By Robert Balajadia

Submit Int. held it’s first event of 2018, taking over the Dusit Thani Resort Friday evening for 11 fights and one kids exhibition to kick off the new year.

The main event between Carlson Gracie’s Anthony Cruz and Figo’s Ryan Bustamante didn’t disappoint as Cruz managed to sink in an armbar 16 minutes into the action. After surviving a wealth of reversals, Cruz patiently worked his way to a full-mount that wore out Bustamante late in the match where Cruz eventually finished the fight with the armbar.

Cruz’s submission was only the second of the night with draws dominating the evening with submission being the only way a fighter can claim victory.

Cruz took home “Best Submission” honors and Purebred’s Oscar Ladesma took home the “Fastest Submission” trophy with a 5-minute cross-choke victory over Vida’s McKlane Alfred.

Vida’s Trevin Jones was awarded “Best Takedown” as he and Figo’s Norberto Rosario battled to a no-gi draw. Though there was no trophy for ‘fight of the night’, Carlson Gracie’s Kyle Mafnas and Purebred’s Nick Brown put on an action-packed 10-minute bout that garnered the loudest fan reactions and cheers.

Full Fight Results

Exhibition: Benjamin Borja (FIGO) vs. Kristian Santos (Carlson Grace) – DRAW

[BLUE] Gi – Jude Cruz (VIDA) vs. Jeff Mesa (Spike 22) – DRAW
[BLUE] Gi – Kyle Alvarez (VIDA) vs. Keoni Taimanglo (Purebred) – DRAW
[BROWN] Gi – Derrick Calvo (Carlson Gracie) def. Alan Cepeda via injury stoppage
[BLUE] Gi – Corey Quitugua (FIGO) vs. Ken Rios (Spike 22) – DRAW
[OPEN] No Gi – Jarome Cruz (FIGO) vs. Kenji Okiyama (Spike 22) – DRAW
[OPEN] No Gi – Kyle Mafnas (Carlson Gracie) vs. Nick Brown (Purebred) – DRAW
[PURPLE] Gi – Oscar Ladesma (Purebred) def. Mcklane Alfred (VIDA) via cross choke
[PURPLE] Gi – Isaac Balajadia (FIGO) vs. Roman Alvarez (Spike 22) – DRAW
[BROWN] No Gi – Scotty Eclavea (VIDA) vs. Oliver Cruz (Purebred) – DRAW
[OPEN] No Gi – Trevin Jones (VIDA) vs. Norberto Rosario (FIGO) – DRAW
[BROWN] Gi – Anthony Cruz (Carlson Gracie) def. Ryan Bustamante (FIGO) via armbar