Metamoris Pro II Invitational: Shinya Aoki vs. Kron Gracie

[keithlewis]

Metamoris Pro II Invitational Announces Blockbuster Card for June 9th Pay-Per-View Event Headlined by Shinya Aoki vs. Kron Gracie


Metamoris founder Ralek Gracie announces the Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II, staged live in Los Angeles at the historic Pauley Pavilion on June 9th and broadcast online via stunning HD live stream.

The second event in the promotion’s history returns with another blockbuster card featuring six matches contested by world-class practitioners of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The unique format combining 20-minute single-round matches with no points encourages fighters to actively seek submissions.

“Jiu Jitsu tournaments have devolved, especially at the elite level, to a game based on who can score points with a sweep or dominant position in the last few seconds of a match to win,” says Gracie. “I founded Metamoris to create a tournament where submissions are the only goal, not points. With the introduction of judges, we will avoid draws. Someone in a fight is always sharper. And now, the fighter who controls the bout with technique, the fighter who shows more varied and frequent submission acquisition, will get his hand raised.”

Metamoris distills competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to its purest form. The Metamoris Pro II Invitational is a proving ground for the best in the world to test their skills, stamina and heart, and deliver the fans an unprecedented viewing experience in the process.

The scheduled fight card is headlined by Kron Gracie, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion coached by his father mixed martial arts pioneer and PRIDE champion Rickson Gracie, as he takes on DREAM lightweight champion, ONE FC lightweight champion, former WAMMA lightweight champion and former Shooto welterweight champion, Shinya Aoki.

The card also includes three-time world champion and 2009 ADCC world champion Braulio Estima taking on five-time World Cup champion Rodolfo Vieria, 2011 ADDCC world champion and 2012 World Cup gold medalist Andre Galvao will face Rafael Lovato Jr., the second American in history to win the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a black belt.

Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II will be broadcast live via pay-per-view for $19.95 through metamoris.com. “Our production is second-to-none,” says Gracie. “We employ a multi-camera format to deliver the action at all angles accompanied by an experienced commentary team calling the action.”

Tickets will be available for purchase from April 22 through Ticketmaster.


Official Card*:
Shinya Aoki vs. Kron Gracie
Braulio Estima vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Brendan Schaub
Mackenzie Dern vs. Michelle Nicolini
Andre Galvao vs. Rafael Lovato Jr.
Bill "The Grill" Cooper vs. Ryan Hall

*Fight card subject to change

Doors open at 3 pm PST
Royce Gracie autograph signing from 3-4 pm PST
Broadcast begins at 4 pm PST

For more information go to www.metamoris.com.‏

[keithlewis]

EMMY AWARD NOMINEE AND GRACIE JIU JITSU BLACK BELT ED O’NEILL TO PROVIDE COLOR COMMENTARY FOR METAMORIS PRO JIU JITSU INVITATIONAL II


The Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II, taking place June 9, live from L.A.’s historic Pauley Pavilion, is proud to announce Emmy nominated actor and Gracie jiu jitsu black belt Ed O’Neill as a member of the Metamoris II commentary team alongside Gracie Academy head instructor Rener Gracie.

“I began studying Gracie Jiu Jitsu over 20 years ago,” says O’Neill. “I was actually very hesitant to start, but a 10-minute session with Rorion Gracie was enough to get me hooked. For me, studying jiu jitsu has been an amazing experience. In a way it’s given me a second family. I am honored to serve as a commentator on the Metamoris II card with Rener.”


O’Neill first rose to fame through his role as Al Bundy on Married with Children. He has starred in several television productions including Dragnet, The West Wing, and John From Cincinnati. He currently plays the role of Jay Pritchett on the hit comedy Modern Family.

A longtime athlete, O’Neill played linebacker in college at Ohio State and Youngstown State University. He was briefly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers where, according to O’Neill, “I stayed for about a minute.” Working as an actor in Hollywood, O’Neill discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu through a friend and was awarded his black belt in 2007.

Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II will be broadcast live via pay-per-view for $19.95 through metamoris.com.

Tickets are available now for purchase through Ticketmaster.


Official Card*:
Shinya Aoki vs. Kron Gracie
Braulio Estima vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Brendan Schaub
Mackenzie Dern vs. Michelle Nicolini
Andre Galvao vs. Rafael Lovato Jr.
Bill "The Grill" Cooper vs. Victor Estima

*Fight card subject to change

Doors open at 3 pm PST
Royce Gracie autograph signing from 3-4 pm PST
Broadcast begins at 4 pm PST

For more information go to www.metamoris.com.

[keithlewis]

METAMORIS PRO JIU JITSU INVITATIONAL II LIVE STREAMS A BLOCKBUSTER CARD OF GRAPPLING SUPERFIGHTS THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 9 AT UCLA’S PAULEY PAVILION


The Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II, taking place June 9, live from L.A.’s historic Pauley Pavilion, will feature some of the best jiu-jitsu black belts in the world competing in a series of grappling superfights.

The objective in Metamoris is simple: submit your opponent. Each Metamoris match lasts a single 20-minute round. There are no points awarded for position or advantage. Should neither combatant win by submission, a panel of three judges will decide a winner or rule a draw.

“Every fight on this card is a superfight,” says Metamoris Founder Ralek Gracie. “It was an easy matchmaking decision. We just paired the best jitsu jitsu athletes in the in world against each other.”


Here are the competitors:

Main Event

Shinya Aoki vs. Kron Gracie (no-gi match)

Reigning DREAM and ONE FC lightweight champion and Japanese superstar Shinya Aoki will face third-generation member of the Gracie clan, Kron Gracie in a no-gi match.

The bout serves as a third installment of a rivalry between the Gracie family and Japanese grapplers that dates back to the 1951 challenge match between Masahiko Kimura and Helio Gracie, and the 1995 Vale Tudo Japan fight between Yuki Nakai and Rickson Gracie.


Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Brendan Schaub (no-gi match)

Four-time No-Gi World Champion and Abu Dhabi finalist Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu will face current UFC heavyweight and finalist on The Ultimate Fighter Brendan “The Hybrid” Schaub. Both men will make their Metamoris debut in this no-gi match.


Andre Galvao vs. Rafael Lovato Jr.

The 19 gold medals Andre Galvao has earned in competition since 2004 include a double gold at the 2011 ADCC. He will face fellow Metamoris veteran and eight-time gold medalist in international competition, and the second American to win the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a black belt, Rafael Lovato Jr.


Braulio Estima vs. Rodolfo Vieira

Gracie Barra’s Braulio Estima has dominated European competition for years fighting out of Birmingham, England. In 2009 he scored an ADCC double gold to pad his trophy case. His opponent, Rodolfo “The Black Belt Hunter” Vieira has notched 15 golds in international competition.


Mackenzie Dern vs. Michelle Nicolini

The first-ever female match in Metamoris history pits Michelle Nicolini, fighting out of Checkmat / Team Cavaca in Sao Paulo, Brazil against the young upstart Mackenzie Dern, representing Gracie Humaita / Team Megaton out of Phoenix, Arizona. The pair have met in competition before but this will be the first time they fight without the traditional points system in place.


Jonathan “JT” Torres vs. Victor Estima

Jonathan “JT” Torres, also known as "The Spiderman" for his incredible grip strength, is a Pan American Nogi Champion at the black belt level. The Team Atos prodigy will face Victor Estima, a two-time gold medalist in international competition.


The Metamoris Pro Jiu Jitsu Invitational II will be broadcast live via pay-per-view for $19.95 through metamoris.com on Sunday, June 9 at 7pm / 4 pm ET/PT.

Tickets are available now for purchase through Ticketmaster.

Official Card*:
Shinya Aoki vs. Kron Gracie
Braulio Estima vs. Rodolfo Vieira
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu vs. Brendan Schaub
Mackenzie Dern vs. Michelle Nicolini
Andre Galvao vs. Rafael Lovato Jr.
Jonathan “JT” Torres vs. Victor Estima

*Fight card subject to change

Doors open at 3 pm PST
Royce Gracie autograph signing from 3-4 pm PST
Broadcast begins at 4 pm PST

For more information go to www.metamoris.com.