The UFC Combat Cross Invitational 8 goes down on October 10, 2024, and incorporates a major occasion conflict between Nick Rodriguez and Michael Pixley.
The UFC Combat Cross Invitational (UFC FPI) is ready to return to motion this Thursday with a top quality card full of elite no-gi expertise. In the primary occasion of the UFC Combat Cross Invitational 8, inaugural CJI match winner Nick Rodriguez will sq. off with surging Pedigo Submission Combating expertise Michael Pixley.
Rodriguez vs. Pixley
Undefeated in his final six appearances at UFC FPI, Rodriguez has established himself as arguably the game’s prime heavyweight grappler and one of many pound-for-pound greatest. The New Jersey native is famend for his glorious takedowns and seemingly unstoppable body-lock guard passing – expertise he used to attain 4 straight submissions and win the $1 million prize on the inaugural CJI in August.
Rodriguez will face an fascinating stylistic problem in his return to competitors as a result of Pixley is without doubt one of the few athletes within the division who can match and even beat Rodriguez within the wrestling division.
Nonetheless only a purple belt in BJJ, Pixley has lengthy been thought to be one among grappling’s most promising rising stars. He loved a breakout efficiency on the 2024 ADCC World Championships the place he took out former ADCC silver medalist Vinicius “Trator” Ferreira and match favourite Nicholas Meregali to earn a fourth-place end.
Like Rodriguez, Pixley leans closely on his elite takedown sport, possessing a deep bag of methods to convey the match to the mat on his personal phrases. However whereas Rodriguez tends to do his greatest work when he’s chasing the again, Pixley’s largest submission threats come from his dynamic entrance headlock and d’arce sport.
Canuto vs. Barch
Earlier than the primary occasion, veteran black belts Renato Canuto and PJ Barch will collide in a gathering between two of the game’s most entertaining rivals.
Canuto is an IBJJF gi and no-gi world champion, a multiple-time ADCC veteran, and a current CJI veteran. He boasts spectacular wins over the likes of Nicky Ryan, Levi Jones-Leary (within the gi), and no-gi world champion Jeferson Guaresi, amongst others. An explosive athlete with a well-rounded skillset, Canuto is beloved for his aggressive type and high-flying assaults – together with his trademark flying armbar.
Standing throughout from him might be tenth Planet consultant Barch. Whereas he comes from a deep wrestling background, Barch has developed into rather more than only a wrestler. On the 2024 ADCC World Championships, he defeated prime skills Mateusz Szczecinski and Elijah Dorsey to say bronze. He is a superb takedown artist and back-taker, however over the previous few years has developed one of many sport’s most harmful leg lock video games, significantly from the 50/50 place.
This received’t be the primary time Canuto and Barch have confronted off in competitors. They first met in 2018 at Kasai Professional 3 the place Canuto walked away with a slim factors victory. Their subsequent match happened earlier this 12 months on the PGF Worlds. This time round, Barch evened the rating with a shocking heel hook end.
The remainder of the cardboard at UFC Combat Cross Invitational 8
The rest of the cardboard is loaded with intriguing matches.
Pound-for-pound standout Dante Leon – Grappling Insider’s 2023 Male Grappler of the 12 months – will make his UFC FPI debut in opposition to all-action fan favourite Andy Varela. On paper, Leon holds a major expertise and accomplishments benefit, however he’d be unwise to look previous the at all times harmful Varela, who possesses the back-taking expertise and entrance headlock sport to vary the match at a second’s discover.
Additionally, IBJJF no-gi world champions Raquel Canuto and Gabi McComb will conflict in a matchup between two of grappling’s grittiest athletes. Followers can look ahead to no scarcity of scrappy exchanges on the toes, as each girls are proficient takedown artists. The tempo shouldn’t decelerate in any respect as soon as the match hits the canvas, with Canuto proudly owning a relentless stress passing sport whereas McComb is an explosive submission hunter from all positions.
And in 155-pound motion, embellished veterans Gabriel Sousa and Josh Cisneros will sq. off. A 2022 ADCC silver medalist, Sousa is a tireless guard passer who has spent the previous six years competing on the highest ranges of gi and no-gi BJJ. Cisneros, in the meantime, does glorious work together with his trademark “black gap” collection of assaults, which has confirmed to be a troublesome puzzle to resolve. This showdown might be a rematch of the pair’s 2021 gi conflict that Sousa received on factors.
View the total lineup of matches under. Word: this isn’t the official order of bouts.
UFC Combat Cross Invitational 8 lineup
- Nick Rodriguez vs. Michael Pixley
- Renato Canuto vs. PJ Barch
- Isaque Bahiense vs. Ronaldo Junior
- Raquel Canuto vs. Gabi McComb
- Andy Varela vs. Dante Leon
- Gabriel Sousa vs. Josh Cisneros
- Pedro Falcao vs. Cristian Guzman
- Johan Oosthuysen vs. Gabriel Almeida
Learn how to watch: The UFC Combat Cross Invitational 8 takes place on Thursday, October 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and can air stay on UFC Fight Pass (subscription required) starting at 8:00 PM EST.
