KASAI Pro 3

KASAI Pro: The 3 Superfights We're Dying To See

KASAI Pro: The 3 Superfights We're Dying To See

Alongside the stacked eight eight-man bracket are three phenomenal superfights, including a bout between Rousimar Palhares and Craig Jones.

Aug 4, 2018 by Chase Smith
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KASAI Pro returns to the Empire State in style on Saturday, August 18 for another event of professional no-gi grappling.

Alongside the stacked eight eight-man bracket and incredible undercard are three phenomenal superfights, including a bout between Rousimar Palhares, possibly the most terrifying man in submission grappling, and Australia's rising-star Craig Jones.  


Craig Jones vs Rousimar Palhares

There is no question that Rousimar 'Toquinho' –transalted into 'little tree stump' – Palhares is one of the most feared grapplers on the planet.  His incredible physique and nightmarish reputation for holding onto submissions (especially the heelhook) a little too long (he was booted from the UFC for this exact reason) both serve to elevate the level of intensity and anticipation for his matches.  

Though he's been focusing on MMA, Toquinho's skill set and reputation are both things that nobody should take lightly should they wish to walk off the mats when the match is over.  

Standing across from Palhares on the KASAI mats will be none other than Australian grappler and fellow leglock specialist Craig Jones.  No stranger to the KASAI stage, Craig is making this third straight appearance on the show.  In contrast to Tanquinho, Craig has been exceptionally active on the professional grappling circuit, circumventing the globe chasing down new challenges like Quintet, KASAI, and BOA Super 8.  

Which is good: because he'll need every second of experience to help navigate and overcome the challenge pose by Toquinho.  


AJ Agazarm vs Gilbert Burns

AJ Agazarm is scheduled to make his third appearance at KASAI after submitting Marcos Galvao at the promotion's second event back in April.  Geo Martinez was Agazarm's original opponent and their war of words captured the jiu-jitsu community's attention through the summer, but that match has been delayed for now as Martinez has been forced off the card due to injury.

AJ Agazarm KASAI 2 Match Highlight

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However, KASAI wasn't going to let a bit of bad news spoil the party, and have served up a compelling replacement for Geo in the Florida-based fighter Gilbert Burns.

Burns is an exceptionally active athelte who regularly juggles grappling superfights with a burgeoning MMA career in the UFC.  A  2x No-Gi world champion and ADCC bronze medalist, Burns is a physical specimen me with the grappling skills to match. His game is well-rounded and opportunistic: he'll finish his opponents with whatever openings they give to him.  

The two men have actually faced off once before at the ADCC 2014 trials, where Gilbert got the best of the 'Floridaboy' on points, but it’s been a VERY long time since then, and both men have surely made updates to their games and strategies.  

We predict a gritty war of attrition in this bout, with a strong emphasis on wrestling and goal of playing on top.  

Gilbert Burns vs Nick Calvanese – F2W 81

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Gianni Grippo vs Jon Calestine 

Jon Calestine is a Brooklyn-based black belt under Daisuke Yamaji at Renzo Gracie Fight Academy who also trains under legendary instructor

Will leglocks be the determining factor? possibly, no one can deny that Calestine is among the top athletes specializing in lower limb attacks, but Grippo proved that he can hang with some of the best leglockers in the world the last time he competed at Kasai where he came out on top over Enrico Cocco and Garry Tonon.

Gianni Grippo vs Garry Tonon – KASAI Pro 

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The real question, in this author’s opinion, is if Calestine can come up with a plan of attack that is equally rigorous as Grippo’s – Gianni is an astute student of the game and has been a competitor at the highest level for years – you better believe he started strategizing for Calestine before the ink dried on the contact. A win for either athelte here cements their reputation as a top-level no-gi player.

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