Third Coast Grappling’s Kumite series returned for its second edition, this time, the +180 lb Championship was on the line, and with it, a $10,000 prize. 

This eight-man bracket featured two of the largest rising stars in jiu-jitsu, Victor Hugo and Fellipe Andrew, alongside Tanner Rice, Ricardo Evangelista, Jake Watson, Jonatas Gracie, Pedro Marinho and Third Coast’s Kumite I Champion, Gustavo Batista.

Third Coast Grappling uses a unique format: a seven-minute regulation period in which victory is awarded only by submission or first to score 11-points. If neither victory condition is met, the match goes to a 5-minute golden score overtime round. The competitor with more points in regulation gets to choose the starting position: closed guard on top or bottom, or a neutral standing position. 

In overtime, the first person to score points is the winner.

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Elimination Round: Gustavo Batista vs Tanner Rice

The first match of the evening featured one of the biggest men in the tournament, Tanner Rice, and one of the smallest, Gustavo Batista. Batista came into the competition fresh off of a championship run at Third Coast Grappling Kumite I, where he won the -180 lb tournament.

In the lighter weight class, Batista struggled to create action in regulation. Each of his three matches were decided in overtime rounds. He ended that trend against Rice.

Batista was the first to establish a guard. He earned a sweep from Single Leg X to score the first two points of the match. Rice countered with his own Single Leg X guard and eventually transitioned into 50-50 guard where he exploded into a sweep putting Batista back into open guard.

They landed in a stalemate momentarily, as Batista kept his frames strong, redirecting Rice’s pressure from smashing through the guard. Batista eventually transitioned back to Single Leg X guard and took top position, scoring two more points with his grips in place to begin the style of pressure passing with which he won Kumite I.

Maintaining a far pant grip, Batista extended Rice out to attain a dominant angle to nearly complete a leg drag to the right side. As Rice frantically inverted to retain his guard, Batista switched directions and completed the leg drag on the opposite side. Upon securing three points for the pass, Batista inched his way into the mount for four points. Accumulating 11 points, Batista was awarded the victory.

GUSTAVO BATISTA def TANNER RICE via TECHNICAL FALL, 11-2

Elimination Round: Fellipe Andrew vs Jake Watson

Andrew and Watson took a while to get going, but when they opened up, the match became an explosive scramble. After a series of passivity penalties from double guard pulls, Andrew took top position. Both competitors seemed content to wait for an opening. Andrew was intense in his grip breaking, but couldn’t get his hips in position to threaten a legitimate pass.

In the final minute of regulation, Andrew finally found an angle for his knee cut pass, pressuring through the last line of Watson’s defense and settling in for three points. 

With the option in overtime, Andrew chose to start from his closed guard. He opened it quickly and offered a barrage of sweep attempts. Watson was eventually able to slow down Andrew’s offense by locking into 50-50, but Andrew used the position to attack a toe hold. As Andrew began bending the foot, Watson was able to clear his knee and dive for Andrew’s back. He nearly set the hooks, and also saw a brief opportunity to secure mount before Andrew rebuilt his guard without conceding points. 

In the scramble, Watson stood up to offset Andrew’s scoring chance before pulling to his own guard. Andrew’s heavy knee cut pressure forced Watson to lock up 50-50, where the action slowed again.

In an effort to create off-balance, Watson left his legs out of position in front of Andrew, who immediately seized the opportunity to stuff the legs down and jump to side control, securing three points for sudden victory.  

FELLIPE ANDREW def JAKE WATSON via GOLDEN SCORE

Elimination Round: Victor Hugo vs Ricardo Evangelista

Hugo was able to stifle the pressure passing of Evangelista with double sleeve grips and intricate De La Riva Guard sweep attempts early in the match. But it was a blast double leg takedown from seated guard which finally earned him top position.

On top, Hugo kept away from the dangerous closed guard of Evangelista, attempting to pressure through the half guard, but he moved too much too soon and Evangelista was able to create distance, rebuild his guard and nearly scrambling to the top.

On the way up, Evangelista walked right into Hugo’s dangerous knee bar setup, forcing him back down to seated position before he was able to score. The men jousted from 50-50 for a few minutes before Hugo found space to sneak his leg out and pop up into a smash pass. He slid directly into mount to finish the pass for seven more points, and had a look at an arm lock as regulation concluded.

With the overtime decision, Hugo chose to start in his closed guard. He opened with a kiss of the dragon style attack and was nearly able to bump Evangelista over. Evangelista maintained top and tried to pressure through the guard, but Hugo was able to recover and lock closed guard where he kept Evangelista tied down using Gubber Guard and belt grips. 

With 15 seconds left, Evangelista managed to open Hugo’s guard and tried to mash through it, but it was not enough to win the favor of the referees. They picked Hugo to move onto the semifinals.

VICTOR HUGO def RICARDO EVANGELISTA via REFEREE DECISION

Elimination Round: Jonatas Gracie vs Pedro Marinho

This match was decided entirely by nuanced 50-50 exchanges. Gracie pulled guard and weathered Marinho’s early attempt to explode out of the guard. He was eventually able to tie up the legs and came up to score two points. When on top, Gracie anchored himself into position as Marinho tried to tie up Graice’s legs and rock him over.

The referee issued passivity penalty after penalty, but Gracie remained immovable for five minutes in this position, dragging the match into overtime. 

Gracie elected to begin the second period from his closed guard. When Marinho separated Gracie’s legs, he attempted to leap past the guard, but left himself overextended, and Gracie was able to weave underneath Marinho’s legs, tangling them up again in 50-50. There, Gracie wrapped a lapel around the legs, splayed Marinho out and returned to a top, stable position. Scoring two points for the sweep, Gracie won by sudden victory.

JONNATAS GRACIE def PEDRO MARINHO via GOLDEN SCORE

Semifinal: Gustavo Batista vs Fellipe Andrew

After a brief wrestling exchange, Batista pulled guard beneath the larger Andrew. As Batista tried to set into 50-50, Andrew dove on an Estima Lock, riding it to the mat before releasing it. Both competitors rushed back to their feet and Batista pulled guard again.

Andrew was persistent in putting pressure on Batista, peeling the legs apart and shredding through every grip. When Batista finally built a Single Leg X Guard, Andrew snatched up the ankle and dove belly down for his trademark submission technique.

He was not able to force the tap, but came back to top position in Batista’s guard. Batista was able to establish an unusual cross arm grip and secure it across his shin, tying up any further advances from Andrew. They stayed in this position, unable to move meaningfully, for the remainder of regulation.

With the right to choose the starting overtime position, Andrew decided to start in a neutral standing position.

Aware of Andrew’s wrestling prowess, Batista pulled guard. Andrew attempted to pressure directly through Batista’s legs, eventually forcing a boundary reset. On the restart, he exploded into an X-pass forcing Batista to turtle.

On the recovery, Batista found his way underneath and behind Andrew with an angle for a backtake, but Andrew was able to square up with Batista’s guard. Batista again cycled behind Andrew in crab ride with more secure grips. Andrew survived by setting his hips to the side in a reverse half guard. Here they scrambled, Batista trying to get underneath and Andrew fighting to step around the guard. Batista was constantly too capable of turtling up and inverting, Andrew was persistent in getting his hips to the mat.

Batista made a final effort, his most promising, to take Andrew’s back from crab ride. However, Andrew was yet again able to stay tall and move his hips to the mat and out of danger. He stayed on top, sitting on Batista, for the final minute of the overtime period to secure the decision victory and a berth in the finals.

FELLIPE ANDREW def GUSTAVO BATISTA via REFEREE DECISION

Semifinal: Victor Hugo vs Jonatas Gracie

Hugo was first to pull to guard, but it didn’t last long. Once he stood up, Gracie took his own opportunity for bottom position. Hugo tried to develop pressure, but Gracie was able to secure a belt grip over the top and drag Hugo toward the mat, coming up with an angle toward the back, but both competitors returned, instead, to a neutral standing position.

After some jousting, Gracie got the angle for a single leg shot and lifted the much larger Hugo off of his feet with a high crotch, but out of bounds.

On the reset, Gracie pulled guard. He was able to extend one of Hugo’s legs and set him down to his hips, but as he moved to take top position, Hugo sprang Gracie away and they returned to their feet once more.

Hugo took his turn to pull, elevating Gracie as he jumped in and locking him in full guard. Strong, dominant grips earned Hugo an easy flower sweep directly to mount for six points. As Gracie tried to buck and turn away, Hugo locked a grip beneath the face, eventually weaving in a n Ezekiel choke. Gracie was able to withstand the pressure of the choke for a few seconds, but was eventually forced to tap.

VICTOR HUGO def JONATAS GRACIE via EZEKIEL CHOKE

Final: Fellipe Andrew vs Victor Hugo

For the second time in eight days, Andrew and Hugo stood the mat. Andrew looked driven to avenge his submission loss. This time, $10,000 was on the line.

Andrew wasted no time attacking with a high-flying seoi nage throw, launching Hugo. But Hugo landed on his feet, secured his grips and pulled guard directly into a sweep attempt returning to their feet.

Hugo pulled guard again and immediately slapped on a triangle nearly identical to the one he used to defeat Andrew a week prior. Andrew stepped over and found the space to escape, and engaged with a knee cut pass. As they scrambled for position, Andrew wrapped a leg and started climbing grips for an ankle lock submission. But he left his own leg behind, and Hugo was able to catch it.

Hugo locked up the foot and applied pressure, bridging on his head to submit Andrew with a quick ankle lock.