Elite Submission League Preview: Mexico's Hottest BJJ Event
Elite Submission League Preview: Mexico's Hottest BJJ Event
The event promises to mix athletes from talent-rich places such as San Diego and Los Angeles with its own homegrown, hungry, and skilled competitors.
Elite Submission League is the fastest growing jiu-jitsu promotion south of the border. Based in Tijuana, the event promises to mix athletes from talent-rich places such as San Diego and Los Angeles with its own homegrown, hungry, and skilled competitors.
Athletes on the card hail from as far away as Costa Rica, and now have the perfect opportunity to get their name recognized on the international stage.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the event is the multi-dimensional nature: there is a 16-man purple belt Grand Prix, a four-man brown belt round robin, and SEVEN superfights featuring a range of athletes including UFC fighters, Mexican jiu-jitsu pioneers, and plenty of rising talent.
Brown Belt Round Robin
Recently promoted to brown belt by Andre Galvao, San Diego's Pete O'Neal is probably of the most accomplished in the round-robin event. A medalist at Pans, Europeans, and countless opens, O'Neal's omoplata has been the demise of many competent opponents.
Rene Borquez is the head instructor at Brasa Team Mexico City, and one of the best brown belt prospects in the country. Recently claiming gold at the IBJJF Vegas open, Rene's creative submission game and agility will be sure to mix things up.
The remaining two brown belts in this event include Fabian Bolanos and Milan Gallese. While they are not as well-known on the competition scene as O'Neal and Borquez they both train full-time, and a great performance here could be big boost for their jiu-jitsu careers.
16-Man Purple Belt Grand Prix
16 of the best purple belts in Mexico and guests from California and Costa Rica will fight until only one is left. The current fighters lists include:
- Martin Gonzalez (Entram Gym)
- Jose Araya (Roger Coelho)
- Ivan Leyva (Renzo Gracie)
- Antonio de la O (Zapata Team)
- Abdi Buul (Atos HQ)
- Ian Auchmoody (Brasa Mx)
- Gustavo Pasarelli (Fabio Santos)
- Miguel Villegas (Atos HQ)
- Antonio Suazo (Baret Submissions)
- Ronaldo Benitez (Renato Tavarez)
- Ivan Herrera(MMA Arena)
- Arafath Torres (Ensenada Bay JJ)
- Ivan Herrera (Baret Submissions)
- + 3 TBA Athletes
Superfights Featured at ESL 2
- Neville Robles vs Ruben Gracia (green belt superfight, gi)
- Frankie Zambada vs Diego Perez (kids superfight, gi)
- Fernando Amado vs Toro Mendez (gi)
- Fernando Codina vs Teco Quiñones (no-gi)
- Brian Morizi vs Arranick Montero (gi)
- Itzel Bazua vs Veronica Mayorga (first 2 female black belts in Mexico, gi)
- Alexis Alduncin vs Sergio Hernandez (Championship bout, gi)
Click to watch ESL 2 LIVE or On Demand ONLY on FloGrappling