Polaris 27 will characteristic an eight-man welterweight grand prix and a rematch between Ffion Davies and Brianna Ste-Marie.
On Saturday, March 23, Polaris will return to motion with a talent-laden card that includes an eight-man welterweight grand prix and a pair of world-class title matches.
Ffion Davies vs. Brianna Ste-Marie
Polaris 27 goes down in Wales and can see the return of the UK’s best-ever grappler, as Ffion Davies will battle for the Polaris title in opposition to former foe Brianna Ste-Marie. The pair first clashed within the last of the 60kg division on the 2022 ADCC World Championships, with Davies scoring a hard-fought factors victory.
Since then, Davies has solely additional solidified her standing as the highest pound-for-pound feminine competitor. In 2023, she earned gold on the IBJJF Worlds and double gold on the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. These performances, along with a dominant victory over perennial robust out Jasmine Rocha, earned Davies Grappling Insider’s Female Grappler of the Year honors.
For her half, Ste-Marie has remained lively since her loss to Davies on the ADCC World Championships, incomes gold on the 2022 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds and selecting up a powerful victory over Mayssa Bastos at Who’s Quantity One (WNO).
Like their first encounter, followers can count on a gritty, carefully contested affair within the rematch. Davies is a buzzsaw of aggression and maybe the game’s most gifted guard passer and high participant. Ste-Marie, in the meantime, is a wonderful half-guard and closed-guard participant who possesses the power and physicality to match Davies in high-paced scrambles.
Welterweight Grand Prix at Polaris 27
The cardboard may even host an eight-man welterweight grand prix. Take a look at the complete line-up beneath:
- Davis Asare
- Espen Mathiesen
- Jozef Chen
- Levi Jones-Leary
- Max Hanson
- PJ Barch
- Luiz Paulo
- Harrison Woods
A number of names stand out as potential early favorites. An ADCC European Trials champion, Jozef Chen is taken into account to be one of the promising younger athletes in no-gi grappling immediately. He’s a grasp technician with expertise in all areas, from leg locks to protect play to protect passing.
One other identify to observe will probably be tenth Planet veteran PJ Barch, who has been a mainstay on the elite scene for years. He’s a top-flight wrestler with excellent back-taking expertise and a deep gasoline tank – all expertise that may assist him over the course of three potential bouts.
Moreover, gi specialists Espen Mathiesen and Levi Jones-Leary, with their world-class berimbolo and back-taking video games, might play the a part of spoilers. Followers also needs to control current ADCC Trials winner Luiz Paulo and rising star Max Hanson, each of whom may very well be darkish horses to take out the sphere’s extra acknowledged names.
Keith Krikorian vs. Cammy Donnelly
Earlier than the primary card begins, multiple-time ADCC veteran Keith Krikorian will tackle B-Crew standout Cammy Donnelly for the Polaris 66kg belt.
A black belt underneath Richie “Boogeyman” Martinez, Krikorian is among the most lively rivals on the elite no-gi scene immediately. A talented leg locker with underrated wrestling and guard passing, Krikorian will come into the competition following a powerful win over Dominic Mejia at Grapplefest.
His opponent, Donnelly, is an ADCC Trials silver medalist and will probably be in search of the largest win of his profession. Search for him to make use of an aggressive leg lock recreation as he tries to take out Krikorian.
The way to watch: Polaris 27 takes place on Saturday, March 23, and can air stay on UFC Fight Pass (subscription required) starting at 3:00 PM EST.