Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) champ Ethan Crelinsten won the Polaris 36 main event, and then immediately made the broadcast a little awkward.
After a few entertaining exchanges early in their match, Crelinsten eventually took the back and finished a game Shai Gerena in the first round. After successfully defending his Polaris lightweight title, Crelinsten immediately used the spotlight from Polaris and FloGrappling to ask for a spot at their main rival organization.
Polaris champ Ethen Crelinsten calls for UFC BJJ move
“I had this (Polaris) belt for a while, and UFC BJJ, I want that f—ng belt! I want that Octobowl, I want to be in there,” Crelisten said after his rear naked choke victory. “UFC BJJ hit me up, I’m coming for that belt!”
Crelinsten left Polaris commentators speechless as they ended the broadcast.
Polaris recently left UFC Fight Pass and joined the FloGrappling banner, which also broadcasts WNO, CJI, IBJJF and ADCC events. UFC BJJ has been looking to rival FloGrappling and their control in the sport, with Claudia Gadelha revealing plans to ban UFC grapplers from ADCC and other orgs.
Crelinsten seemingly wants to follow in the footsteps of his Simple Man Martial Arts (formerly B-Team) teammate and CJI champ Nick Rodriguez, who was recently signed by UFC BJJ.
Kendall Reusing defends title in return, Sarah Galvao gets submission at Polaris 36
Kendall Reusing, a popular grappler and commentator, returned to competition for the first time in almost two years. Instead of taking a tune-up, the two-time IBJJF no gi world champion went straight into defending her Polaris Open Weight title against the surging Anabel Lopez.
Reusing showed no signs of rust despite the layoff, and still managed to dominate Lopez, who was fresh off a big ADCC EMEA Trials win. Once she passed her guard, Reusing kept attacking from mount and secured a pretty nasty looking armbar in the waning seconds of the first round.
In the third championship bout at Polaris 36, Owen Jones secured a decision win over veteran BJJ champ Gianni Grippo to pick up the vacant featherweight title.
Outside of the title bouts, teen BJJ prodigy Sarah Galvao also picked up another quality win in the pro circuit. After having deep rear naked choke (and some face crank) attempts in the first stanza, Galvao eventually went from omoplata to triangle to kimura for the slick second round finish.
