In an interview with Champions, the Eddie Bravo Invitational’s eponymous founder said of last Sunday’s first combat jiu-jitsu event: “It turned out better than I thought it would.”
In case you missed EBI 11 and all of the hype leading up to it, combat jiu-jitsu is a new form of combat sport that adds open-handled slaps to grappling.
You can watch a short clip of it below:
First look at what you can expect from combat jiu-jitsu! #EBI11 pic.twitter.com/SpJITjXV8R
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) March 6, 2017
So far, the evidence seems to support Eddie Bravo’s claim that combat jiu-jitsu was, indeed, a success.
A recent poll by FloGrappling showed at the time of this writing that 65.73 percent of people liked the event and responded “Sign me up for more slaps!” A little under 24 percent said they weren’t into it, and a little more than 10 percent said they could go either way.
One big name in the mixed martial arts community also showed his support. Cub Swanson – the #6 featherweight in the world – tweeted that he was excited to watch combat jiu-jitsu at the Eddie Bravo Invitational:
I'm excited to watch this Combat Jiu Jitsu right now at #EBI11 on @UFCFightPass
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 6, 2017
Fans on Twitter also applauded the event:
Combat jiu jitsu is electric, strikes opened up the submission for @savage135 #CJJ #EBI11 pic.twitter.com/o6BetFeNOs
— George (@KrownCity) March 6, 2017
Never thought this fucking phrase would ever come out my mouth: "Amazing bitch slap to twister finish!"#ebi11
— Classy Grappler (@ClassyGrappler) March 6, 2017
While any statistician will tell you these results have to be taken with a pinch of salt, the limited information the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community has suggests that combat jiu-jitsu is a success.
What did you think of combat jiu-jitsu? Should other grappling organizations follow in EBI’s footsteps?
