‘Sonic Boom’ leads Art of War winners

Roman Alvarez, right, uses the suicide samurai choke in forcing Adam Harris to submission in the Open weight division of the Art of War 9: Grappling, Submission and Jiu-Jitsu Challenge held last Saturday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Jon Perez)

Fight fans were treated to exciting matches all throughout the day, as they witnessed the origin of mixed martial arts. The final event was the Open weight gi division with five fighters showing the highly technical side of grappling and submission fighting.

Alvarez ruled the Open weight gi event to highlight his three-gold medal haul. He went undefeated in the tournament as he also topped the lightweight and welterweight divisions.

The Trench Tech fighter defeated stablemate and former wrestler Adam Harris in a winner-take-all match for the gold in the Open weight gi division.

Alvarez won by submission after forcing Harris to tap following a suicide samurai choke.

Harris seemed to be in control early in the bout, but Alvarez managed to wiggle out of his hold to turn things to his favor en route to victory.

Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez, Vince “The Clinch” Masga, and promising 18-year-old Lorenzo Attao were the other participants in the Open gi class.

Roman Alvarez also defeated Jasper Van De Maas and cousin Shane Alvarez to win the gold medals in the lightweight and welterweight divisions.

Van Der Maas’ semifinal match against “Bad” Brad Palacios was an exciting bout to watch as the former, way behind in points, managed to pull off a come-from-behind win to earn the right of facing Roman Alvarez in the lightweight finals.

The taller Van Der Maas was trailing, 2-17, as Palacios quickly built a double-digit lead with his aggressive attacks and take downs. Van Der Maas, with 15 seconds left, managed to pull off the upset by a straight ankle lock.

Palacios clinched the lightweight bronze, while Shane Alvarez and Gracie Barra’s Kimo Lizama settled for the silver and bronze medals in the welterweight division.

Lorenzo Attao, fighting out of Gracie Barra, topped the flyweight division with MCA MMA’s Jadrien Camacho and Zalaka’s Denny Jepen bagging the silver and bronze medals.

Jordan Manglona won the bantamweight and featherweight gold medals by frustrating Tinian’s Paul Ayuyu in both finals. Mark “The Dark” Nuique placed third in the featherweight division.

Adam Harris was also a double-gold medal winner in the middleweight and heavyweight categories.

Van Der Maas finished second behind Harris in the middleweight division, while Kier Agda of Strike Force came in third. Agda then added the silver in the heavyweight class after losing to Harris in the finals, while Slade “The Rage” Adelbai settled for the bronze. (Jon Perez)