2023 AIGA Champions League

Team Modolfo & Universal Fighters Advance To AIGA Champion's League Finals

Team Modolfo & Universal Fighters Advance To AIGA Champion's League Finals

After two days full of exciting grappling action, Team Modolfo and Team Universal Fighters advance to the December finals of the AIGA Champion's League

Aug 20, 2023
Team Modolfo & Universal Fighters Advance To AIGA Champion's League Finals

In a wild second day of action, Team Modolfo won the AIGA Champion's League quarterfinal pool but lost their head-to-head match against defending champions Universal Fighters 4-3 in a tightly contested contest. Nurmagomedov MMA School, Universal Fighters, and Team Modolfo finished the event with a 2-1 record, with Modolfo claiming the overall team title by virtue of tie-breaking criteria (most submission victories). Both they and Universal Fighters, who placed second overall, will advance to the December finals, joining Battle Force and Acai Republic. Al Leone finished in fourth with several strong showings despite the lack of overall team success.

You Can Check Out The Full Replay Here

null

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

The final match between Modolfo and Universal Fighters was a tense one, with the last bout deciding the winning team. Tied 3-3 after Universal Fighers wins at -60kg, -65kg, and +91kg, Gairbek Ibragimov was awarded the judge's decision over Fabricio Andrey. There was some confusion in the second round after Ibragimov went out of bounds in a triangle choke midway through the match, and they attempted to restart the position in the center. Gairbek is a two-time ADCC European Trials medalist who gains a ton of momentum heading into the next Trials season.

After the random draw of weight class order, Universal Fighters got out to a quick 2-0 lead after victories at the lightest and heaviest weights, and a commanding 3-1 lead after 4 matches. Team captain Giancarlo Bodoni and AOJ's Cole Abate won with heel hooks before Fabricio's deciding final match.

Final Standings

  1. Team Modolfo, 2-1 - Qualified for Champion's League Finals
  2. Universal Fighters, 2-1 - Qualified for Champion's League Finals
  3. Nurmagomedov MMA School, 2-1
  4. Al Leone, 0-3

Day Two Results

Universal Fighters def. Al Leone 4-3

-60kg - Magomedbek Temeev (Universal Fighters) def. Garie Tang (Al Leone) by rear naked choke

-76kg - Gairbek Ibragimov (Universal Fighters) def. Xu Huai Qing (Al Leone) by side katagatame

+91kg - Daniel Schuardt (Al Leone) def. Roman Lukashevich (Universal Fighters) by inside heel hook

-65kg - Magomed Shakhbanov (Universal Fighters) def. Daika Yonekura (Al Leone) by points (5-0, 0-0, 2-0)

-70kg - Rashid Kaitmazov (Universal Fighters) def. Ozgur Hanay (Al Leone) by points (10-2, 8-0, 7-0)

-91kg - Kaya Rudolph  (Al Leone) def. Gadzhimurad Abdulaev (Universal Fighters) by inside heel hook

-83kg - Jozef Chen (Al Leone) def. Abduzhalil Adilov (Universal Fighters) by Aoki lock

Nurmagomedov MMA School def. Al Leone 4-3

+91kg - Daniel Schuardt (Al Leone) def. Ibragimov Magomedov (Team Nurmagomedov) by inside heel hook

-83kg - Jozef Chen (Al Leone) def. Davud Magomedov (Team Nurmagomedov) by inside heel hook

-65kg - Daika Yonekura (Al Leone) def. Artur Agashirinov (Team Nurmagomedov) by inside heel hook

-60kg - Alikhan Igembek (Team Nurmagomedov) def. Garie Tang (Al Leone) by armbar

-70kg - Alibekov Gadzimurad (Team Nurmagomedov) def. Xu Huai Qing (Al Leone) by points (5-0, 0-0, 0-0)

-91kg - Murad Ramazonov (Team Nurmagomedov) def. Kemal Akagunduz (Al Leone) by kimura

-76kg - Bagir Gastratov (Team Nurmagomedov) def. Ozgur Hanay (Al Leone) by cloverleaf

Universal Fighters def. Team Modolfo 4-3

-60kg - Magomedbek Temeev (Universal Fighters) def. Bruno Peterson (Team Modolfo) by rear naked choke

+91kg - Ruslan Abdulaev (Universal Fighters) def. Luke Griffith (Team Modolfo) by points (3-0, 6-0, 0-1)

-83kg - Dante Leon (Team Modolfo) def. by Abduzhalil Adilov (Universal Fighters) by armbar

-65kg - Magomed Shakhbanov (Universal Fighters) def. Zach Kaina (Team Modolfo) by points (1-0, 2-0, 1-1)

-91kg - Giancarlo Bodoni (Team Modolfo) def. Gadzhimurad Abdulaev (Universal Fighters) by inside heel hook

-70kg - Cole Abate (Team Modolfo) def. Rashid Kaitmazov (Universal Fighters) by outside heel hook

-76kg - Gairbek Ibragimov (Universal Fighters) def. Fabricio Andrey (Team Modolfo) by judge's decision (0-0, 0-0, 0-0)