Few jiu-jitsu and submission grappling events dare to really break the mold and stray away from the standard jiu-jitsu rule set. Professional competitions are currently at an all-time high, with the majority using either points or holding submission-only matches.

The Grappling Pro Championship decided to implement a very different set of rules for athletes to compete under, which was tested in the promotion's first event in Naples, Florida, in September. The result? Excitement! 

The Grappling Pro Championship returns to Naples for its second edition on Sunday, Dec. 11, featuring an eight-man heavyweight division and a $10,000 grand prize, and is streaming LIVE on FloGrappling. 

In its first event, Grappling Pro showcased an eight-man 170-pound bracket that included notable grapplers such as DJ Jackson, Garry Tonon, Enrico Cocco, Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa, and more. The rules posed a new challenge for the competitors, with ring outs worth points and matches being held over three five-minute rounds. Points were awarded for pins but not for passing the guard. 


DJ Jackson vs. Garry Tonon at the Grappling Pro 170lb tournament. Photo: Chase Smith 

The event generated a great deal of buzz online when Jackson defeated Tonon using a strategy totally based on maximizing his chances with this rule set, avoiding Tonon's submission game, and winning via points. 

The match was still highly entertaining and led to a number of stars immediately messaging promoter Marcel Goncalves and asking for information on the next event. The $10,000 grand prize for the first-place winner also probably got their attention! 

"The first event was a great starter, and we were able to launch the idea," Goncalves said. "We got some very exciting grapplers to compete and test it out, we learned a lot and now we're moving on with the next event.

"For the next event, we're bringing the big boys. Eight of the best pro grapplers out there will be competing for the tittle of the heavyweight division (205lb to 265lb)." 

The first person to confirm his place in the tournament was none other than Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu! 



The official lineup for the Grappling Pro Championship heavyweight eight-man division is as follows:

• ​Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu  
  
• Bruno Bastos  
  
• Jimmy Friedrich   
  
• Mahamed Aly   
  
• Jared Dopp   
  
• Paulo Ribeiro   
  
• Robby Donofrio
  
• Vinny Mahalhaes

In addition to the heavyweight bracket, there is also a welterweight superfight to look forward to in Naples. 

Team Fight Sports phenom Ricardo Rezende will face Victor Silverio of GFTeam. Both competitors are finishers known for having super aggressive styles, and there is history between them, so we can expect plenty of entertainment in their contest.

We have a bigger vision," Goncalves said. "We're trying to provide more for the athletes and make a better event for the fans. Now everyone out there should expect more, because we're working hard to provide more.

Along with the overall winner's $10,000 prize, second place will be awarded $2,000 and third place will receive $1,000. Also, there will be a $1,000 prize for the athlete with the quickest submission of the event. 

"We already have great things line up for next events and everything about this event will be epic," Goncalves said. 

The Grappling Pro Championship goes down Sunday, Dec. 11, LIVE on FloGrappling.


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