DESPITE the low turn out of competitors in the 1st Hasi Submission Grappling Challenge yesterday at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall, organizers are still confident the sport will make an impact in Cebu soon.
Niño Castro, the owner of Hasi Core, said yesterday’s mini tournament will serve as a stepping stone for bigger and grander Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling tournaments in Cebu.
“It’s a growing sport and everyone should try this out, especially people who want to become confident with themselves,” Castro said.
Organizers are already planning to stage a bigger tournament in the middle of this year or early next year.
“We want to do something to give back to the MMA community here in Cebu and provide them with a quality tournament,” Castro said.
The first grappling tournament organized by Hasi Core saw Mikhail Wu of Deftac Cebu winning over Overlimit BJJ’s Elmar Valmores via a crushing toe-hold lock in the final minutes of their main event yesterday.
In the supporting match, veteran MMA fighter Arnel Ylanan of 90/EIGHT BJJ defeated Duane Gacasan of Deftac Cebu and Yaw- Yan ArDigma via arm-bar in the two-minute mark.