On Saturday, August 7, Polaris held its third Squads event, this time featuring Team USA vs. Team UK/Ireland in no-gi action. The matches were fast-paced, much to the delight of the live Southampton crowd. Although there were a number of close and competitive matches, Team USA pitched a shut-out, topping Team UK/Ireland by a final score of 7-0. And in superfight action, 10th Planet heavyweight standout Kyle Boehm quickly dispatched Nastasa Silviu Georgian by heel hook.
Team USA and Team UK/Ireland went head to head all the way through the team order once before a single submission was scored. In the ninth match, though, Team USA’s Nathan Orchard used an arm drag to take the back of Team UK/Ireland’s Kieran Davern. Orchard transitioned to a body triangle; as Davern attempted to escape Orchard wrapped up a twister/neck crank, breaking the 0-0 tie and earning the first points for Team USA. The score remained 3-0 for the rest of the first half.
In the second half, the action picked up with wildly entertaining matches as Team UK/Ireland played a gradually more aggressive game in an effort cut Team USA’s lead. With time dwindling and his team in need of points, Squads veteran Bradley Hill came out full of aggression against Team USA’s Roberto Jimenez. Hill briefly took Jimenez’s back, but Jimenez was able to escape before taking HIll’s back and sinking in a rear-naked choke. It was a trademark Jimenez performance and one of the funnest, yet shortest matches of the event. Because Hill and Jimenez were in the same weight class, the win was good for one point.
Following Jimenez’s submission, Geo Martinez put another three points on the board when his opponent, Dan Strauss, suffered an injury to his chest and was forced to tap.
View the full Polaris Squads: Team USA vs. Team UK/Ireland results and highlights:
1st Half:
Dan Strauss (UK/Ireland) vs. Jon Blank (USA) – Draw
Kieran Davern (UK/Ireland) vs. Adam Benayoun (USA) – Draw
Jed Hue (UK/Ireland) vs. Roberto Jimenez (USA) – Draw
Ross Nichols (UK/Ireland) vs. Nick Ronan (USA) – Draw
Ben Dyson (UK/Ireland) vs. Richie Martinez (USA) – Draw
Darragh O’Conaill (UK/Ireland) vs. Nathan Orchard (USA) – Draw
Bradley Hill (UK/Ireland) vs. Geo Martinez (USA) – Draw
Ellis Younger (UK/Ireland) vs. Hunter Colvin (USA) – Draw
Nathan Orchard (USA) def. Kieran Davern (UK/Ireland) via twister/neck crank for three points
Ben Dyson (UK/Ireland) vs. Roberto Jimenez (USA) – Draw
Dan Strauss (UK/Ireland) vs. Jon Blank (USA) – Draw
Jed Hue (UK/Ireland) vs. Hunter Colvin (USA) – Draw
Bradley Hill (UK/Ireland) vs. Geo Martinez (USA) – Draw
Team USA led 3-0 after the first half.
Superfight for the Polaris heavyweight title:
Kyle Boehm def. Nastasa Silviu Georgian via submission (heel hook)
2nd Half:
Ross Nicholls (UK/Ireland) vs. Nathan Orchard (USA) – Draw
Ellis Younger (UK/IRE) vs. Nick Ronan (USA) – Draw
Bradley Hill (UK/IRE) vs. Adam Benayoun (USA) – Draw
Dan Strauss (UK/IRE) vs. Richie Martinez (USA) – Draw
Darragh O’Conaill (UK/IRE) vs. Geo Martinez (USA) – Draw
Jed Hue (UK/IRE) vs. Hunter Colvin (USA) – Draw
Kieran Davern (UK/IRE) vs. Roberto Jimenez (USA) – Draw
Ben Dyson (UK/IRE) vs. Jon Blank (USA) – Draw
Ross Nicholls (UK/IRE) vs. Nick Ronan (USA) – Draw
Roberto Jimenez (USA) def. Bradley Hill (UK/Ireland) via rear-naked choke for one point
Ellis Younger (UK/Ireland) vs. Roberto Jimenez – Draw
Geo Martinez (USA) def. Dan Strauss via injury for three points
Jed Hue (UK/Ireland) vs. Adam Benayoun (USA) – Draw
Ben Dyson (UK/Ireland) vs. Richie Martinez (USA) – Draw
Team USA def. Team UK/Ireland 7-0
