Fight to Win Pro 23

Osiander, Murasaki, Gracie: Five Unmissable Matches At Fight To Win Pro 23

Osiander, Murasaki, Gracie: Five Unmissable Matches At Fight To Win Pro 23

The highly-anticipated main and co-main event matches of Fight to Win Pro 23 are reason enough, but here are five matches not to sleep on ahead of Jan. 27's sub-only superfight showcase.

Jan 27, 2017 by Averi Clements
Osiander, Murasaki, Gracie: Five Unmissable Matches At Fight To Win Pro 23
The highly anticipated co-main event matches of Fight to Win Pro 23 are reason enough to watch, but here are five matches not to sleep on ahead of Friday's sub-only superfight showcase in San Jose, California. 

The main event at Santa Clara Fair Grounds features two of the best lightweight fighters in the world in Osvaldo "Queixinho" Moizinho and Bruno Frazatto, and the co-main event sees Kim Terra going up against Danny Bohigian. 

Watch Fight to Win Pro 23 on Friday, January 27, at 6 PM PT, LIVE on FloGrappling

The card is stacked, including these five matchups you won't want to miss:
 

Matthew Rice vs. Guthierry Barbosa

Don't be fooled because he's "just" a purple belt -- Matthew Rice is the youngest brother of Tanner Rice, who just days ago finished in second place at Euros. As a juvenile blue belt, Matthew regularly came out victorious even in the adult blue belt divisions.

WATCH: Rice vs. Jean Henrique and Davi Cabral at IBJJF 2016 Worlds

Rice's Fight to Win Pro debut is sure to be a worthwhile challenge, though. He'll be going up against Guthierry Barbosa, who fights out of the esteemed Caio Terra Academy. The talent and tutelage backing these two young athletes is guaranteed to make for one of the most exciting fights of the night.

Thomas Bringe vs. Andy Murasaki

The lightweight blue belt gi title fight between these teens is set to showcase some of the best young talent in the industry. Caio Terra student Andy Murasaki has already been established as one of the best teen fighters on the planet, beating Roberto Jimenez last year to claim the title of world champion. 

Thomas Bringe, who trains out of Castle Rock BJJ, isn't to be underestimated. At Fight to Win Pro 18, he won the Submission of the Night award after beating Nick Gamez-Ramos with an ankle lock. The battle for the title is going to be hard-fought, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice to miss some of the best young talent in the country competing for it.

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Nate Mendelsohn defends Isaque Bahiense's takedown attempt. Photo: Chase Smith / FloGrappling 

Igor Estrella vs. Nathan Mendelsohn

Nathan Mendelsohn apparently isn't the type to take a lot of time off. Just this past week, he turned heads at Euros when he gave 2016 brown belt world champion Isaque Bahiense one of his toughest matches of the tournament. 

Mendelsohn was slated to go up against four-time Boston Open champion Igor Estrella at Fight to Win Pro 8 last year, but after Estrella was unable to make the fight, Mendelsohn competed (and won) against Lance Glynn. Thankfully, these two skilled black belts will finally get to meet on the Fight to Win stage on Friday.

Rhalan Gracie vs. Manny Rocha

Any time a Gracie competes is a reason to open your eyes a little wider, but this fight is even more significant because it's the first time a member of this famous family will be grappling at a Fight to Win event. 

Rhalan, who's a 2015 U.S. national champion, will be going up against Strive BJJ's Manny Rocha in a 190lb gi match. This is truly history in the making for one of the top jiu-jitsu promotion companies in the world.

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Kurt Osiander in action at at Fight to Win Pro 8. Photo: Mike Calimbas

Paul Nava vs. Kurt Osiander

The hilarious, straightforward Kurt Osiander is a clear fan favorite wherever he shows up, and that was made perfectly clear by the crowd's reaction when he walked onto the stage at Fight to Win Pro 8

The former Pan American champion will be going up against Ares BJJ's Paul Nava right before the co-main event of the evening in a gi match that's sure to test the abilities of both these experienced competitors.
 
Check out all these exciting matches and lots more live or on demand ONLY on FloGrappling. Fight to Win Pro 23 starts streaming live on on Friday, January 27, at 6 PM Pacific time.