First Round Predictions:
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Third Coast Grappling is one of the grappling promotions to hit the ground running in the midst of lifted restrictions. With their first Kumite event now concluded (and Gustavo Batista crowned as the victor) and their second coming up this weekend, the card for their third Kumite has been released, and you won’t be wrong for getting hyped up a few weeks in advance.
The Kumite III event, set to take place on June 27, will feature a few of jiu-jitsu’s biggest names while giving a few rising stars the chance to make waves by defeating some of the “greats” of the sport to win the $10,000 grand prize.
Kumite I runner-up Roberto Jimenez will be going up against fellow prodigy Tye Ruotolo in round one, with the winner moving on to face the victor of Dante Leon vs. Pierre-Olivier Leclerc. On the opposite side of the bracket, Vagner Rocha himself will be going head-to-head against local star Kody Steele, another 3CG veteran. The winner of that match will have to either face 2019 ADCC competitor John Combs or 2019 no-gi world champion Johnny Tama.
Promoter Ryan McGuire expressed his excitement for the stacked event while reflecting on the success of their first Kumite event:
“Honestly, every single bracket has been obsessed over and picked to maximize the excitement for our watchers at home, as well as the limited amount of people we have been allowing at our events. We have worked hard to come back and really continue to bring our exciting brand of grappling back to the masses, albeit in a more intimate setting for now.
“This 3rd Kumite signifies the beginning of our no-gi run, which is going to be a sight to see if Kumite I is anything to base it off of. Matches like Tye Ruotolo vs Roberto Jimenez and Vagner Rocha vs Kody Steele in the first round? Vagner vs Kody is a true Combat JJ World Champ vs Combat JJ World Champ. Tye vs Roberto is a showcase of two of the biggest up-and-comers in the game. You also have John Combs vs Johnny Tama and Dante Leon vs Pierre Olivier Leclerc. This bracket will be action from start to finish.”
3CG: Kumite III will stream live on FloGrappling on Saturday, June 27 starting at 8 pm in Texas.
