Main Character Jiu-Jitsu 9 Preview: One Of The Year's Best Cards In Austin

Main Character Jiu-Jitsu returns to Austin this Sunday with its ninth installment, and MCJJ 9 is shaping up to be one of the promotion’s most loaded events to date. Set for May 3rd, the Invitational continues to lean into its signature blend of high-level no-gi competition and show-driven presentation, a formula that has helped it stand out in an increasingly crowded grappling landscape. This time around, the stakes are even higher, with a card packed full of elite matchups and a strong emphasis on divisional titles.

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With six championships up for grabs, MCJJ 9 carries significant weight for athletes looking to establish themselves within the promotion and beyond. The event also adds to what has become a busy stretch for the Austin grappling scene, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a key destination for the sport. Between the depth of talent and the number of belts on the line, fans can expect a night full of aggressive pace, high-level exchanges, and performances that all aim to make someone the real main character of the night.

Main Character will be busy this weekend, with a card on Saturday featuring some of the more wild, experimental matches, including tag team contests, elimination matches, and more. That's going to be a wild west environment with lots of fun and definitely worth tuning in for. The highest level action though, is definitely going to be Sunday with these two dozen pros all locked in.

Men's Middleweight Championship - #18 Nick Mataya vs Marlon Tajik

The main event of the stacked evening will be Nick Mataya squaring off against Marlon Tajik. Both of these guys have really broken out a lot over the past year, with Mataya placing top-4 at Trials and winning a come from behind war with Jacob Bornemann on the most recent WNO. Tajik dominated his way to double gold in the brown belt IBJJF No-Gi Worlds and followed that up with a gold medal at ADCC Trials - ensuring his spot at the Worlds in Poland.

Both these guys can go anywhere but Tajik is more of the bottom player and Mataya more the top player - so we could easily see them get to that dynamic early. Marlon probably has a deeper bag of tricks, but Mataya has the overall athleticism edge that few in the division can really match. Experience edge goes to Tajik, who has proven himself under multiple rulesets. I'm looking forward to a war here between these two.

Women's Bantamweight Championship - #8 Amanda Bruse vs #7 Jasmine Rocha

This is a rematch from a WNO a few years ago, where Rocha won by a mounted punch choke - definitely a rarity. Since then, Amanda Bruse has really improved and shown off a much more competitive skillset so I am expecting a whole new match this Sunday. Jasmine is one of the division's most dangerous guard players but her aggressive style can sometimes leave her open for counter attacks as well - she's kill or be killed. As her game continues to mature and evolve I think we'll see some of those errors go away.

After a strong IBJJF no-gi season, Amanda is unfortunately coming off a disappointing ADCC Trials where she lost by submission to eventual champion Sheliah Lindsay early. This can be a great opportunity to rebound at what I think is her more natural weight of 135lbs. If she can impose her strength, pressure, and even get Jasmine wrestling some with her - I think the edge becomes hers.

Men's Welterweight Championship - Kade Tsitos vs Josh Cisneros

This match has shifted around a few times but I still think we have two very good contenders on the mat facing off. Josh Cisneros is working his way back for his next ADCC run after two straight top-4 finishes. I think it's interesting he's up at 170lbs, he's also been doing IBJJF opens near this weight. Could a move up to -77kg be in his near future for ADCC? Regardless, he's got a quality opponent in front of him in Tsitos.

Kade is a really underrated black belt who trains under Vagner Rocha in Miami. He's a really analytical grappler who has shown a real ability to get to submissions quickly against elite guys. His IBJJF No-Gi Pans a few years ago where he heel hooked the top seed in under a minute stands out. He's coming off a strong ADCC Trials run where he was able to get deep into day two. He is the late comer to this match, which for some can be a positive (especially since he was already in camp for Trials).

Women's Lightweight Championship - #1 Helena Crevar vs 15 Kennedy Franklin

It's always a pleasure to watch someone who is the best at something ply their trade and right now no one is better than Helena in these women's divisions. She's been blazing a trail of dominance through the no-gi scene and continues to stay busy at any event she can find. Now she takes on another world-ranked grappler in Kennedy Franklin, who is an experienced and tough black belt with an upset in mind. Helena has already had a couple of crazy matches so far this year, we could be in for another exciting one in Austin.

Women's Flyweight Championship - Natasha Druggan vs Jaine Fragoso

Natasha Druggan has really shined under the MCJJ banner, being a part of several big matchups. The Bruno Bastos black belt is back for another key bout, this time facing Jaine Fragoso for the flyweight title. Natasha is a grindy, gritty grappler who has been having some really great success in both gi & no-gi. Bruno Bastos BJJ continues to develop one of the best single-gym women's teams in the world in Midland and Natasha a big example of that. Jaine is a really technical black belt under Caio Terra who also has shown a willingness to fight anyone, any ruleset - so no surprise these two met eventually. Jaine was recently on WNO, giving a great match to the reigning IBJJF no-gi champ so clearly she's operating at a very high level herself. I think her game is going to be more tricky than Natasha's, but Natasha will do well in the scrambles and if she can keep a high pace so whoever can control the tempo will likely win.

Men's Lightweight Championship - Gianni Grippo vs Reese LaFever

Gianni Grippo is back after a great run at West Coast Trials, winning gold after seven matches to punch his ticket to Poland. He continues to showcase a great skillset that is undergirded by years and years of experience at the highest levels, an asset you just can't fake. Watch out for his arm triangles from basically all positions as he has jumped out as one of the best in the world with those. On the other side of the title match will be Reese LaFever, a world class grappler in his own right who has the methodical, systematic game of Kingsway down to a T. Reese in particular is very strong with the outside heel hook which creates a really interesting dynamic here - because Gianni is one of the best at smashing outside heel hooks. I really want to see this match end up in a position where those two end up in this position because I think the answers either comes up with would be really technically fascinating.

Middleweight Bout - Felipe Costa vs #15 Jon Blank

Two guys who will be in the same bracket in Poland meet here, with Laranjinha and Thor facing off at 185lbs. First off - it is crazy Laranjinha can make 185lbs. He did amazing breaking through at ADCC at 194lbs, but that extra nine seems like a serious commitment and I do think there's a reasonable question about his energy levels if this is a high paced match. Still he is always the consummate professional with a real talent for finding the back in scrambles. He's had some crazy matches in the last few years and a big part of that is his belief in himself as one of the best in the world, something the Six Blades team really fosters.

Jon Blank was off to a great start at black belt before injuries really sidelined him for a few years there. Finally he was able to get right and showed it by dominating his way to gold at ADCC East Coast Trials. He's now set for a big opportunity here to knock off a defending World medalist and establish himself as a top contender in Poland heading in. He's got a great submission game, with strong choi bars and leg locks, but he can go anywhere the fight dictates if he must.

Heavyweight Bout - Windson Torres vs Abe La Montagne

Two smaller, mobile heavyweights are set to meet in the heaviest bout of the evening with Abe 'The Mountain' set to face Windson Torres. Windson isn't as known to many fans, especially in no-gi, but he's had some big IBJJF results and comes from a really impressive judo base. He's now been training every day with the Six Blades crew in Austin and while that pro circle isn't as big as some other teams, whoever is in that training like he is tends to end up world class in any style they choose.

Abe is coming off a decent run at ADCC Trials where he made a deep run into day two with a lot of his signature submission offense. He moves through entanglements as well as anyone his size and is a really analytical grappler. Even amongst his teammates at Kingsway, Abe is noted for his dedication to watching tape, understanding rule nuances, and scouting opponents. I suspect he's going to have a strong bounce back performance, even if Windson isn't easily leg locked.

Welterweight Bout - Austin Oranday vs Max Hanson

This is a matchup of two of the most analytical guys in grappling - and I don't know what that is going to end up looking like (but I can't wait to see). Max and Austin are both very experienced guys, in fact two of the most experienced in the division, with big wins under basically every rule set for both. Oranday is coming off a very strong PGF season where he made the playoffs and Max just made the finals of ADCC West Coast. I foresee some kind of submission shootout and one guy getting the tap - I just don't know who.

Middleweight Bout - Francisco Lo vs #19 Logan Smith

Great matchup here between two of Texas's best. Francisco is the veteran of the pair, with tons of wins against elite guys over the years. Francisco can be so hot or cold, with confusing losses and then incredible wins. Some of that has been due to injuries racking up and also due to his willingness to constantly take new matches. I feel like he's sat out some and healed up so I am optimistic we see the best 'Chico' in Austin. His opponent, Logan Smith, is a really underrated guy in this middleweight division. He had a great run at ADCC Trials, he medaled at his first black belt no-gi Worlds, and he is ready and willing to take big challenges. I really think highly of his ceiling. A match against Lo is going to be a great metric for where he stands right now in a super fight setting, given Lo's experience.

Light Heavyweight Bout - Sebastian Attard vs Achilles Rocha

This card got even crazier this week as Sebastian Attard's original opponent dropped out and the electric Achilles Rocha took the spot. Kudos to both guys for putting it on the line in a matchup fans are gonna really enjoy. These two faced off a few years ago at brown belt no-gi worlds with Rocha getting the win but I think both guys have really evolved since then. Sebastian is rounding back into form after a leg break in training derailed him and now looks as dangerous as ever. Achilles, for my money, is one of the emerging stars of this next generation. He looked the part in winning ADCC Trials and is such a highlight-oriented grappler that fans should continue to tune in for him. Sebastian has upset in mind and Achilles has a habit of finding himself in deep submission attempts - before escaping miraculously. Does his luck run out here?

Lightweight Bout - Joslyn Molina vs Chelsey Coleman

'Baby Shark' Joslyn Molina continues to develop her skills as the fourteen year old is back to take on Chelsey Coleman. I must be honest, I don't know very much about Chelsey but anytime we get to see someone like Joslyn, someone who is so skilled at such a young age and with such a bright future, I think it's worth tuning in. She's really improving her skills as an entertainer as well, hunting exciting submissions and giving better interviews. She's going to take losses as she continues on this journey, and could very well lose on Sunday. Still, over the long run, we are seeing something special here and that's worth watching this Sunday evening.

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