The Eddie Bravo Invitational is back for its third edition on Sunday, March 22nd at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. The event will feature a submission only 16-man single elimination tournament with a 10-minute time limit and unique overtime format. Eddie and his team released the names of the 16 participants and I must say that this is easily the deepest and toughest bracket ever at an EBI. The quality of competition was heightened by the addition of an “up to $10,000 cash prize” to the winner if he is able to submit all of his opponents in regulation.
For more information on tickets to the event and the live pay per view stream, click here.
Here is Part 1 of the list of competitors for EBI 3. The second part will come out on Thursday, February 5th
Marcelo Mafra, CheckMat: Trained MMA under Joe “Daddy Stevenson” and holds a MMA record of 6-0 with 3 submission finishes. Won and placed in numerous IBJJF competitions in both Gi and NoGi at the Brown and Black Belt level including winning the 2014 Black Belt Adult NoGi World Championship in the Medium Weight division. He owns a victory over former UFC lightweight Champion Benson Henderson from the 2014 NoGi Worlds.
Darragh O’Connaill, Riberio Jiu Jitsu: Promoted to Black Belt by the Riberios in 2014. Hails from Dublin, Ireland. Participant in Lloyd Irvin’s BJJ Kumite series. One of the top European IBJJF competitors in both the Gi and NoGi, winning both divisions at the Black Belt Adult Medium divisions at the 2014 London Open. O’Connaill was also the subject of a short documentary shown below.
Dillon Danis, Marcelo Garcia: Part of Marcelo Garcia’s “Brown Belt Dream Team.” Danis originally trained under Marcelo Garcia affiliate and former UFC fighter Kurt Pellegrino in New Jersey. Easily one of the best Brown Belts in the World, with first place finishes in the 2014 World NoGi Open Weight Division, the Medium and Open Weight divisions in the 2014 NoGi Pans, and placing 2nd in the Medium Brown Belt division at the 2014 Worlds.
Enrico Cocco, Zen Jiu Jitsu: Black Belt under the Avellan Brothers. Training partner of BJJ legend Cyborg Abreu. Won the 2009 ADCC West Coast Trials. Owner and head instructor of Zen Jiu Jitsu in South Florida. In 2014, Cocco placed 3rd at NoGi Worlds and 2nd at NoGi Pans in the Adult Black Belt Medium Weight Division.
Karen Darabedyan, Gokor Academy: Black Belt in Judo. 10-5 pro MMA record that includes victories over The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Champion Tony Ferguson and former WEC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough. Trained under Judo and Grappling legends, Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell . Training partner of UFC veterans Karo Parisyan and Manvel Gamburyan. Also possesses a 12-0 record in amateur boxing.
Julio Cordova, Renzo Gracie Mexico: Had a hard time finding information on Cordova. Brown Belt under Mario Delgado in Mexico. Participated in the first EBI, earning a submission victory over Blue Belt Josh Valles, before losing to Jake Swinney in the second round.
Richie Martinez, 10th Planet San Diego: Black Belt under Eddie Bravo. Brother of 2015 ADCC qualifier and 2-time EBI Champion Geo Martinez. He and his brother are both accomplished break dancers. Finalist in the first EBI, losing in the finals to Garry Tonon. Owns a pro MMA record of 3-1 with 3 submission victories.
Garry Tonon, Ocean County BJJ: Black Belt under Tom DeBlass. Won the first EBI with a win over Richie Martinez. 2-time Metamoris participant with submission victories over Kit Dale and Zak Maxwell. 2011 ADCC competitor who almost defeated eventual champion Kron Gracie. In 2014, Tonon placed 3rd at NoGi Worlds Adult Black Belt Open Weight and 2nd at NoGi Pans Lightweight. He was also a 2-time NoGi World Champion as a Brown Belt. Pulled off this impressive sequence below at the first EBI.
