On Saturday, October 23, Evolve Ur Game (EUG) promotions will return for its third event. Like the promotion’s first two events, EUG 3 will feature an eight-man $10,000 grand prix. But unlike the first two EUG tournaments, this one will be no-gi and with a modified ruleset. EUG has released the full bracket, which includes elite competitors such as Gianni Grippo, Gabriel Sousa, and Diego “Pato” Oliveira.
The modified EUG rules should eliminate guard pulling in the early going of each match. Each match will be 10-minutes long, but guard pulling is prohibited for the first three minutes. In the event one grappler pulls guard in the first three minutes, that grappler will be given a penalty, his opponent awarded two points, and the match will re-start on the feet. Matches will be conducted under normal IBJJF rules for the remaining seven minutes.
Fresh off a gold medal performance at the IBJJF no-gi Worlds, veteran black belt Gianni Grippo will look to continue his recent no-gi success. In addition to winning his second no-gi world championship, Grippo also won gold at this year’s no-gi Pans, and won the Emerald City Invitational — a tournament win that included victories over fellow EUG competitor Damien Anderson, as well as ADCC silver medalist Kennedy Maciel.
On the other side of the bracket is ZR Team’s Gabriel Sousa, a man that holds a trio of victories over Grippo. An ultra-aggressive guard passer, Sousa is coming off a strong, second-place showing at the Who’s Number One Championships. That run included a submission win over four-time world champion Mikey Musumeci.
Another name to watch is Diego “Pato” Oliveira. Oliveira earned a razor-close victory over Sousa at the 2021 no-gi Worlds to win his first IBJJF world championship as a black belt. Oliveira had a strong showing at the Who’s Number One Championships, defeating Damien Anderson and Josh Cisneros to secure third place.
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