The first major gi bracket in the summer of 2020 is an absolute MONSTER, strap in, you won't want to miss this one. 

This 180lb gi tournament will feature Roberto Jimenez, Gustavo Batista, Manuel Ribamar, Gabriel Arges, Jake Watson, Jaime Canuto, Pedro Marinho, and William Tackett. 

"Your fate is in your hands," said 3CG event promoter Ryan McGuire. "Win three times win 10K. We will also have four unique and fun superfights each card and keep things to around 12-14 matches per night." 

Read on to see the FloGrappling staff picks for this phenomena event. 

Watch 3CG: Kumite I LIVE June 6

Reid: Third Coast Grappling is always cooking up a unique and “never before seen” type of grappling event for their fans and this weekend at 3GC’s first ever Kumite will be no different. 

The tournament they have put together for Sunday night is stacked with world champions and is a fun play on the old school vs new school debate.

They’ve got young up and coming black belts like Jake Watson and Roberto Jimenez squaring off against the well established veterans like Manuel Ribamar and Gustavo Bautista. Plus a couple of brown belt dark horses to make things interesting and a couple more veterans to top it off.

This will be the first tournament of its kind since we’ve resumed grappling events after the pandemic lockdown. The winner will need to have finishing skills as well as a deep gas tank to take all three matches against such skilled opponents. 

While I’m unsure of everyone’s training environments and schedules I tend to lean more towards the younger generation taking the gold here. In my opinion, the winner will be the guy who can push the pace the longest and with that in mind, Roberto Jimenez is the guy to beat. He’s tailor-made for a tournament like this and always performs when the lights are shining the brightest. I like Roberto to upset some World Champions and take the tournament by storm. 

Prediction: Roberto Jimenez

Riccardo: This bracket is STACKED and is super hard to predict. I am very excited to see Tackett and Marino added to the mix.  Roberto vs Ribimar....Watson vs Arges.....Batista vs Canuto all first round? 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Anything can happen. But if I had to make some predictions.I think its gonna be Ribimar vs Gustavo Batista in the finals and that is a tough one to call. But I am going with Batista to take this.

Hywel:  This 3CG Kumite bracket is loaded with talent and I like how the first round matches look, though one side of the bracket is definitely more difficult than the other.

 Putting the two brown belts together with Marinho vs Tackett guarantees a tooth-and-nail match, and Roberto Jimenez vs Ribamar is an intriguing clash of generations. I'm predicting Jimenez to pass Riba purely because he's been training consistently, whereas Riba was out of action for the initial part of the lockdown. Tackett vs Marinho in the gi is a pick'em. 

Watson is going to want to prove himself so I expect him to come out guns blazing, but Arges is a two-time World champ for a reason. My money's on Arges to pass, while I see Batista grinding out a win over the tough Jaime Canuto. Styles make matches here, and Batista is a horrible match-up for anybody. 

I see Jimenez emerging from his side of the bracket to make it into the final, with the naturally-heavier Batista narrowly edging out Arges for his place in the final. I predict will be Batista who will win the grand prize of $10k, thanks to his tricky 50-50 guard from bottom and his slick back control. 

But with an 8-man as loaded as this, anything could happen

Ryan:  Left Side: This is the toughest side of the bracket, super-stacked! 

Ultimately, I believe Tackett is going to take the victory against Pedro to meet Riba in the semi-finals. I never doubt Roberto and wouldn't be surprised to see an upset here. However, I see Riba winning this side of the bracket and advancing into the finals.

Right Side: I see Gustavo pushing past Canuto in the first round to meet Gabriel Arges in the semi-finals. This semi-finals match, is going to be a war, but I believe Gabriel will come up on top. 

In the finals, I'm prepared to see Riba face off against Arges for the $10,000.

Chase: After a solid run of super fights, it's great to look at a stacked bracket like 3CG's Kumite! A surprise result in any one of the opening matches can completely change the dynamic of the tournament, and we've got some bangers lined up. 

As my colleagues have mentioned, the right half of the bracket is stacked with ELITE talent; Watson and Canuto are the showmen of the side, but World Champs Arges and Batista are two of the most strategic and tactical fighters of their generation – they should meet in the semi. 

Both have excellent 50/50 guards they wield offensively, and it's a coin-toss on how comes out on top for me – I'm going with Arges but I wouldn't be shocked to See Batista in the finals either. 

Meanwhile, the left hand of the bracket places veteran ManeulRibarmar against a sea of rising talents. 

His first match is against the fearsome Roberto Rimenz, a young man who has exploded onto the black scene by defeating Keenan Cornelius at WNO.  I think Roberto might be able to push the pace and get past Riba here by volume alone.

Our final first-round match pits Texas native and surging brown belt Will Tackett takes on Gracie Barra's Monster Pedro Marinho.  While infinitely talented, Tackett's current competition scheduled is heavily weighted towards no-gi and I think Marinho takes the win here – setting up the long-awaited rematch between Jimenez and Marinho after the two fought at No-Gi Worlds in 2019. 

I think Roberto's improved leaps since that match with Marinho backed in December and he'll be able to take the back and get the finish there.

Therefore my bracket concludes with Arges and Jimenez in the final – a battle of two back attack artists, and something I truly hope we get to see.  It's a points match, and Arges is the king of pacing and making the rules work for him – I give him the edge via experience. 

Prediction: Gabriel Arges