Grappling returned to Long Island, New York for an action-packed RiSE Invitational 10. In the co-main event, reigning champion Frank Rosenthal defended his featherweight belt with an impressive submission victory, while Mateo Maldonado was crowned Bantamweight Champion after coming out on top of an 8-man submission-only bracket.

Met by challenger Kevin Dantzler of Webb MMA, Fifty/50’s Rosenthal retained his title with an outside heel hook late in the bout. 

Dantzler fought valiantly, taking Rosenthal’s back and unleashing a bevy of submission attempts, yet Rosenthal’s composure and resilience paid dividends as he secured the submission finish with only three minutes remaining.

In the bantamweight bracket, Mateo Maldonado submitted Josh Thomas via armbar and scored a close victory over Andrew DeGraff by ride time advantage in EBI OT. In the final, he met MMA veteran Tevin Dyce. Dyce scored the first takedown and locked in a rear naked choke but failed to finish the attempt. Maintaining his calm, Maldonado escaped with seconds remaining. In overtime, Maldonado escaped around the 30-second mark and utilized a double underhook grip and body triangle to neutralize Dyce’s attempts at escape, winning on ride time.

To earn his berth in the final, Dyce outlasted Danny Ramirez in EBI OT before submitting Eric Naples via RNC in EBI OT.   

Of the four featured superfights of the main card, 10th Planet Bethlehem’s Rene Sousa found the lone submission, finishing Rashad Perez with a cloverleaf leglock. Sousa was not the only Who’s Next veteran on the card; his Who’s Next co-star Mike Rakshan who fought Lukas Strassburg to a draw. After several offensive attempts early by Strassburg, Rakshan took control and locked his signature “camel crusher” scarf-hold as time expired.

In addition to the main card, several undercard bouts featured dynamic finishes from dead orchards to flying triangles. For the full results, check below:

Full Results

Undercard (6 minutes Sub or Draw)  

• Joe Carey (10P LI) def Yosef Enayation (LAW MMA) via Dead Orchard - 135 - Blue  
• Mike Pulido (Hamptons BJJ) draw Max Meenan (Serra/Vanguard BJJ) - 140 - Blue  
• Erick Barrenenechea (Legends Martial Arts) vs Salron Zepherin (Bones BJJ) - 200 - Blue  
• Emily Harris (Bones BJJ) def Betty Huang (MP BJJ) via Dead Orchard - 115 - Blue  
• Nick Shimkin (ATT Happy Valley) draw Diego Chaparro (10th Planet Long Island) - 140 - Blue  
• Jess Johnson (10P NYC) draw Laureta Lahu (LAW MMA) - 140 - Blue  
• Anthony Borelli (Freedom BJJ) vs Tyler Newcamp (LAW MMA) – DRAW - 205 
• Trista Kline (Blackhole Jiu Jitsu) def Nikki Heuer (10th Planet Long Island) via Inside Heel Hook - 135 - Blue 
• Lucas Campos (Gracie Barra) def Oliver Lopez (Masterskya) via straight ankle lock- 145 - Purple 
• Joshua Flores (Serra/Vangurad) def Vee Thong (Masterskya) via Inside Heel Hook - 150 - Purple  
• Edmir Sokoli (Bergen County BJJ) def Mike Spryou (Freedom BJJ) via Straight Ankle Lock- 195 - Purple  
• Cheryl Rock (Royal BJJ) draw Alesha Zappitella (Hungry Grappler) - 135 
• Chris Emery (The Hive BJJ) draw Kyle Monahan (Vanguard BJJ) 175 - Brown  
• Justin High (Gracie 717) draw Vinnie Corrado (Bones BJJ) - 215 - Brown  
• Jarbem Pacheco (Quaranteam) def Rasheed Perez (Renzo Gracie NYC) via Arm Triangle Choke - 175 - Brown  

Main Card  

• Steve Nichols (Gracie Barra) draw Seth Hanneken (Vanguard Jiu Jitsu) - 215 - Black

• Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinals  

• (10 minutes Sub Only + 1 round of EBI overtime)
• Mateo Maldonado (Animals MMA) def Josh Thomas (Hungry Grappler) via Armbar
• Andrew DeGraff (Nova Jiu Jiu Jitsu) def. Jack Stapleton (Ascension Athletics) via Triangle Choke
• Eric Naples (The Hive BJJ) def Joey Aumann (Pure MMA) via Flying Triangle Choke
• Tevin Dyce (Legends Martial Arts) def Danny Ramirez (Tiger Schulmann’s) via ride time (OT)
• Featured SuperFight (6 minutes Sub or Draw)  
• Luis Cabrera (Bronx BJJ) draw Zach Fallah (Serra BJJ) - 185 - Black  

• Bantamweight Tournament Semifinals  

• Mateo Maldonado def Andrew DeGraff via ride time (OT)
• Tevin Dyce def Eric Naples via Rear Naked Choke (OT)
• Featured SuperFights (6 minutes Sub Or Draw)  
• Lukas Strassburger (Synthesis BJJ)) draw Mike Rakshan (Immortals BJJ) - 200 - Brown  
• Rene Sousa (10th Planet Bethlehem) def Rashad Perez (Renzo Gracie NYC) via Cloverleaf - 185 - Brown 
• Bantamweight Tournament - 3rd Place Match  
• Andrew DeGraff def Eric Naples via D’Arce Choke

• Co-Main Event - Featherweight Title  

• (10 minutes Sub Only + 1 round of EBI overtime) 
• Frank Rosenthal (50/50 BJJ) def. Kevin Dantzler (Webb MMA) via Outside Heel Hook

• Main Event - Bantamweight Tournament Finals  

• Mateo Maldonado def Tevin Dyce via Ride Time (OT)