FURY Pro Grappling 3 results: Carla Esparza cut, Brady upsets Jones

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FURY Pro Grappling 3 results: Carla Esparza's cut halts main event; Sean Brady upsets Craig Jones

The star-studded FURY Pro Grappling 3 event takes place Thursday at 2300 Arena in Philadelphia with a number of UFC notables set to compete on the submission-only card.

The main event featured former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza, who takes on grappling standout Danielle Kelly.

Check out a complete recap with highlights from the event.

Full results

  • Danielle Kelly def. Carla Esparza via injury stoppage (cut) – 4:26 mark
  • Sean BradyΒ def.Β Craig Jones via judges decision
  • Joe Solecki def. Donald Cerrone via submission (rear-naked choke) – 3:17 mark
  • Clay Guida def. Billy Quarantillo via judges decision
  • Renato Moicano def. Chase HooperΒ via judges decision
  • Nicky Rod def. Steve Mowry via submission (rear-naked choke) – 5:30
  • Joaquim Silva def. Neil Magny via submission (guillotine choke) – 2:47
  • Jonathan Piersma def. Philip Rowe via judges decision
  • Alex Caceres def. Eddy Torres via submission (rear-naked choke) – 2:35
  • Kody Hamrah def. Kevin Holland via judges decision
  • Andre Petroski def. Phil Hawes via judges decision
  • Gillian RobertsonΒ def.Β Chrissy Briggs via judges decision

Gillian RobertsonΒ def.Β Chrissy Briggs

UFC women’s flyweight Gillian RobertsonΒ opened the card by giving Chrissy Briggs thee business with non-stop submission attempts over the course of the eight-minute bout.

Robertson, who has the most submission wins of any female in company history, nearly got multiple modified rear-naked choke attempts, but Briggs did well to escape the threats. She was ultimately just surviving, though, and Robertson was awarded the win by the judges.

Kody Hamrah def. Kevin Holland

UFC middleweight star Kevin Holland had a 12-pound advantage over Kody Hamrah coming into their matchup, but it didn’t benefit him to a victory in the end.

Despite the difference in rules from an MMA fight, Holland was his naturally charismatic self on the grappling mat. He taunted Hamrah and used tactics such as inviting his opponent into the guard and using various rolling techniques from bottom position.

Hamrah remained consistent, though, and controlled from top position when he needed and avoid Holland’s advances. Neither man was ever in serious danger of being submitted, though, and after eight minutes the judges gave the victory to Hamrah.

Alex Caceres def. Eddy Torres

Streak UFC featherweight Alex Caceres earned the first stoppage on the card when he caught Eddy Torres in a slick rear-naked choke at the 2:35 mark of the eight-minute round.

Caceres found a way to take Torres’ back and sunk in the deep choke that forced the tap out.

Joaquim Silva def. Neil Magny

UFC lightweight Joaquim Silva needed just one opportunity to put away UFC welterweight Neil Magny with a slick guillotine choke.

After using a couple of minutes to feel out each other’s style and the noticeable size disparity, Silva got a chance to latch a guillotine as the pair locked up. He made it count, forcing Magny to submit at the 2:47 mark.

https://twitter.com/UFCFightPass/status/1476723282422505478

Renato Moicano def. Chase Hooper

Renato Moicano outworked Chase Hooper to a judges decision in the matchup between UFC lightweight and UFC featherweight fighters.

The eight-minute match lacked spectacular moments, with Hooper willing to play from bottom position while Moicano worked from on top. Neither man could lock in a submission before time expired, though.

Clay Guida def. Billy Quarantillo

Sporting a wrestling singlet, longtime UFC lightweight veteran Clay Guida came out with a ton of energy against UFC featherweight Billy Quarantillo.

Guida’s attire foreshadowed his approach, as he attacked with wrestling-style takedowns on Quarantillo, who tried to catch his aggressive foe in guillotine and triangle chokes.

https://twitter.com/UFCFightPass/status/1476728810238357519

https://twitter.com/UFCFightPass/status/1476729345909698569

Quarantillo’s bottom position activity could not overcome the positional control of Guida, however, and after the eight-minute fight, the judges awarded Guida the decision win.

Joe Solecki def. Donald Cerrone

Joe Solecki made the most of his positioning on Donald Cerrone as he locked in a rear-naked choke on the future UFC Hall of Famer in less than three minutes.

Solecki, a UFC lightweight who gave up nearly 20 pounds on the scale, controlled the legendary “Cowboy” from the outset. He got the chance to secure the joke, and did the job for the noteworthy triumph.

Sean BradyΒ def.Β Craig Jones

Undefeated UFC welterweight Sean Brady pulled off one of the most surprising results on the card when he outworked Craig Jones to a judges decision.

Brady, who was the hometown favorite in Philadelphia, neutralized pound-for-pound grappling great Jones from top control. It was a largely a stalemate, as Brady couldn’t pass the guard and Jones couldn’t attempt submissions. It stayed that way until the clock ran out, and Brady convinced the judges to give him the nod.

“I’m a jiu-jitsu guy but I’m an MMA guy too,” Brady said in his post-fight interview with CM Punk. “I wanted to used pressure and my game. Not to much happened I couldn’t get past his guard.

https://twitter.com/UFCFightPass/status/1476736794020306945

Danielle Kelly def. Carla Esparza

The headlining bout between grappling standout Danielle Kelly and former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza came to a premature end as the result of a cut.

Esparza, who stepped in on late notice as a replacement for upcoming opponent and current UFC champ Rose Namajunas, lost the match after her forehead was sliced open off of a slam attempt on Kelly.

After Esparza picked Kelly up from within guard and loosen her opponent’s grip control, she forced her opponent back down to the mat. Her forehead collided with Kelly, though, and the blood instantly started pouring out. The referee halted the action, and the match was waved off at the 4:26 mark.

The natural concern after the contest went to Esparza, who is expected to challenge Namajunas for UFC gold next year. The rules of the 10-minute bout banned any leg-related submission attacks to help prevent potential injury, but those rules couldn’t stop the cut from happening.

Fortunately, Esparza offered a post-event update that appeared positive, even though the cut wasn’t pretty.

Sorry guys, accidental head butt on a slam led to a cut and a stop in the match. In good spirits! Just gotta get a couple stitches. Thanks so much @furygrappling for having me, and @daniellekellybjj for the match πŸ™πŸΌπŸ₯‹πŸ’₯

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