FIVE Super League - The Lightweights Preview

Eight of the best competitors at lightweight set to battle in San Diego on July 15.

One of the biggest grappling events in the month of July is set to go down on July 15 as Five Grappling presents a lightweight tournament live from San Diego, California. Bringing together eight of the best athletes in the division, this tournament is expected to bring out some of the best action this side of 155 pounds.

Leonardo Saggioro, Gianni Grippo, Samuel Braga, Lucas Pinheiro, Brandon Walensky, Jamil Hill, Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde, and Wallace Santos round out the field of the eight men invited for this tournament. These men represent some of the top teams and coaches in the sport.

Grippo is perhaps the most well-known name in the field. He’s a fan favorite of those enticed by the berimbolo game, but he has much more hidden within his diverse attack. Grippo represents Marcelo Garcia and a team that hosts some of the best black belts in the sport. He brings a wealth of experience as he’s won IBJJF championships at blue, purple and brown belt.

Saggioro is just as experienced in high-level competition as he brings five IBJJF Brazilian national championships into the event. He recently took silver at the 2017 edition of the World Championships and is known for his pressure passing game that breaks down his opponent’s guards. He represents the Brazilian Top Team.

Team Lloyd Irvin has a competitor in the event in new black belt, Jamil Hill. Hill took bronze at both Pans and Worlds this year; as he caught the eye of many within the competitive grappling space. Hill may be a name that’s rather new to those that focus on the top level of the sport, but he’s found victory multiple times in the past including earning World championships as a blue, purple and brown belt.

Wallace Santos represents Soul Fighters out of Las Vegas. While he may not be a name that immediately jumps off the page, he’s familiar with the FIVE grappling format as he’s competed in the showcase in the past. Lucas Pinheiro, who represents Team Alex Martins, is another Brazilian competitor set for the tournament who has found a lot of success both in and out of the gi over the years. In past years he’s faced off against men such as Joao Miyao, Caio Terra and Guilherme Montenegro.

Brandon Walensky is a black belt under master of the omoplata, Clark Gracie. While he may not be a competitor that’s seen a lot of success at the black belt level, he’s still brings a level of technique that is dangerous for his opponents. Francisco “Sinistro” Iturralde has also seen success in both gi and no-gi competitions. The Del Mar Jiu Jitsu standout won gold at No-Gi Pans in 2013 and the IBJJF European Championship in 2014 and was a runner up in 2016 at Worlds.

Multiple-time champion, Samuel Braga, rounds out the field. The Gracie Barra black belt has a very dynamic and diverse game which can confuse his opponents at a moment’s notice. Braga is certainly a name to watch in this event.

As if the tournament itself wasn’t enough, the main event of the night features a super fight between Keenan Cornelius and Matheus Diniz. This submission only, ten-minute affair brings together two of the best black belt competitors in the game today. Cornelius has seen success at nearly every level as his legacy has helped him become one of the most recognizable American martial artists today. Diniz has won multiple IBJJF events including Worlds, Pans (Gi and No-Gi), and New York Opens. This is expected to be a highly competitive fight, featuring men that have captured a multitude of championships in recent years.

FIVE Super League – The Lightweights is scheduled for Saturday, July 15 from Lincoln High School in San Diego, California. The main card begins at 4:00 pm PST and is available for viewing on FloGrappling.com.