The long awaited arrival of an MMA event by Relson Gracie makes it way to his home in Hawaii! The Gracie Proving Grounds is a feeder show for up and coming MMA talent to prove their worth for a shot at possibly being on the Gracie Fighting Championships seen on pay-per-view across the country. Relson has constructed his team of international, mainland, and local Hawaii fighters to take on fighters from Hawaii and Team Quest.
Headlining the show is none other than Relson's son, Rhalan Gracie, who will make his return to the MMA scene after an epic debut fight against Dustin Hazlett. Rhalan showed huge heart and incredible technique in his first fight against a much more experienced Hazlett. Rhalan faces one of Hawaii's rising stars in Keone Bryant of Jus Rush. Bryant has been on a tear as of late finishing another MMA stud who is also on this card Koa Ramos of the Eastsidaz. Don't miss this opportunity to see a Gracie in action!
Update 09.26.07: Keone Bryant had to pull out of the main event against Rhalan Gracie due to a broken knuckle. None other than the Eastsidaz rising star, Koa Ramos, has stepped up to take on Rhalan Gracie in the Main Event! Koa brings a dangerous striking game against Rhalan's unstoppable ground technique. You do not want to miss this epic match up of the next generation of MMA stars.
Also on this card, Hawaii's own knock out artist Kaleo Kwan from the Eastsidaz and O2 Martial Arts Academy will face hard hitting Duke Saragosa of the 808 Fight Factory.
Three Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts have been brought in by Relson to face Hawaii's own Kimo Wolfel from the Eastsidaz, "Sugar" Shane Nelson of Nova Uniao, and Brandon Wolff from Team MMAD. The rest of the card features Relson Gracie trained MMA fighters against a mix of Hawaii's up and coming talent.
Even Jason "Mayhem" Miller will bring two Team Quest fighters to compete in this event. Will Rhalan be the Gracie that brings the Gracie name back to prominence in MMA?
The Gracie’s finally held a show in Hawaii, Call it what you want, but it is what it is. Criticism came in all forms and from all angles. Some fans mentioned the rules changing at the weigh in’s, one judge being questioned by the promoter, last minute substitutions etc…. In the end it could all be about Karma.
The action started with the pro debut of Kaika Sasaoka, Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu, against Jodi Messiona, 808 Fight Factory. Sasaoka started early with the leg kicks while Messiona waved them off as nothing. After trading shots Sasaoka got a take down and went for the rear naked choke, Messiona defended and Sasaoka had a beautiful transition to an armbar. Sasaoka got the submission win at 3:48 of round 1.
The second fight pitted Dean Lista, HMC against Daniel Devers, 808 Fight Factory. Devers showed an excellent display of striking in his controversial loss to Lista. His quick combos peppered the face of Lista almost at will. List the warrior withstood and eventually took Devers down where he sunk in a deep rear naked choke. Devers was definitely in trouble but never out of the game, yet the ref saw it different and called a stop to the action 6:49 of round 1.
Brian Harper, Team Quest took home an early submission win over James Stanford, Team Big Dogs. Harper came out with a quick takedown and some ground and pound. Eventually getting the mount and sinking in a guillotine choke at 1:56 of round 1.
Newcomer Van Oscar Penovaroff, Westbrook Boxing, made his pro debut against veteran Gerald Arevalo, 808 Fight Factory. Arevalo known for his aggressive style took Penovaroff down multiple times but could not keep him down.The fight moved at a very quick pace and eventually Penovaroff found room and sunk in a guillotine choke forcing Arevalo to tap at 3:11 of round 1.
Next up was Kana Hyatt, Lava MMA who came to watch the show but decided to step up and fight on 30 minutes notice. Giving up almost 20lbs he went to battle with well known striker Duke Saragosa, 808 Fight Factory. Hyatt tried to go for a takedown but couldn’t get Saragosa down, instead the two separated and Hyatt was able to connect. Saragosa went down and Hyatt jumped on him till the ref called a stop to it at 1:17 in round 1.
In a heavier weight division David Chew, Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu, took on Kevin Grace, HMC. Both fighters were very cautious of each other, but eventually Chew got a takedown and worked for the mount. Grace kept his head in close to avoid the onslaught of punches but Chew was able to transition to a rear naked choke and end the night for Grace at 5:55 in round 1.
Kauai native Pono Pananganan, Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu, took on France native Ferrid Kheder, Team Quest. Pananganan the definite crowd favorite started out countering before being taken to the ground. After a huge lack of action Pananganan able to walk away the victor with the split decision win against Kheder’s “lay and prey” game.
In a highly anticipated match-up Michael Brightmon, Gorilla House, took on veteran Ron Verdadero, Jesus Is Lord. Anticipated not because it was a main event, I guess more so because of what Bightmon has achieved in such a small amount of time. Brightmon 10-1 in the last five months went to battle with the tough Verdadero, which was not an easy task. Brightmon controlled the ground game but then decided to stand and bang with Verdadero which almost proved to be a huge mistake. Brightmon got caught a few times by Verdadero but ended up surviving and taking home the unanimous decision win.
The next bout featured Hawaii kickboxer Billy Hall, HMC, against a more experienced Fabio Prado, Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu. On paper this fight looked like a mismatch, Hall with a record of 0-1 against Prado’s 10-1 record. Hall landed numerous leg kicks which seemed to bother Prado. The veteran fighter opted to take the fight to the ground where Hall kept his head in close to Prado to avoid any real damage. Hall able to upset the “Gracie team” with the split decision win.
Heavy handed Kimo Woelfel, Eastsidaz took on late replacement Chris Henriques, Nova Uniao in a fast yet action filled bout. This bout had the crowd going back and forth from beginning to end. Henriques losing the standup game decided to take it to the mat, but then had trouble locking an armbar on the stronger Woelfel. Woelfel managed to hammer fist Henriques in the face to loosen up the armbar but could not get his arm out and Henriques was finally able to submit him at 2:16 of round 1.
Stepping up in weight David Padilla, Jesus Is Lord, took on the very quiet Jeremiah O’Neal, Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu.. Padilla worked to keep O’Neal at a distance but O’Neal managed to get the single leg. O’Neal had a hard time getting Padilla down and eventually Padilla reversed O’Neal and made it back to his feet. There he defended the guillotine by landing knees and body shots but Padilla’s heart was just not enough against the much stronger O’Neal. At 6:15 in round 1 O’Neal was finally able to sink a guillotine choke.
The always exciting Bryson Kamaka, 808 Fight Factory made quick work of Israel Gomes, Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu, finishing him in 13 seconds in round 1.
The highly anticipated rematch of two of Hawaii’s top 155lb fighters Harris Sarmiento, 808 Fight Factory, and Shane Nelson, Nova Uniao turned out to be highly controversial. Sarmiento had a very sharp performance with great sprawls as well as his usual great stand up game. He outworked Nelson standing and even from his back with Nelson in his guard but when the decision came to, a very gassed Nelson walked away the winner.
The main event saw what outsiders would probably consider a huge upset, but fans here in Hawaii knew it would happen. Koa Ramos, Eastsidaz knocked out Rhalan Gracie, Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu at 2:44 of round 1. With constant movement Gracie never had a clean shot for a takedown, so instead he stood with Ramos. Ramos utilized leg kicks and his jab effectively which made an opening for a huge left that left the younger Gracie out cold on his back.
