Abu Dhabi

I am sitting in the Barcelona Airport headed back to the states from the Abu Dhabi Combat Championships, which is the premiere grappling tourney in the world.  I didnt know what to expect when I came over here, because I had never done a grappling tournament before, but I did know I would be ready for anything.  The ready for anything mindset suited me well on the first day when I was making weight.   The committee decided not to let anyone check there weight on the official scale until weigh ins, seriously how crazy is that .  With a wide variety of bathroom scales being used to check weight I lost an extra couple pounds just to make sure I was not over.  I made weight but it was very tough seeing as it was the lowest weight I made since the olympics. 

The Competition was ok, I won my first match by using an arm triangle.  The guy dropped right to his butt as soon as the match started to take my advantage on our feet away, I kept the pressure on him and he tried a few submissions which were not very dangerous before I was able to pass his guard, then work to the mount and use my arm triangle.  Second round I had Pablo Popovitch a very good grappler from Florida, I trained with him this summer and he knew my weakness.  Early in the match he hit me with a footlock.  I did feel a little bit better when Pablo went on to beat Marcelo Garcia was in the finals to win the world championship. 

The grappling makes for a long day since finals matches can be up to 20 minutes in length and often times they turn into very poor wrestling matches because no one wants to give up position to the other person.  I did learn a lot about jiu jitsu though, especially watching two other former college wrestlers Gerry Rinaldi and Chris Weidman, both took more relaxed styles into the tournament and did really well with them. 

I dont know what is next for me, possibly a fight soon.  Hasta Luego