One of the most exciting matchups at the upcoming Five Super League Pro Invitational features both an ADCC medalist against a former UFC fighter -- and no, they're not men.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, Jessica Oliveira Flowers and Shayna "The Queen of Spades" Baszler will face each other on the main card in a women's brown belt no-gi superfight. 

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Flowers vs. Baszler

A Gracie Barra brown belt under Henrique Machado, Flowers is an accomplished jiu-jitsu practitioner and an active competitor in both gi and no-gi events. Hailing from the city of Manaus in the Amazon in Brazil, Flowers boasts a number of IBJJF championship and UAEJJF titles on her resume, and she is a two-time ADCC veteran. 

At the 2015 ADCC, Flowers defeated superstar black belt Gabi Garcia in the semifinals by a referee decision, arguably one of the biggest upsets of the entire event. 

Baszler, meanwhile, is a seasoned professional mixed martial artist and a UFC veteran who trains under the supervision of Josh Barnett, the former UFC heavyweight champion who brought catch wrestling into the spotlight with his stunning wins against Dean Lister and Ryron Gracie. 

Baszler is currently the only certified female catch wrestler in the United States and is also a tough jiu-jitsu brown belt. She's widely known among the MMA community as an aggressive submission hunter with 13 of her 15 wins coming by way of submission. 

Baszler in pro wrestling mode. 

How The Match Might Go Down

While Flowers is just as comfortable in her top game as she is playing from bottom, she has a incredibly strong closed guard. One of the tallest female jiu-jitsu practitioners on the mat today, she uses her long limbs to her advantage, attacking the armbar and triangle with ease. 

Under a points-based rule set, Flowers prefers to set a methodical pace, patiently looking for opportunities to advance and submit. However, under the Five Grappling rule set (and only six minutes to submit) she will have to push the pace. She may try to pull Baszler into her guard in order to neutralize many of the catch wrestler's attacks and pave the way for one of her high-percentage guard submissions. 

As a catch wrestler, Baszler is expected to have a crushing top game and a variety of unorthodox submissions up her sleeve. She is a confident takedown artist and is well-known for her creativity -- including her own pseudo-chicken wing submission called the "shwing" -- as well as her impressive flow between submissions attempts. However, if she decides to go for a takedown, she will have to bypass Flowers' dangerous limbs, and without the aid of strikes to open her opponent up a takedown may be risky. 


Something that should not be discounted is Baszler's side hustle as pro wrestler. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to see her try a crazy move or two. 

Like Flowers, Baszler is also equally well-versed in the bottom game and has a number of submissions by way of armbar from guard. She may even decide to force Flowers to play a top game, which will both keep Baszler out of the Amazon's closed guard and offer opportunities for a variety of arm, foot, and knee attacks.

Neither woman gives up submissions easily and in the past have shown incredible tenacity in bad positions. Expect some great scrambles throughout the match. 

A bonus feature will likely be Baszler's wrestling style showmanship. Hint: a guitar may be involved! 

How to Watch

FIVE SUPER LEAGUE
WHEN: 8:30 PM CST, Saturday, Dec. 3 
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