Leading UK submission only outfit Figure Four Promotions hosted their fourth installment in the Grapplefest series at Fusion in Liverpool, England on Saturday, 23rd February. 

Topping the bill was returning favorite Craig Jones, who met IBJJF world champion Gabriel Arges in hotly-contested no-gi battle. 

The format favored Jones as a sub only specialist, but the Brazilian engaged him on his terms and it made for an interesting clash of styles. Jones looked to wrestle and employed an aggressive top game strategy, while Arges sought to instigate his guard game against the Australian.

In the early running, Jones did manage to briefly secure some leg entanglements to try and attack the Romulo Barral black belt, but he was savvy to the threat and escaped. 

As Jones continued to pursue his top game strategy, he passed Arges' guard at around the 10 minute back, before forcing the back take and quickly locking in a tight rear naked choke for the submission victory. 

Jones' coach and fellow Absolute MMA representative Lachlan Giles was in the co-main event, taking on Braulio Estima black belt Bradley Hill.

Hill struck first as he landed a rolling takedown and solidified a strong mount position but, under some stress, the Australian did find a way out. In the open, Giles sat to start working his guard offensive and attacked the legs but Hill escaped the initial attempts, before eventually being caught in an outside heel hook just ahead of the five-minute 

Lachlan Giles on the attack

IBJJF world no-gi champion Ffion Davies also returned to Grapplefest, and she submitted fellow black belt Christine Martin in a fast-paced battle. Martin was active and looked for a kneebar among other things, but Davies was never in trouble. After isolating an arm inside the guard, the Welsh competitor worked her way around to Martin's back, before flattening her out and sinking in a tight rear naked choke. 

Ffion Davies works toward the submission

The pick of the submissions elsewhere on the main card were heel hooks Freddie Vosgrone, Eoghan O'Flanaghan and Izaak Michell, Lloyd Cooper's powerful straight footlock, and Sean McDonagh's armbar of Marcus Phelan.

Standouts from the preliminary matches were Lee Simpson, Kev Corkhill, Josh Cherrington, Hannah Garrett and Fin Carey, and junior prodigies Brad McDonagh and Shea Williams. Click here for full results. 

Watch the full event replay here 

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