially grapplers. Animal Flex is a product to remedy this. This supplement is the only thing you need to get your joints functioning flawlessly again. It features an award-winning original formula that actually delivers as promised. Flex helps protect and strengthen not only your joints but tendons and ligament as well. One serving a day is all it takes.

9. Brain Plus Nootropic Supplement

Nootropics are somewhat of a new category of supplements altogether. Well, at least in terms of commercial use. That makes identifying the best product quite a challenge. Despite our inherent lack of experience, we sought advice and managed to find a winner though.

Arzo Nutrition has a product named Brain Plus. The name says it all, really. This scientifically formulated supplement contains precisely balanced amounts of ingredients that number over 40! These include amino acids, vitamins, GABA, Grape Seed extract, antioxidants, and plenty more. The goal is to boost your cognitive functions so that you can perform more and better on the mats. Given how cerebral BJJ is a martial art, this is a really good supplement for grapplers. It improves focus, reduces stress, helps memory, and even boosts mood! Comes in a pack of 60 capsules.

BJJ Nutrition & Supplement System

On a final note, remember that supplements and nutrition actually work hand in hand. You can’t replace a great nutrition plan with supplements, nor vice versa. What you need is to use a great nutritional guide to figure out how to get the most out of your body. Then, you need to throw in a solid supplement stack to take your performance to the very next level.

If you’re looking for a nutrition plan that is going to teach you everything we’ve got just the thing for you. George Lockhart’s “Nutrition and Weight Management System” is designed specifically for combat athletes. What you get is a bundle of three DVDs and a 100+ page E-book. In it, you’ll learn four crucial aspects of combat nutrition. First, you’ll understand macros, portion sizes, and nutrition as a whole. next, you’ll figure out how to create a plan that’s specific to your individual needs. The key aspect of weight cutting is also there, with incredible tips on how to safely cut lots of weight. Finally, you get a guide for supplements and how to put everything together!

Keenan Cornelius: No-Gi Is So Simple You Have To Underthink

By

Filip Zanki

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Keenan Cornelius: No-Gi is for people with less brainpower

According to BJJ world champion Keenan Cornelius, training No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu is so much simpler than training with the Gi, that it actually makes you underthink and is therefore better for people with less brainpower.

Keenan Cornelius returned to No-Gi competition after several years at the latest edition of the IBJJF No-Gi Pans, which took place last October. The ADCC veteran, known for his infatuation with Gi Jiu-Jitsu and the use of lapels in various versions of his Worm guard, is actually really good at No-Gi, but did enjoy making a video for social media where he claims training without the gi requires very little thinking.

“So, some of the things I’ve been working on lately… Obviously, I’ve been doing a lot of no-gi and trying to understand – conceptually – what the goals are.

The way that the game has evolved is really amazing and I’ve been enjoying it a lot. And I see that, even though no-gi is a simplified version of gi – for people with less brainpower – I appreciate the simplicity,” said Keenan Cornelius in a video on his Instagram account.

He went on to elaborate:

“It’s so simple that you actually have to underthink… You have to think less in no-gi than you have to think in the gi – and that can be liberating. But also, all of the hyperanalysis that I’ve done in the gi is useless.

So, it’s like going from chess to checkers… Where, if you move the checker piece harder and faster – and with more steroids – you have a higher chance of winning.”

At this point it becomes clear that Keenan Cornelius is actually mocking the idea that No-Gi is intellectually inferior to Gi, especially as he concludes:

“… That is not a bad thing. It gives you an opportunity to improve your body. It really, like, brings your body into the game in a deeper, more visceral way.

Because you need to think, like: “I need the strength to be able to pull of this move.”

Good one Keenan!

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Gordon Ryan Vs Vinny Magalhaes Rematch On December 15!

By

Filip Zanki

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Gordon Ryan vs Vinny Magalhaes Rematch 2022

Gordon Ryan was already set to headline the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3 event with his opponent just now revealed as the man that once beat Gordon – Vinny Magalhaes.

There is no denying that Gordon Ryan is the best grappler in the world, after his dominant performances over anyone that dared to slap and bump heads with him. It seems though, that after making history at the ADCC 2022, Ryan is now out to avenge all his early career losses, and the time has come for a redemption bout with Vinny Magalhaes.

When Gordon Ryan and Vinny Magalhaes last met in 2018 at the ACB JJ 13 event, Magalhaes was the one that walked away with the win, defeating Ryan on points in a three-round event.

The pair now meet in the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3 event, which airs on the biggest combat sports streaming platform in the world. With Ryan already beating the only other person to defeat him, Felipe Pena once, and with another match between the two scheduled for February, avenging that one pesky 2018 loss to Vinny is obviously next on the “King’s” agenda.

Vinny though is one of the toughest grapplers in the world and will go the extra mile to prove a point. He got his leg broken twice in a match with Craig Jones before finally conceding that leg locks do work. Vinny Magalhaes is definitely going to be a stern test for Gordon.

The only concern is that under UFC Fight Pass Invitational rules, the match might end as a draw.

The UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3 event is going to take place at the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas on December 15.

Apart from the main event featuring Gordon Ryan vs. Vinny Magalhaes, the co-main event will see one of the best female grapplers in the world, Beatriz Mesquita face off against former Strikeforce and UFC champion Miesha Tate in the co-main event.

On top of the super figs, there will be an 8-man absolute tournament o the card as well, with the winner set to walk out with a $25.000 prize.

Tye Ruotolo Vs ONE Champion Marat Gafurov On December 2

By

Filip Zanki

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ADCC 2022 absolute bronze medalist Tye Ruotolo has another grappling super fight booked, marking his first return to the ONE circle after choking out Garry Tonon with a Darce choke in May 2022.

Tye Ruotolo will make his long-awaited return to the ONE circle, facing off against former ONE MMA featherweight champion Marat Gafurov in a submission grappling match.

Last time in the ONE circle, Tye Ruotolo shocked the world by submitting Garry Tonon, who we have seen tap on less than a handful of occasions with a very precise and tight signature Darce choke. Tye Ruotolo, who is a black belt under Andre Galvao has a very well-rounded game. He is extremely proficient at passing and top pressure, as well as strangles. Also, the two Ruotolo brothers claimed that their leg lock defense is so good even Gordon Ryan couldn’t tap them.

His opponent Marat Gafurov, while not a Jiu-Jitsu guy himself, has a very strong grappling background in Dagestani wrestling and is a rear-naked choke specialist. He holds the ONE record for the fastest submission in MMA to date (41 seconds) against Martin Nguyen. Gafurov also had 6 consecutive rear-naked choke finishes during his reign of the featherweight division in ONE.

How Gafurov’s grappling skills are going to measure up to one of the best young grapplers of today in Tye Ruotolo remains to be seen. Tye has scrambling skills that will come in extremely helpful against a wrestler like Gafurov.

Tye Ruotolo’s match is slated for the preliminaries, with his brother Kade Ruotolo in the co-main event as he looks towards his first lightweight submission grappling ONE world title defense against challenger Matheus Gabriel.

The brothers have been looking to be as active as possible on the competition scene lately, and are winning performance bonuses constantly, as they are looking to inject funds into their project of building a Jiu-Jitsu gym in Costa Rica from the ground up.

BJJ Kids Defend Deaf Teammate Against Bullies

By

Filip Zanki

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BJj Kids Help Deaf Teammate Fight Off Bullies

BJJ is often a great solution for kids being bullied, with the latest example coming from Peru, where a bunch of BJJ kids stood up to bullies in order to protect their deaf friends.

The Guardian Peru project is a Jiu-Jitsu gym in Peru that focuses on training kids in Jiu-Jitsu. It is also the origin point of a great BJJ kids anti-bullying story, in which a kid who trains regularly ended up being protected by his Brazilian JIu-Jitsu teammates at school.

Gym founder and catch Salvatore Sanguinetti shared how a kid named Anderson’s mother came into class, telling the coach that Anderson did not want to go to BJJ or leave the house because he was getting bullied at school.

“Anderson is a kid that came through one of the students… He is deaf and he has these motor coordination issues. But his mind is brilliant, you know? He is a kid that has been underestimated for a long time,” shared Sanguinetti.

Sanguinetti spoke with the other BJJ kids in class after asking the mom to bring Anderson back again:

“I said: ‘No, you stop this and you just bring him here. And I’ll talk to him.

And he told me: ‘I don’t want to come because they beat me up in the school.‘”

He went on to share what he told the other BJJ kids in the class:

“After that, we sat down with everybody and I said: ‘You know, you guys have this brother, this teammate that is with you guys. So, anytime you see something happening to him, you must take a stand and take him away from that situation. Stand up for him.’

And that’s what they’ve been doing since then.

He’s been coming to class happy since that day… And the kids tell me: ‘Hey, nothing happened this week. He’s okay. In the school, they know that we train so nobody gets close to him.’”

The comradery fo the BJJ kids has helped Anderson not only deal with bullies but become extremely efficient on the mats as well, gaining confidence and feeling happy to express himself:

“I mean, this kid is… His heart is… He laughs all the time, he just cracks up laughing and laughing and laughing. He doesn’t stop laughing – and he tries to get you in something. He’s sneaky, too.

And he spreads that smiling to the whole class. He makes other kids sensitive to this type of situations, and it’s very impressive how he can give you hope for other kids to come.
He knows that he’s protected by his friends, you know?”

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Joe Rogan: “I Could Never Have Imagined This…”

By

Filip Zanki

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Podcast guru, UFC commentator, Fear Factor host, BJJ black belt, and martial arts fanatic Joe Rogan recently admitted that he never could have imagined that people would get tattoos on his face.

Joe Rogan is a genuine martial arts celebrity, but his reach throughout the years has extended far beyond just the martial arts or stand-up comedy communities. The 55-year-old is now so famous, which is mostly a result of his crazy popular podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience”.

Joe Rogan has become an inspiration to so many people, that some of them have even decided to put his face on their bodies in the form of tattoos. Just recently Rogan commented on one such piece of art on his Instagram profile:

“I’m oddly comfortable with the bizarrely huge number of people with my face permanently etched on their body. That’s something I could have never imagined would be “normal” to me, but here we are…”

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While still being somewhat weirded out, Rogan does look like he has changed his tune on the subject. In previous editions of the podcast, including ones with tattoo artists he asked them to never do tattoos of himself on several occasions:

He went on to be grateful for the respect but had this to add about the reasons people would look to put his face on their bodies:

“I get it. You know it’s like we don’t want the responsibility. We wanna do it but we don’t want the responsibility.”

Joe Rogan has had clear stances on everything from conspiracy theories to the latest tin technological and psychological developments, by ushering top experts in every field to his podcast for more than a decade now. With such a huge audience, he is a genuine celebrity, so people getting Joe Rogan tattoos is not really that far-fetched.

BJJ Student Sues Instructor For Not Promoting Him

By

Filip Zanki

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BJJ student sues instructor for not promoting him

A BJJ student was so disappointed at not getting his purple belt during a promotion, that he decided to seek justice through the legal system, and opted to sue his BJJ instructor for being “skipped over” in the promotion!

For most of us not getting a belt promotion hits painfully, but is something most people shrug off. Those that don’t usually are not cut out for BJJ anyway. When somebody doesn’t get a BJJ belt, there’s usually a very good reason for it, and when asked, instructors will gladly explain it.

For one BJJ student, though, it turns out that not getting promoted felt personal enough to result in a lawsuit against the instructor. The student claims that his instructor, Marcos Roldão, who teaches at the “Samuray Jiu-Jitsu” academy in Brazil led him on, and then denied him the purple belt he “was promised.”

According to the media in Brazil, the BJJ student arrived in the academy as a four-stripe blue belt and was asked to remove the stripes upon arrival by the instructor in question.

The student asked if he would get ta purple belt anyway on the next promotion, which was due in a few months, as is the custom in the “Samuray Jiu-Jitsu” academy. He even threatened the instructor that he would not participate in the ceremony if he would not get promoted.

During the ceremony itself, the BJJ student only got 1 stripe instead of the purple belt he expected. the instructor reassured him the next day that he would get his purple belt at the next promotion. At the next promotion, the instructor gave two more stripes to the student, withholding the purple belt yet again. He even made jokes about the student being annoying by constantly asking to get promoted.

The behavior of the instructor is not respectful, that is clear, but there is another factor to consider. This particular academy charges students 70 reais (around $5) just for the right to participate in the event.

The BJJ student in question found that he was being led on, and lost money in the process, so he decided to sue. The instructor showed up for the appointed court date wearing a purple shirt.

From Stripper To UFC Fighter: “My Worst Concussion Was Falling Off A Pole”

By

Filip Zanki

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MMA champion currently on the UFC roster who prior to mixed martial arts had quite a different path to that of most other fighters – was a stripper. Her name is Vanessa Demopoulos.

The UFC fighter also quotes falling off a pole as being her worst concussion to date, despite getting hit in the head on a daily basis in her new job.

Vanessa Demopoulos is a UFC fighter and former strawweight champion in the LFA who made her octagon debut in 2021. Her first fight in the UFC did not go as planned, as she lost to JJ Aldrich. That prompted Vanessa to a three-fight win streak, the last of which came against Maria “Spider Girl” Oliveira at UFC Vegas 65 in October.

Vanessa Demopoulos, nicknamed “Lil Monster”, recently told The MMA Hour about her transition from stripping to loving up, and what prompted her to become a UFC fighter in the first place, as she juggled both jobs at once for a while:

“It was the worst. Staying up late, constant stimulation, overstimulating your nervous system that late at night. I’d get home, I couldn’t sleep. My body automatically wakes up so early for training that even if I go to sleep late, I was only getting three hours of sleep because I’d automatically wake up. It just wasn’t good for me in a lot of aspects. I have to give a lot of my emotional energy to the job, and I just want to focus on fighting.

“So I took a risk, actually. I really didn’t have the money to quit and I believed in myself enough and I was like, ‘I’m going to make this happen, no matter what.’ So I burned the bridge and I walked away,” added Vanessa Demopoulos.

The UFC fighter claimed that despite all the striking, slamming, and ground and pound happening in training and fights, her worst concussion to date remains a nasty fall off a pole:

“[It hurt] like hell. I had the worst concussion I think I’ve ever had falling off of a pole. I fell straight down, it was almost two stories.

“I instantly woke up and ran, and then I had this giant bag of ice on my head, and I fell to sleep on the bag of ice, so that’s how I knew that I was badly concussed. For sure [worse than anything I felt in fighting.]”

Coach Mendez: Khabib Has Never Been Submitted In Sparring

By

Filip Zanki

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Khabib Nurmagomedov is a legend in MMA, retiring undefeated as a UFC champion who beat the who is who of UFC fighters with apparent ease. His coach at AKA, Javier Mendez now shares that Khabib has never actually tapped to anyone in sparring.

Khabib Nurmagomedov not only has a spotless MMA record, but he also never tapped to a submission in the gym, according to American Kickboxing Academy head coach and owner Javier Mendez.

According to Mendez, in an interview for Mike Swick’s podcast:

I said it, what people don’t fully understand, he is the only person that’s never lost a sparring session. I never said rounds, I said session. Never in his life, since I have known him, has he lost a sparring session.

He might lose a round here and there, never lost a sparring session; never been submitted, never been close to being submitted in actual MMA sparring. Never.

To make things clear, the stables at AKA are filled with some of the best UFC and MMA fighters on the planet, from Daniel Cormier and Islam Makhachev to Luke Rockhold and Cain Velasquez. So it is not just some room filled with MMA enthusiast amateurs and hobbyists, but the best of the best in all weight classes that Khabib faced on a day-to-day basis.

Javier Mendez added that only once he saw Khabib in danger, but for a short time only:

“The only time I seen him close to being submitted was one time when Kyle Crutchmer.

I was like so shocked, dude I was about to go, grab my camera and go: “Oh okay, I got him. I’m gonna film him get actually tapped out.” And he got out of it. And I was like: “How the effin’ hell did he do that?”

Hey, he’s a phenom, that’s just the way it is.”