Finishers Only Summer Bash

You can always count on Finishers Only events to be exciting. Their matchmaker does an excellent job of bringing clashing styles and competitors that push the pace in submission oriented fights. This Sunday was no exception.

There were two female title fights, where Alex Nguyen successfully challenged Brittany Way for the 115 lb belt. Alex Enriquez was also able to take the 135 lb belt from Trinity Pun in overtime. Here’s a breakdown of the matches.

Title fights

Alex Nguyen def. Brittany Way via armbar in regulation

Nguyen, a black belt out of Rockville, MD, has been grappling, wrestling, and lifting since childhood and is widely considered one of the most technical featherweights in the world. Most recently, she was able to win the 125 lb bracket at Midwest Finishers, submitting all of her opponents in regulation. Way, the title defender and new black belt from Florida, earned the 115 title from a highly technical exchange with Sophia Cassella, in a flurry of deep leg lock exchanges, guard passing, and ultimately a guillotine.

Unfortunately for Way, Nguyen caught her in the middle of a rolling kimura, took her back, and secured an armbar in the first minute of the match. If these two ladies have a rematch, I think a lot of people will be interested to see Way express more of her jiujitsu against a high level opponent.

Alex Enriquez def. Trinity Pun via rear naked choke in overtime

Enriquez is a new black belt training out of Atlanta, GA with a highly decorated colored belt career. Pun is a sub-only specialist and brown belt training out of Orange County Fight Club in New York. There is a very good article about the leadup to this match, which you can read on Flograppling.

Pun was able to use Enriquez’s wrestling to jump guard, where she has a very strong high guard game, finishing many opponents with dead orchards and triangles. Enriquez was very aware of this threat, however, and fought out of the top lock and high guard several times before passing Pun twice. Neither player was able to threaten any real submissions.

Enriquez was able to secure a rear naked choke and escape an armbar in overtime. This win makes her the new 135 lb belt holder.

Superfights

Amanda Mazza def. Cristal Contreras via armbar in regulation

Mazza showed dynamic and quick transitions among submissions just yesterday at her superfight in Fury Pro Grappling. However, in today’s match, Contreras launched most of the initial attacks. She secured a definitive uchi mata and immediately began using a headlock to pass, transitioning to a kimura, outside ashi, and inside sankaku. It was only when the players were reset to the middle of the mat that Mazza was able to back out and land a spectacular flying armbar, securing the finish.

Molly Zbrowski def. Ansley Cox via armbar in overtime

Zbrowski was quick to jump guard on Cox, which she tried to use to setup submissions and lumberjack sweeps. Cox kept a solid base and was able to force half guard, passing Zbrowski’s guard close to the end of the match. Neither made any serious submission threats. Zbrowski secured a 8-second armbar in overtime, which Cox was unable to catch up on in her own overtime round.

Closing thoughts

For the most part, athletes stuck to their usual games and what they are best at. We saw that some of the winners were very good at capitalizing on mistakes and turning them into submission opportunities. Those who want to compete with the best will simply have to make less mistakes and punish those who fail to do so.