The end of November will see the seventh installment of GrappleFest, and the event is bringing some of the world’s top grappling talent to Liverpool in what they hope will be their most successful night yet.
Headlining the event will be a match between ADCC silver medalist Craig Jones and 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam champion Adam Wardzinski. Jones and Wardzinski were both in the 88kg bracket this year at ADCC, but while Jones went all the way to the finals, Wardzinski was stopped by the iconic Josh Hinger in the quarter-finals of the event. Now, the two will find themselves facing off for the first time, and with a 100kg championship belt on the line, the stakes will be high.
Before their match, though, young standout Dante Leon will have a rematch with Marcos Tinoco. The two faced each other in the finals of the 2018 Chicago Spring Open, when Tinoco defeated Leon by advantage. Now, two-time Pans champ Leon will have his shot at redemption against the 2019 Masters World Pro champion as the competitors go head-to-head in an 85kg match right before Jones and Wardzinski battle it out.
Another noteworthy name on the card is Tye Ruotolo, the teenage sensation who shocked everyone by making it to the semi-finals at this year’s ADCC — Ruotolo’s opponent is yet to be announced. 10th Planet’s Elvira Karppinen will also be making an appearance, and like Ruotolo, her opponent is still to be decided. Karppinen is another ADCC veteran, having win third at this year’s event and making waves back in 2017 for defeating Mackenzie Dern. Her match will be for the 65kg belt.
GrappleFest 7 will take place on November 23 in Liverpool, UK and stream live on FloGrappling. The full card is listed below:
Craig Jones (Absolute MMA) v Adam Wardzinski (Checkmat) 100kg belt
Dante Leon (GF Team) v Marcos Tinoco (Marcelo Garcia) 85kg
Tye Ruotolo (Atos) v TBA
Elvira Karppinen (10th Planet) v TBA 65kg belt
Jason Rau (Renzo Gracie) v Bradley Hill (Fightzone) 85kg
Mario Sukata (Sukata) v Ed Ingamells (Mill Hill) +100kg
Lloyd Cooper (Goole BJJ) v Marcos Nardini (Fightzone) 80kg
Andy Clamp (Blackledge MMA) v Tom Breese (Renegade) 100kg
Leah McCourt (Team Torres) v Kylie Baker (Bakersfield BJJ) +65kg
Lukasz Baranowski (Factory) v Jack Cronin (ZR) 80kg
Chris Walsh (Next Gen) v James Duckett (SBG) 85kg
Ellis Younger (ECJJ) v Jed Hue (Gym box) 80kg
Neil Atkins (Sukata) v Leigh Remedios (CFS) 70kg
Harry McKnight (Next Gen) v Ryan McCartney (Renzo Gracie) 75kg
James Walters (Absolute MMA) v Ben Hills (Next Gen) 90kg
Jordan Cooper (ECJJ) v Jack Sear (10thPlanet) 70kg
Martin Wong (Combat Base) v Danny Hughes (Game Fight BJJ) 70kg
Emil Malczewski (Stealth)v Ollie Bates (Goole BJJ) 70kg
Simon Price (ASW) v David Graham (SBG) 100kg
Sam Quinn (Stealth) v Josh Roberts (Sukata) 85kg
Mick Stanton (ASW) v Andy Walsh (Game Fight BJJ) 100kg
John Moffatt (MMA Academy) v Kaya Rudolph (Absolute MMA) 80kg
Shane Curtis (Notts MMA) v Jaye Paul (Odessy BJJ) 80kg
Ste Bowie (Combat Base) v Rodrigo Silva (Sukata) 70kg
Andrew Hardwick (Sukata) v Callum Rawson (Combat Base) 85kg
Aaron Pierre (Stealth) v Aidan Pinder (Redcar BJJ) 80kg
Lee Herbert (Stealth) v Jamie Hay (Rio Grappling Club) 80kg
