Mark Jacobs 
The UFC’s foray into the competitive grappling world was back Thursday with the UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4 from Las Vegas. The main event saw grappling veteran Craig Jones take an overtime decision against former ADCC and world no-gi jiu-jitsu champion Felipe Pena.
Jones won in overtime under the EBI rule set where, if no one is submitted in regulation, each competitor gets to start in their choice of either a rear choke or armbar position. From there, they look to see who can submit the other person quickest or escape the quickest. Jones claimed the main event on a faster escape time.
In the finals of the eight-man absolute tournament, Nick Rodriguez defeated Dan Manasoiu in overtime. While Rodriguez submitted Manasoiu with a rear choke, it looked like Manasoiu would also get a submission of his own with a very tight armbar. But despite seeming on the verge of tapping, Rodriguez was somehow able to pull free at the last moment for the escape. Following the tournament, Rodriguez called out his former teammate turned rival, ADCC king Gordon Ryan, accusing Ryan of steroid use and asking for a match featuring drug testing of both athletes.
Ufc, Mma, Mma news, Mixed martial arts
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