Philadelphia hosted an interesting grappling event last night featuring a number of UFC fighters.
The end of the year is not classically full of MMA events, but martial arts fans had the opportunity to see a handful of interesting grappling last night. Namely, the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia hosted the FURY Pro Grappling 3 event, and the program was full of UFC fighters, but also top, renowned grapplers.
The event was led by Carla Esparza and Danielle Kelly. By the way, Kelly is an excellent ground floor master and owner of a black BJJ belt, while Carla Esparza has the reputation of a former UFC champion, but she is still at the very top of the straw category. Esparza jumped into this match as a replacement for Rose Namajunas, and lost the match with a break, due to a cut she received on the forehead while trying to “straw”. The referee stopped the match after four minutes and 26 seconds of fighting.
The undefeated @UFC welterweight @SeanBradyMMA earns the judges decision!
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— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 31, 2021
Still, the show was stolen by Sean Brady. The undefeated UFC welterweight (15-0, 5-0 UFC) had probably the most difficult task on paper. His opponent was Craig Jones, a master of grappling who belongs to the very top of the sport. The Australian has won a number of major tournaments and a series of medals at the most prestigious grappling championships. Gordon Ryan would often stop him on his way to gold, but every grappling connoisseur knows what Gordon Ryan’s name means in the sport. Jones according to the BJJ Heroes page has 51 wins and 16 losses and even celebrated 41 times with a break. It should be taken into account that these are matches mostly against elite competition. Heel hooks and similar interventions with which he attacks the opponent’s leg are his specials.
Despite everything, Sean Brady provided a big surprise and celebrated the referee’s decision. The UFC welterweight, with his strength and excellent wrestling, neutralized all the attacks of the opponent who spent most of the match in the lower position. Brady could not pass the guard of the great Jones, but maintaining the dominant upper position was enough to celebrate in this match.
” I’m a jiu-jitsu guy, but I’m an MMA guy too. I wanted to use my own pressure and tactics. However, not much happened because I could not pass his guard, ” said Sean Brady, just after the match.
The undefeated @UFC welterweight @SeanBradyMMA earns the judges decision!
🎙️ @MMAJunkieJohn | @FelderPaul | @CMPunk
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— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 31, 2021
Of the other results, the defeats of Neil Magny and Donald Cerrone are worth mentioning. Two renowned UFC fighters were also defeated by UFC fighters. Joe Solecki defeated Donald Cerrone by suffocation (RNC) after three minutes and 17 seconds of the match. Despite Solecki weighing almost 20 pounds (9.07 kg) on the scales, he controlled the fight brilliantly and won.
Neil Magny lost to Joaquim Silva, a “guillotine” after just under three minutes of fighting. The beginning of the fight was a test of strength, but Silva used the first opportunity to lock the “guillotine” and thus came to victory. After two knockout defeats under the auspices of the UFC, the Brazilian finally got to one celebration, though not in MMA.
Joaquim Silva takes out Magny!
🎙️ @MMAJunkieJohn | @FelderPaul | @CMPunk
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— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 31, 2021
It is worth noting that Kevin Holland also appeared at last night’s event. The UFC middleweight fighter is known for his preference for standing fights but decided to try his hand at a grappling match. As always, Kevin afforded the attraction and the audience enjoyed his acrobatics. However, that was not enough for him to win and he lost to Kody Hamrah by a judge’s decision.
Fighters like Clay Guide, Billy Quarantillo, Renato Moicano, etc. also performed at this event, and you can read the complete results below:
FURY Pro Grappling 3 – results:
Danielle Kelly def. Carla Esparza via interruption due to injury (cuts) – 4:26
Sean Brady def. Craig Jones via decision
Joe Solecki def. Donald Cerrone via submission (rear-naked choke) – 3:17
Clay Guida def. Billy Quarantillo via decision
Renato Moicano def. Chase Hooper via decision
Nicky Rod def. Steve Mowry via submission (RNC) – 5:30
Joaquim Silva def. Neil Magny via submission (guillotine) – 2:47
Jonathan Piersma def. Philip Rowe via decision
Alex Caceres def. Eddy Torres via submission (RNC) – 2:35
Cheats Hamrah def. Kevin Holland via decision
Andre Petroski def. Phil Hawes via decision
Gillian Robertson def. Chrissy Briggs via decision