I wanted to share some great shots from the Tampa Invitational 2006.

This is the last video I have of my matches. I fought two more after this, including another division final against AJ, but unfortunately, the camera was out of batteries by then.

The first 35 second of this match you’ll see AJ fighting with a purple belt. I didn’t include this for their sake but so you could see me (who you’ll only be able to see the back of, on the right side of the screen) when I go to my knees and Eduardo, the ref (and my coach) says…

This is the first of the last two videos I have of my matches at the Tampa Invitational. This was a fun match since were from the same school. My instructor, Eduardo, referees too.

The Yeti Match

My first match in the absolute was against Yeti, another blue belt. He had fought in the heavyweight division (195 lbs. and up), and I think he’s around 240 lbs. I weighed in at 157 lbs. that morning.

Right before the match starts, you can see me say “I’m gonna get yetied.” And I do. He…

This is my third match of the tournament, the final for the blue belt lightweight division.

So there’s full disclosure, AJ is a teammate of mine, so I had an idea of what to expect, as did he. He is the only competitor I was nervous about fighting, and I’m told he felt the same way about me.

To give you some background, AJ has been wrestling for the past 4-5 years, and is currently in college on a wrestling scholarship. He’s been training BJJ with us for most of a year…

I know many of you have been waiting to see footage of me in action for a while. I have good news.

As I mentioned earlier, I competed in the Tampa Invitational on Saturday, November 18, 2006. I received DVDs of my matches earlier this week and I’ve been slaving over them all weekend to get them online.

I’m still working on the rest of the footage, but I thought I’d crack away a bit of the suspense by sharing the first two matches.

First Match

The footage cuts in, but all you missed…

Because I sure do.

I competed in the Tampa Invitational last weekend, getting gold in blue belt lightweight and silver in the absolute (any belt, any weight).

I’m told almost all of my fights were filmed but I’m having the usual trouble getting my hands on the videos from the guy who took them.

With any luck, I’ll have them online this weekend.

Here’s a preview of the results:

1. Armbar from guard.



2. Armbar from guard.



3. Miraculously taking the back from under north-south in the final seconds.



4. Armbar from guard.



5. Triangle from guard.



6. Sweep, guard pass and taking the back.



7. Losing by 2…