Europe’s premiere submission only event, Polaris 3 Jiu-Jitsu Invitational is set to take place in Poole, England on April 2 and will be available on pay-per-view.
Live tickets are on sale here:
http://goo.gl/OizbPe
The first match up to be announced was between One FC Champion Ben Askren and World No Gi Champion AJ Agazarm, but early this week Agazarm stated that Askren had to pull out.
The Underground‘s Jonathan Shrager talked with Polaris Co-Owners Ben Tong and Matt Benyon regarding their forthcoming event on April 2nd headlined by Rousimar Palhares vs Garry Tonon.
Benyon confirmed that Jake Shields would replace Askren and would face Agazarm. They also discussed the ethics behind booking serial offender Toquinho, provisions to ensure all runs without incident, finding an opponent for Eddie Bravo black belt Geo Martinez, whether a prospective bout with Jake Shields at Polaris 4 is realistic, and much more.
AJ Agazarm is one of the best American BJJ black belts on the competition circuit. A former D1 wrestler at Ohio State University, Agazarm switched to BJJ and started winning everything. His most notable title is that of World No Gi champion at black belt in 2014. He has participated in the first 2 editions of Polaris.
Shields as a BJJ black belt but is also a high level Wretsler although not at the level of Askren. Shields began amateur wrestling at age nine. He has competed in over 601 folk, freestyle, and submission wrestling matches. Shields was a four-year varsity wrestler and state qualifier at Calaveras High School, finished 2nd place at the Amateur Athletic Union National Freestyle Championships, qualified for U.S.A./ FILA Nationals & World Team Trials in both the junior & university men’s divisions. He is also a two time All American wrestler from Cuesta College, placing 4th in the state tournament in the 177 lb weight class in 1997 and 3rd in the 197 lb weight class a year later.
Check out the awesome roll between Jake Shields and Ben Askren that happened a few years back:
Other confirmed fight for Polaris 3, so far:
-Gianni Grippo vs Bruno Frazatto
The next generation of American black belt vs one of the most consistent and decorated Brazilian competitors of the last decade.
-Joao Miyao vs Yuki Sasa, considered the top Japanese black belt, himself a world champion at brown belt.
Live tickets on sale here.
http://goo.gl/OizbPe
This event will be streamed live via PPV.
