Ultimate Submission Showdown
From OTMWiki
Torrance, Ca.– The posh James Armstrong Theater was the site of a historical event on the night of October 11,2003. "The Ultimate Submission Showdown™” took place in front of a sold out house. The event was the brainchild of Rorion Gracie, the man who revolutionized Martial Arts when he created the "Ultimate Fighting Championship" ten years ago.
This time however, concerned with the violent aspects of his former creation and wanting to attract a more sophisticated audience, Rorion devised an intelligent and classy version of combat as the new event. "The Ultimate Submission Showdown™” gathered champion grapplers like Marcio Corletta from Brazil, Keigo Kunihara from Japan, Peter Angerer from Germany, Ryron Gracie and Rener Gracie from the world famous Gracie Family, Travis Lutter, David Avellan and Lance Campbell from the US, all competing to demonstrate their technical prowess without the violent strikes that are now the staple of the UFC. With plans to show the event on network TV, Gracie who is no longer involved with the UFC, stated: “I was concerned with the direction that the UFC took, the event became too violent and less technical. I wanted to expand the concept and reach a broader audience and bring the pure essence of Martial Arts back to the viewing public. We took away the strikes and the violence and let the competitors show their best technical skills.”
The highly entertaining event had the audience on the edge of their seats for 3 hours. The show was sponsored by VARIG Brazilian Airlines, BANKCARD USA and WORLDSIZE. At ring side were Hollywood celebrities like Ed O’Neill (Married with Children), Michael Clarke Duncan (Green Mile, Armageddon), Michael Dudikoff(American Ninja) as well as the members of the Rap Group "Dilated Peoples" who are all students at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance. A very special moment was the tribute to a living legend, Grand Master Helio Gracie, 91 the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, who received a standing ovation from the audience and competitors alike.
Although all the matches were exiting the most impressive one was the one between Ryron Gracie (199lbs) and Jeff Monson (235lbs). Gracie won after hour and ten minutes. At the end of the event Travis Lutter from Texas, carried home the $5,000.00 check and the promise to return to defend his title in the second edition of the event. Professor Helio Gracie summed up the event perfectly: “I am proud to see that everyone now practices the martial art that I created. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is no longer a family secret but a gift from the Gracies to the World.”
Main Bracket: Rener Gracie vs David Avellan [Avellan by pts 12 x 7] Keigo Kunihara vs Peter Angerer [Angerer by Heel Hook] Ryron Gracie vs Jeff Monson [Ryron by pts 12 x 11 after 68 minutes!] Lance Campbell vs Travis Lutter [Lutter by sub Americana]
Alternate Bracket - 3-man Round Robin: Marcio Corleta vs David Hagon James Nilsen vs David Hagon Marcio Corleta vs James Nilsen
[Quick results: Corleta and Nilsen submit Hagon. Corleta knee-bars Nilsen. Corleta wins the alternate bracket and automatically qualifies for the main bracket of the next Ultimate Submission Showdown]
Main Bracket Finals: Avellan vs Angerer [Avellan by kimura] Ryron vs Lutter [Lutter by pts 12 x 1] Lutter vs Avellan [Lutter by pts 13 x 1]
