On January 27th, 2024, the grappling world witnessed a unique and thrilling event – the Battle of the Promotions Quintet. This tournament pitted four of North America’s most prominent professional grappling promotions against each other, each sending their own team of five elite grapplers to battle for glory and a $15,000 prize. The event took place at the Catherine A Hickman Theater, Gulfport, MS.
The event boasted an all-star cast of competitors, many with long histories and rivalries within their respective promotions. Adding to the excitement, each team was led by a legendary captain: Ethan Crelinsten captained Team Finishers Sub-Only, Max Hanson helmed Team Sapateiro, Deandre Corbe led Team Enigma, and ADCC legend Paul Ardila steered Team Midwest Finishers.
The intensity was palpable from the opening bell, with each match promising close battles and potential upsets. The first semi-final lived up to expectations, with Team Enigma and Finishers Sub-Only drawing after all five of their individual matches. In a nail-biting finish, the fate of the semi-final rested on the EBI overtime round, where Reese LaFever of Team Enigma emerged victorious with a submission win over Rene Sousa.
The second semi-final saw a more decisive outcome, with Team Sapateiro dominating Team Midwest Finishers 2-0 thanks to the electrifying performance of Andre Porfirio. Porfirio submitted both Ernesto Rivera and David Stoilescu with slickly executed straight ankle locks, cementing his status as a tournament standout.
The final, predictably, was another nail-biter. Once again, all five matches ended in a draw, sending the competition into the dreaded EBI overtime round. This time, Team Enigma entrusted Abraham La Montagne with the fate of their team, and he delivered, defeating John Combs via ride-time to secure the $15,000 prize and etch his name in Battle of the Promotions Quintet history.
