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“Your best source for the top brands in MMA/Grappling” in Ontario and CanadaCanadian Corner:2007 ONTARIO GRAPPLING GRAND PRIX – FINAL RESULTS
Congratulations to all competitors that took part in this year’s Grand Prix qualifiers and final event. The finals were held on Saturday, June 23rd, 2007, at Martingrove Collegiate in Etobicoke, Ontario CANADA. Most divisions fielded the maximum of four finalists; they competed in both gi and no-gi events to determine the overall divisional champion for 2007. Here is a list of the final results by division (competitors are listed in order from first to fourth):
NOTE: These results reflect the final outcome of the Grand Prix Final event, rather than the individual scores achieved by competitors through each of the three qualifiers. Wherever one or more of the finalists were unable to compete, the competitor with the next highest amount of points accumulated was invited to fight in his/her place.
ADVANCED WELTERWEIGHT (-155):
Richard Nancoo, Franco Behring (CHAMPION)
Patricio Canales, BTT Gamma
Fadi Nader, Kombat Arts
Jack Szatzko, Joslins MMA
ADVANCED MIDDLEWEIGHT (-170):
Matt Page, Therien Jiu-Jitsu (CHAMPION)
Victor Kufat, Salvosa BJJ Ascension
Michael Duillips, Kombat Arts
Fernando Zulick, Franco Behring
ADVANCED LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (-185):
Andrew McInnis, Kombat Arts (CHAMPION)
Dane Graham, Kombat Arts
ADVANCED CRUISERWEIGHT (-205):
Bob Geilen, London BJJ (Champion)
ADVANCED HEAVYWEIGHT combined (205+)
Daniel Tsatsos, Kombat Arts (CHAMPION)
Paul Stark, Kumo Jiu-Jitsu
Sam Osman, Schilling BJJ
Rob McArthur, Martial Arts Planet
INTERMEDIATE LIGHTWEIGHT (-140):
Ahmad Wali Kakar, Salvosa BJJ Ascension (CHAMPION)
INTERMEDIATE WELTERWEIGHT (-155):
Steve Westner, Salvosa BJJ Ascension (CHAMPION)
Seiji Sugiman-Marangos, Franco Behring
Kieron Goguen, Franco Behring
Ostap Manastyrski, White Tiger BJJ
INTERMEDIATE MIDDLEWEIGHT (-170):
John Colley, Salvosa BJJ Ascension (CHAMPION)
Yi-Man Cheng, Toronto BJJ
Brian McIntyre, Franco Behring
Jason Saggo, Bravado Jiu-Jitsu
INTERMEDIATE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (-185):
Anthony Romita, Bravado Jiu-Jitsu (CHAMPION)
Julian Ganton, White Tiger BJJ
INTERMEDIATE CRUISERWEIGHT (-205):
Bryan Fedynyszyn, Salvosa BJJ Ascension (CHAMPION)
Luke Hatfield, Warrior MMA
INTERMEDIATE HEAVYWEIGHT (-225):
Sam Osman, Schilling BJJ (CHAMPION)
BEGINNER LIGHTWEIGHT (-140):
Minh Phung, Dragan Alliance (CHAMPION)
Brandon Moy, Salvosa BJJ Ascension
Frankie Talens, Salvosa BJJ Ascension
Eric Torres, White Tiger BJJ
BEGINNER WELTERWEIGHT (-155):
Maithem Mahdi, Kombat Fitness (CHAMPION)
Michael Kurkula, Kombat Arts
Patrick Brophy, Salvosa BJJ Ascension
Mike Diggins, Dragan Alliance
BEGINNER MIDDLEWEIGHT (-170):
Jonathan Pridham, Toronto BJJ (CHAMPION)
Edwin Castro, WNY MMA
Steve Corkey, Toronto BJJ
Emilio Ramirez, Lin MA
BEGINNER LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (-185):
Rui Silva, Toronto BJJ (CHAMPION)
Brendan Sacco, Dragan Alliance
BEGINNER CRUISERWEIGHT (-205):
Karl Borgmann, Dragan Alliance (CHAMPION)
Derrick Edminston, Dragons Den
David Beach, Dragan Alliance
Jorge Robles, Toronto BJJ
BEGINNER HEAVYWEIGHT (-225):
Phil Grosbeck, Salvosa BJJ Ascension (CHAMPION)
Alan Ismail, Barrie Jiu-Jitsu
Kyle McMeekin, Kumo Jiu-Jitsu
BEGINNER SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT (225+):
Steve Vrbancic, White Tiger BJJ (CHAMPION)
Angelo Harrison, Toronto BJJ
JUNIORS BEGINNER LIGHTWEIGHT (-155):
Jonny Quan, Salvosa BJJ Ascension (CHAMPION)
Ryan Jamieson, Kretan Denamo
Maclean Shea, Therien Jiu-Jitsu
Nick Kroetch, Northern Black Dragon
JUNIORS BEGINNER MIDDLEWEIGHT (-185):
Matt Vanderploeg, Dragons Den (CHAMPION)
Michael Zaniewski, Toronto BJJ
Jesse Kirkeby, San Do Jutsu
JUNIORS BEGINNER HEAVYWEIGHT (185+):
Mike Coleman, San Do Jutsu (CHAMPION)
Steve Kakamousua, Kumo Jiu-Jitsu
JUNIORS WOMENS BEGINNER LIGHTWEIGHT (-125):
Rachel Emonts, San Do Jutsu (CHAMPION)
Melissa Smigelski, San Do Jutsu
JUNIORS WOMENS BEGINNER WELTERWEIGHT (-145):
Shawna Smigelski, San Do Jutsu (CHAMPION)
WOMENS BEGINNER LIGHTWEIGHT (-125):
Susie Yakabuskie, Dragan Alliance (CHAMPION)
Nicole Simmert, Salvosa BJJ Ascension
WOMENS BEGINNER WELTERWEIGHT (-145):
Neetu Bambrah, Lin MA (CHAMPION)
Paulina Barahina, Bravado Jiu-Jitsu
WOMENS BEGINNER MIDDLEWEIGHT (145+):
Shawna Page, Therien Jiu-Jitsu (CHAMPION)
Sincere thanks goes out to everyone for their support of this year’s Ontario Grappling Grand Prix. From a participatory perspective, the number of competitors and schools involved in the Grand Prix has increased this year with competitors that came from schools throughout Ontario and the GTA, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ottawa, Kingston, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie and Western New York.
The collective skill level of competitors has increased tremendously–a testament to the improved quality of our clubs and coaching, not to mention that competitors demonstrated great sportsmanship and respect for each other throughout the events.
As we continue to build towards this higher level of professionalism, the quality of the BJJ/Submission Wrestling/Grappling scene here in Ontario will be difficult to overlook from anywhere in the world. Some of the most promising MMA athletes already on the scene and some yet to arrive are coming from OUR grappling community. In the end, it’s not a thankless task when we work together to both run and support our local events. It’s worthwhile to bolster the level of competition in our schools and to give our students every opportunity to compete in a safe and professional yet competitive environment–tournament organizers, referees and event staff that stepped up deserve credit for their time, effort and sacrifice.
The behind-the-scenes work for any of these events is probably the part that goes most unnoticed. Believe me, without certain people offering genuine help, the job just can’t get done. Those of you that volunteered to help with set-up, scorekeeping, registration and referees (coaches that took time away so that everyone could benefit)…. thank you so much for your teamwork! Tony Isaacs deserves special recognition because he always contributes in one way or another to help these events get going. I can honestly say that with the birth of my son last month and the day-to-day running my club, I couldn’t have done this final event without his help. A sincere thanks to you Tony for all your help with the Grand Prix.
We might take it for granted, but we are lucky to have our local vendors like Fight Planet, CanFight and Pound for Pound just to name a few–if these guys weren’t around at our events to help as sponsors and to provide the service they do, we might not look as cool as we do when we step onto the mats wearing their gear. Special thanks to Riccardo Ammendolia for his contributions to our community.
To summarize this year’s Grand Prix, its reason and purpose was to provide our competitors with opportunities to consistently test their skills–three events and a final. Everyone that contributed in their own way–and you know who you are–has helped our community to improve and evolve this year. As we continue to support each other and to improve upon the areas that need our atttention, all while maintaining a spirit of professionalism and respect for each other, how can we deny that we are making progress?
Congratulations most of all to our competitors that fought this year; their names don’t have to be listed as a winner for them to know that they deserve the most respect for putting it on the line. You guys have been very gracious, patient and understanding–without compromising your warrior spirit. Please continue to shake hands after the match, not slam each other too hard and protect your oppenents even while you’re tapping them. Thank you for fiercely competitve sportsmanship!
Have a great summer EVERYONE and thank you for supporting the 2007 Ontario Grappling Grand Prix!!!
Omar Salvosa