Fight 2 Win 144 gave us everything we hoped for when the promotion announced the star-studded lineup for the event, and once again a trip to Dallas, Texas results in a spectacular night of elite submission grappling. The top three fights on the card all featured mainstays in the top tier of submission grappling including one women’s match and two title fights just to ensure that there was truly something for everyone.
The first of these matches was a close contest between Jonnatas Gracie and Edwin Najmi. Sticking true to his reputation for flying submissions, it didn’t take long before Najmi locked up a tight Flying Triangle Choke that forced Gracie to escape, only to immediately start working to pass his guard. Najmi then managed to return to a standing position briefly before the fighters re-engaged on the ground, this time with Gracie on his back instead. Najmi started taking his turn to work his passing game, even briefly attempting a D’arce Choke but it wasn’t long before Gracie reversed the position and the two grapplers both fought for Toeholds. Gracie managed to sink in a Straight Ankle Lock in the final minute but there wasn’t enough time remaining for him to secure the finish, although it did seem to tip the balance and earn him the Split Decision victory.
The Co-Main event saw another close contest between Nathalie Ribeiro and Talita Alencar for the F2W Bantamweight No Gi Women’s Championship. Ribeiro immediately started out as the aggressor, working for leg entanglements straight away and forcing Alencar to disengage and reset in Ribeiro’s guard. Alencar started to up the ante with a Toehold attempt and a Cartwheel Pass, although neither came to fruition and the pass attempt landed her in a tight Armbar instead. Alencar managed to free her elbow to escape before making another short-lived attempt at a Toehold and forcing a scramble as a result. After both women engaged in a leglock battle, Alencar managed to gain the upper hand and quickly took Ribeiro’s back to lock up a tight body triangle. Ribeiro managed to escape slowly, even preventing Alencar from transitioning to an Armbar just as the time ran out. Ribeiro was awarded the Split Decision in a match that really could have gone either way.
The final match of the night was much quicker than the ones before it as the recently retired Bellator Middleweight World Champion Rafael Lovato Jr took on Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa. Lovato Jr pulled guard early on but Barbosa managed to pass to Half Guard pretty much straight away. From here, Barbosa worked slowly to side control and pinned the MMA fighter in a strong position. As Lovato Jr attempted to escape, Barbosa made a lightning-quick transition to an Armbar and secured the tap almost immediately.
Fight 2 Win 144 Full Results
Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa defeats Rafael Lovato via Submission (Armbar).
(Barbosa Becomes The New Light-Heavyweight Champion)
Nathalie Ribeiro defeats Talita Alencar via Split Decision.
(Ribeiro Becomes the New Bantamweight No Gi Champion)
Jonnatas Gracie defeats Edwin Najmi via Split Decision.
Jordan Burton III defeats Aaron Brooks via Split Decision.
Caio Caetano defeats Rehan Mutalib via Decision.
Bruno Jacaré Dias defeats Filipe Matos via Decision.
Bobby Emmons defeats Angel Lopez via Submission (Heel Hook).
Kenny Cross defeats Stephen Hall via Submission (Choke).
Joseph Baize defeats Don Westman via Submission (Inside Heel Hook).
Rafael Lang Bjj defeats Brett Oteri via Submission (Armbar).
Andrew Wiltse defeats Isiah Wright via Submission (Rear Naked Choke).
Brown Belt Matches
Clay Mayfield defeats Edgar Christian Benitez via Decision.
Purple Belt Matches
Jorge Valladares defeats Kemoy Anderson via Submission (Kneebar).
Dan Cavazos defeats Dylan Nugyen via Submission (Choke).
Sathya Wiltse defeats Carson Steicher via Decision.
Dante Muschamp defeats Colton Phoenix via Submission (Armbar).
Jacob Couch defeats Dominic Alfano via Submission (Heel Hook).
Elder Cruz defeats Francisco Papasidero via Decision.
Chase Sosa defeats Jazz Ortiz via Submission (Armbar).
Lucas Espinoza defeats Carlos Neto via Decision.
Alejandro Wajner defeats Amador Barraza via Decision.
Stephen Shnayderman defeats Von Wood via Submission (Armbar).
Troy D Mercer defeats Marco Soto via Decision.
Walker Madden defeats John Paul Robledo via SUbmission (Armbar).
Kids Matches
Icaro Moreno defeats Dandre Adams Straight via Submission (Armbar).
Gui Balmante defeats Chris Ditto via Submission (Armbar).
The full event was streamed live on Flograppling and to watch the replay, click here.
The post Fight 2 Win 144 Review and Results appeared first on Grappling Insider.The post Fight 2 Win 144 Review and Results appeared first on Grappling Insider.