Van Der Mar Maas, Attao lead AOW 10 winners

Jasper Van Der Maas, left, works his way for a straight ankle lock submission win against Ken Santos in their middleweight title match in the Art of War 10: Grappling, Submission and Jiu jitsu Challenge last Saturday at the Trench Tech gym in Garapan. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Jasper Van Der Maas and Lorenzo Attao recorded twin wins in the Art of War 10: Grappling, Submission and Jiu jitsu Challenge held last Saturday at the Trench Tech gym in Garapan.

Van Der Maas topped the lightweight and middleweight divisions to make up for his runner-up finishes in the same categories in last year’s Art of War 9. Van Der Maas, who bowed to Roman Alvarez in last year’s lightweight bout finale, had a rematch with his tormentor and avenged his loss last weekend after winning via submission (straight ankle lock). Shane Alvarez joined Van Der Maas and Roman Alvarez in the Top 3.

In the middleweight division, Van Der Maas used the same strategy to end his five-minute title bout against Ken Santos. Kier Agda completed the winners list in the division after a no-show from Shane Alvarez in the consolation match.

In the welterweight division, Roman Alvarez foiled Van Der Maas’ bid for a third win after prevailing on points, 14-2. Shane Alvarez again joined the finalists in the podium for placing third in the division.

In other results, Attao duplicated Van Der Maas’ feat for ruling the bantam and featherweight divisions. Attao, who also took the featherweight crown in last year’s competition, made it two in a row after defeating the debuting Mike Muna via arm bar submission. Tabi Jay Muna was ranked third. In the bantamweight finale, Attao employed a Kimura lock on Piling Terlaje to log his second first place finish. Bradley Manalo rounded out the Top 3.

In the flyweight division, E.J. Hemley’s head crank on Jadrien Camacho handed the former the victory, while Terlaje finished third.

In the heavyweight category, the returning Kelvin Fitial dethroned 2014 champion Adam Harris after stopping the latter with his head and arm choke. Josh Castro placed third in the division.

The Top 3 finishers in each weight class were awarded with cash prizes with the champion taking $60 and an extra $20 if they won via submission. Participants per divisions suited up in a double-round robin elimination before competing in the finals and consolation rounds. Points were awarded to each fighter if they failed to win via submission. A full or top mount and back take were worth 4 points each, 3 for side mount, and 2 for sweep and any other take downs.