Submission Underground 15 is right around the corner on June 21st and it sees the promotion’s favorite grappler, Craig Jones, return to attempt to extend his unbeaten promotional record. At Submission Underground 13, Jones did what Gordon Ryan could not do, and heel hooked Vinny Magalhaes. In keeping with his “leglocks don’t work” slogan, Magalhaes initially refused to tap, resulting in an audible pop and nasty injury. He eventually reconsidered and tapped verbally shortly after. At SUG 14, he avenged his loss to Vagnar Rocha at EBI 11 in 2017 with a rear naked choke in overtime. Now the Submission Underground (unofficial champion) takes on pro MMA fighter Gabriel Checco (11-5-0).
Co-Main Event
In the co-main event, UFC fighter Jessica Eye, fresh off of a unanimous decision loss last Saturday to Cynthiz Calvillo, takes on Amanda Loewen, formerly of SBG Portland. Loewen received her black belt after just five years of training, and taught at SBG Portland until she was let go due to declining to sign a non compete. She will be a tough challenge for Eye.
In Eye’s recent fight, she had her back taken a number of times and did not demonstrate a particularly complex guard game. She mostly clung to the low kneeshield, not unlike Craig Jones, but did not do much with it, quite unlike Craig Jones. She also did not put up much resistance against her opponent’s takedown attempts once she got in on her shots. Of course MMA is a very different game than submission only, but she does not come into this match-up looking very dangerous.
Submission Underground 15 Tournament
Besides these two matches, the card features an eight man tournament for ten thousand dollars and, ADCC style, the chance to match up with Craig Jones at SUG 16. The most notable grappler and heavy favorite in this event is Roberto Jimenez, the 20 year old black belt who recently put himself on the map by beating Keenan Cornelius at Flograppling’s Who’s #1 event. True, he won via points, but given his skill in taking the back and decorated BJJ career, he seems like the man to beat.
Check out our exclusive interview with Roberto Jimenez here.
Competitor List
- Andy Varela
- Kody Steele
- Warren Brooks
- Mason Fowler
- Roberto Jimenez
- Nathan Orchard
- Hunter Colvin
- Adam Bradley
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