Finishers Apex 2 Recap: Blizzard Can't Stop the Action at Finishers HQ
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Finishers Apex 2 went down on Sunday, February 22 at Finishers HQ in Bethlehem, PA and you can rewatch the whole card right here on FloGrappling YouTube! The weather outside was doing its worst, but inside the mats were busy, the submissions were flying, and the card delivered from top to bottom.
With lineup changes, title implications, and a submission rate that made my job as a judge very easy, Apex 2 was exactly the kind of event that reminds you why this community keeps showing up.
Let's get into it.
Undercard Results
180lbs – Samantha De La Riva (House of Salt) def Alysa Couce (Freedom Jiu Jitsu / Illuminati Grappling Club) by Knee Bar — Round 3
185lbs – Dietrich Trumbauer (Tap House Jiu Jitsu) def Anthony Frost (Precision Jiu Jitsu) by Heel Hook — Round 1
155lbs – Daniel Cohen (True Believer Jiu Jitsu) def Jonathan Lopez by Triangle Choke — Round 1
170lbs – Frankie Rodriguez (Unity Jiu Jitsu) def Nick Mancini (Tradewinds) by Decision
190lbs – Jack Reynolds (The Vault) def Luke Shiomos (Hellfish / 10P Allentown) by Heel Hook — Round 1
160lbs – AJ Discianni (New Asgard Martial Arts) def Ben Smith (Collective Jiu Jitsu) by Heel Hook — Round 3
175lbs – Eli Flores (10P Reading) def Bobby Riordan (Ocean County Jiu Jitsu) by Head and Arm Choke — Round 1
Lineup Changes
Two bouts from the original card didn't make it to fight night.
The James Comerford vs Dallas Ragusa bout was canceled, as was the originally scheduled 145lb title match between Kate Egan and Maggie Meier.
Despite the changes, the card stayed stacked. And the 125lb title picture got an interesting twist.
Title Fights
125lbs Title
Efrain Garcia (New Asgard Martial Arts) def Dallas Ragusa (Velez Jiu Jitsu) by Decision
With the original 125lb title matchup between Jack Stapleton and Efrain Garcia canceled, Dallas Ragusa stepped in to challenge for the vacant belt. Three rounds of competitive jiu-jitsu followed, and when the dust settled, Garcia earned the decision and with it, the 125lb Championship.
For Garcia, this is a significant moment. He showed he belongs at this level, and he picked up the title in a match where he had to adapt to a last-minute opponent change.
BMF Title & 205lb Interim Title
Pat Shahgholi (10P East Long Island) def Kyle Myers (Saga Jiu-Jitsu) by Armbar — Round 2
There was a blizzard outside and an ice storm inside as Pat Shahgholi walked in as the reigning BMF Champion and walked out with both the BMF belt and the Interim 205lb title around his waist.
Pat is now a two-belt champion and one of the most decorated active competitors on the Finishers roster. His combination of technical precision and finishing instinct is as consistent as it gets on this scene.
Final Thoughts
Blizzard conditions outside. Submissions flying inside. That about sums up Apex 2.
The card lost a couple of bouts along the way, but what remained delivered. A submission-heavy undercard, a last-minute title matchup that produced a new champion, and Pat Shahgholi cementing his status as the most decorated fighter currently on the Finishers roster.
The Finishers community showed up through the snow, and the athletes gave them every reason to be glad they did.
What's Next: Women's Survivor Series 2 — March 22
Mark your calendars.
On March 22, Finishers returns with Women's Survivor Series 2, an all-women's team tournament and one of the most anticipated events on the calendar. The original Women's Survivor Series was one of the biggest events of last year, and this follow-up is already shaping up to exceed it. Some of the top women in the sport have already started putting teams together.
More details to come. Stay locked in.
Follow @peopledoingmartialarts and @finishers_subonly for updates, highlights, and coverage of Women's Survivor Series 2.