FLA Kumite 6 Event Recap

Main event match vs. Robert Santos

Last Friday night, April 13th 2024, I competed in the 10 minute main event match of Fight League Atlantic Kumite 6.

Event: FLA Kumite 6

Location: East Hants Sportsplex. Lantz, Nova Scotia

Date: April 12 2024

What is FLA Kumite?

It’s a showcase event for BJJ talent across Canada. FLA’s main business is promoting mixed martial arts fights but they also host BJJ events. They have top local grappling talent from the Maritimes and also invite high level people from across Canada. This event we had some people from Calgary and from Ontario.

This event consisted of a men’s bracket with 16 competitors (open weight limit of 220 pounds, open experience), a women’s bracket (open weight) with 8 competitors, and a few matches outside the bracket for extra entertainment.

What’s unique about the FLA Kumite is that it’s one match at a time. Unlike most BJJ tournaments where several matches happen at once on different mats. The Kumite style is all eyes are on you. Your friends can watch at home on pay-per-view. Professional cameras and production equipment are all around you to see you succeed or fail. It’s a vulnerable feeling.

They asked everyone for a walkout song. I put the question on my instagram “what should be my walkout song?”. Many songs were suggested. From rock and roll classics like AC/DC to rap and hip hop like OJ Da Juiceman. One of my students suggested “Strangle Hold” by Ted Nugent. We play a lot of classic rock so it just felt like the right choice.

I thought the walkouts were cool. It gave each competitor some personality. Some of Presley BJJ team’s favourites were Dan Kovalchuk, who came out to what we thought was a Russian version of “It’s My Life” by Bob Jovi. Also whoever came out to “Shout At The Devil” by Motley Crue - was badass.

I was scheduled for a 10 minute match with 2 minute OT if needed. OT would be sudden death first points wins. My opponent was Robert Santos (Santos Brothers Academy). His gym is just outside of Toronto. Robert is a BJJ and MMA coach.

It was a tough match. Getting used to the longer time length rounds is a tough challenge. I lost the match by a takedown in sudden death overtime.

My strategy was to win by submission. I thought I could win by choke from the back or maybe a leg lock. I was able to secure my opponents back but I could not get the submission.

He was very tough. I found it hard to fire off a lot of different attacks because his defense was very good. Honestly, I didn’t want to spend a lot of time wrestling during the regulation time of 10 minutes. I know my strength is on the ground so I wanted to get it there as quick as possible.

I wasn’t able to watch a copy of the match so my memory of it is a little fuzzy. But I remember getting the match to the ground, a few scrambles and eventually I was able to get back control right against the cage. It reminded me of my training days with Gavin Tucker (UFC), anytime I got his back he would stand up and walk over to the cage and use it like a cheese grater to get me off! Luckily I was ready this time. I used a body triangle to lock the position tight and to be honest I was squeezing it pretty hard.

I don’t have a cage at my gym, but I would recommend using padded walls to get more ready for matches inside the cage. It is an added element that you don’t have to worry about in a BJJ tournament.

The rules of the Kumite were actually pretty similar to an MMA fight. A few times I was told to stand back up even though I was chasing after my opponent. The referee stood us up and I had to wrestle him again. After a few of those exchanges I tried to save a little gas for the overtime when the points were actually counted. The last few minutes I tried to bait him to take me down, just so I could try and counter. But he did not take the bait and we went to the overtime round.

Robert Santos played the overtime strategy perfectly. He shot a double leg takedown immediately at the start, putting me into the cage. I struggled to stand back up but that was it, he got me down to the ground for 2 points. The rules of OT were sudden death, so first score wins. I thought I maybe could have scored back if I had more time, but that’s the rules. Congrats to Robert Santos on a hard fought victory.

Leading up to the event

I increased my workload in a few different ways. Beginning at the start of March I woke up 6 days a week at 4:30am and did a skipping workout (10-30 mins). I hate cardio, but I thought this would be a quick and efficient way to boost my endurance. Getting used to that tired feeling can help when you feel that same way in a match. I also did a lot of 10 minute rounds with my students. A few weeks out I started doing 10 minute rounds with a fresh partner every two minutes. I tried mimicking the match conditions and situations I thought would happen as much as possible in training.

Men’s Bracket

I was in the same dressing room as all the folks who were in from out of town which was actually pretty cool. I got to meet the tallest active BJJ competitor in North America, 6 foot 9 inches tall - Wyatt Potter. He’s a blue belt but man, his game was deadly. I would not want to exchange leg locks with someone that much taller than myself.

AJ Markat from Calgary was also a really nice guy and super fun to watch. During his matches, he was constantly going for submission and taking a lot of risk. It was cool that he came down with his brother Alex Markat, who lost a close title fight on the MMA show the next night.

Ken Beaton won the Kumite 6 bracket and finally won the belt after many attempts where he came very close but did not win. His leg lock game earned him the belt and was a step ahead of everyone else in the bracket. I’m sure many people watching thought they should be training more leg locks and leg defence.

Female bracket - Sarah Wilson (Sprawl or Brawl) makes it 4 in a row!

The 8 women really brought the fire and laid it all on the line to become champion. For Sarah to win 4 brackets in a row is truly impressive. So many things can happen in a tournament bracket. Upsets, injuries, dropouts, so much more. Sarah has been able to grind through every time and walk away the champion. Also, shout out to Jen Jennings (Sprawl or Brawl) who went to the finals in her first Kumite event! She beat two very talented grapplers.

I coached Tori Smith (MXT Saint John) for her opening match vs. Sam Benham (Renzo Gracie PEI). Tori didn't have a coach with her at the event. She drove down with her dad from Saint John, New Brunswick. At least a 4 hour long drive. She asked if I would coach her and of course I said, yes.

Tori fought great, but got locked in a full rear-naked choke with 30 seconds left in regulation. She gutted it out and survived until the overtime.

It was a choke many of us would have tapped out to. It was awesome and inspiring to watch. She’s only 20 years old and if she keeps training hard and competing like she is she will win many championships.

Closing thoughts

Overall it was a great night. This event was only 20 minutes from my house. A lot of my team and family were in the crowd. I wish I could have won but I was proud of my preparation for this one and fought as well as I could have in regulation time.

The only negative of the event was the drumming they played during the entire show. Personally, I would rather hear the noise of the competitors, coaches, and crowd. The drums drown out all out sound. I did learn later that this is something FLA does for every BJJ event. I personally, would not.

Thanks to everyone who was a part of Kumite 6. It’s one I won’t ever forget!

Please follow the writer Josh Presley on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok & Facebook @PresleyBJJ for daily BJJ content, and tune into The Great Canadian BJJ Show Podcast on Spotify or the podcast app. www.presleybjj.com