If you like leglocks, this is grappling match that will get you excited!
The hottest grappler of this past year, Craig Jones will face the dangerous and unpredictable Rousimar Palhares at KASAI Pro 3 scheduled for Saturday, August 18.
Craig Jones is probably the biggest name in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu right now. Whether or not he is the best is irrelevant, Craig is the newest name on the scene and has taken the BJJ community by storm. Craig came into the ADCC in 2017 in Finland and virtually nobody had heard of him. Craig had what many consider one of the best performances of the tournament. He was able to catch some of the biggest names in his division. He actually was able to submit 5x Black Belt World Champion and favorite, Leandro Lo, and he submitted Unity BJJ coach and competitor, Murilo Santana. The 26-year-old has earned submission victories over Leandro Lo, Murilo Santana, Nathan Orchard, Darrah Oconaill, Chael Sonnen, and Jake Shields. He is also know for his highly developed leg lock game.
Rousimar Palhares is a former UFC fighter who is feared because his brutal leg lock game. The 38 year old is a BJJ and Luta Livre black belt who took silver at ADCC 2011, losing to Andre Galvao in teh final.
In his last 5 MMA fights, he has lost 3 times by KO.
Here is the trailer for the match featuring their training camp. Palhares looks massive. According to reports Palhares currently weighs 212 pounds. “Toquinho” plans move back to middleweight going forward – after all he missed weight and lost his last mma bout.
Palhares told mmafighting:
”I felt really bad cutting weight last time,” Palhares said. “I can’t make that weight anymore. I almost died. I can’t do it. I missed weight, I almost died, had to be medicated. I look like a crackhead at 170, I reached my limit. That was the last time I cut that much of weight. I’m done. No more. I might die, something can happen.
”I thought about pulling out of the fight but I needed the money. What can I do? I have a family, man. When you have family there’s no coming back. I have bills to pay.” –
and as for grappling:
”I’m sure he hasn’t [faced anyone like me]. Not with this kind of pressure,” Palhares said. “I see myself winning, you know? I’ll tell you this, I want the finish. People say I only have heel hooks, but I never had the opportunity to show anything else [laughs].
”He’s probably training a lot of defense and stuff, but he knows what’s coming. Everybody knows. That’s his move, too, but when a match starts everything can change. I’m ready for a great match and it’s going to be fun.”
Rousimar Palhares training for KASAI Pro 3 where he will grapple Craig Jones:
