Polaris 33: South America vs Asia & Oceania

The centerpiece of Polaris 33 was the Squads team battle, structured as a 90-minute contest split into two 45-minute halves. Athletes competed in weight classes (under and over 80 kg), and teams earned points for wins, with bonus points for submissions and for defeating heavier opponents. Both Team South America and Team Australasia assembled rosters packed with top-tier talent, resulting in a fiercely competitive series of matches.

First Half Results

• Lucas Kanard set the tone for Team Australasia, racking up decision victories over Jorge Gabriel, Gabriel Sousa, and Samuel Nagai.
• Jean Maltese halted Kanard’s momentum with a decision win.
• Igor Tanabe answered for Australasia, defeating Maltese by decision and then submitting Romao Carvalho with a precise Armbar.
• Charles Negromonte responded for South America, submitting Tanabe via Lateral Kneebar and edging out Tommy Yip by decision.
• Kenta Iwamoto added two decision wins for Australasia, overcoming Negromonte and Sousa, before Nagai closed the half with a decision win over Iwamoto.

At halftime, Team Australasia held a narrow lead, 8–5.

Second Half Results

• Mohammed Avtarhanov opened the second half with a submission victory over Nagai via Rear Naked Choke.
• Romao Carvalho countered with a decision win over Avtarhanov.
• Hejraat Rashid regained momentum for Australasia, submitting Carvalho with a clinical Rear Naked Choke.
• Gabriel Sousa delivered a rapid armbar submission against Rashid, followed by an inside Heel Hook finish on Igor Tanabe, and then secured a decision win over Yip.
• Kenta Iwamoto shifted the tide with a decisive Kneebar submission against Sousa.
• Charles Negromonte and Iwamoto traded decision victories, with Negromonte defeating Iwamoto and Kanard besting Negromonte.
• Jorge Gabriel earned a decision win over Kanard, but Avtarhanov responded with a decision win against Gabriel.
• In the final match, Maltese outpointed Avtarhanov by decision.

After a dramatic sequence of matches, Team Australasia edged out Team South America by a single point, closing with a final score of 16–15.

The event also featured a high-stakes 205 lb Polaris Title super fight between Owen Livesey and Tommy Langaker. Both athletes entered with reputations for technical excellence and competitive grit. Livesey captured the title by submitting Langaker with a choke, adding the prestigious Polaris belt to his accolades and delivering a defining moment in his career.

Polaris 33 delivered a showcase of high-level submissions that proved pivotal in the team scoring and overall event narrative.

Notable Submissions

• Igor Tanabe’s first-half armbar victory over Romao Carvalho
• Charles Negromonte’s lateral kneebar submission against Tanabe
• Mohammed Avtarhanov’s rear naked choke finish over Samuel Nagai in the second half
• Hejraat Rashid’s rear naked choke submission against Romao Carvalho
• Gabriel Sousa’s armbar and inside Heel Hook submissions in the second half
• Kenta Iwamoto’s kneebar finish against Sousa
• In the super fight, Owen Livesey secured the 205 lb title by choke

These technical finishes not only contributed crucial points to the team totals but also underscored the depth and diversity of submission grappling talent on display.

The Polaris Squads format stands out as a unique, team-based competition inspired by the Quintet system. The match spans 90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves. Athletes are grouped into under 80 kg and over 80 kg categories, with teams alternating competitors. Points are awarded for victories, with additional points for submissions and for defeating heavier opponents. This structure encourages aggressive, submission-focused grappling and strategic team management, distinguishing Polaris Squads from traditional BJJ tournaments and offering a dynamic, spectator-friendly experience.