On January 26th, 2024, the inaugural Pit Submission Series unfolded, showcasing three elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) matches between established veterans and rising stars from New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. This unique grappling event, presented by Karate Combat, deviated from traditional conventions by utilizing the promotion’s signature pit – a circular arena surrounded by sloped walls. Notably, this foray into grappling emerged mere days prior to the event, followed by the swift announcement of the card’s three captivating matchups.
The evening commenced with promise for the New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team, spearheaded by their youngest member, Helena Crevar. Facing seasoned competitor Caitlin Murdock, Crevar calmly countered Murdock’s initial maneuvers, adeptly navigating through a double-under pass attempt.
Gaining ascendency in closed guard, she displayed remarkable versatility, transitioning to rubber guard and securing a masterful Dead Orchard submission. This flawless performance marked another impressive victory for the teenage prodigy, further bolstering her burgeoning reputation.
The second bout featured Luke Griffith, a world-renowned brown belt, pitted against Vagner Rocha, a decorated MMA and ADCC veteran. While Griffith briefly threatened Rocha’s back early on, the latter exhibited adept escape skills and regained the standing position, where the majority of the match unfolded.
Both grappling veterans displayed exceptional agility, preventing either from gaining conclusive dominance. In the waning moments, Rocha seized an opportunity, executing a smooth trip and briefly mounting Griffith. Although Griffith swiftly returned to his feet, Rocha repeated the takedown in the final seconds, securing advantageous side control as the timer expired. This decisive maneuver ultimately awarded Rocha the victory via points.
With the New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team’s record sitting at one win and one loss, the responsibility of clinching the team’s overall victory fell upon Dan Manasoiu. Faced with the formidable Max Gimenis, Manasoiu narrowly missed securing the first takedown and found himself starting from the bottom.
Gimenis’ guard passing skills enabled him to bypass Manasoiu’s defenses, intermittently securing side control and north-south positions to maintain control. Despite Manasoiu’s late escape attempt, Gimenis swiftly reestablished dominant positioning and concluded the match mounted, securing the decision victory. As a result, it wasn’t the best day at the office for the Austin BJJ gym which went 1-2 on the night.
