EBI 25: Landon Elmore’s Breakout Night
San Antonio, Texas — On September 12, 2025, the Eddie Bravo Invitational held one of its deepest, most exciting lightweight tournaments in recent years. Sixteen elite 155-lb competitors entered, but only one left with the crown, and the emergence may mark the arrival of a new star in submission grappling with an opportunity to compete in UFC BJJ 3.
The Run: Dominance from Start to Finish
Landon Elmore, just 19 years old and training out of Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, submitted every opponent he faced in regulation to win the title and the $20,000 prize. He opened with a heel hook on Roman Corona, then in the quarterfinals took out UFC veteran Bryce Mitchell via another heel hook. In the semis he defeated Reese Lafever, and in the final he submitted Keith Krikorian with yet another leg entanglement, this time finishing with an ankle lock.
Keith Krikorian also had an impressive run, submitting three opponents to reach the final. He leaned heavily on his leg-lock game and overtime experience, particularly in a matchup against Gianni Grippo where he forced overtime and locked a rear-naked choke to advance. However, Elmore’s regulation finishes proved too much in the final.
Technical Highlights: What Set Elmore Apart
- Leg-Lock Aggression with Composure: Elmore constantly threatened from heel hooks and ankle lock entries. He was not reckless, but precise, even when he scrambled or when opponents defended.
- Flying Triangle & Guard Attack Variants: Against Mitchell he jumped into a flying triangle early, then transitioned into leg attacks as the match developed. This dual threat forced Mitchell into uncomfortable positions.
- Efficiency Under Pressure: None of Elmore’s matches went to overtime. He closed each in regulation, showing he can finish without needing extra time to grind out positions.
The Field: Veteran Upsets & Strong Performances
- Bryce Mitchell came in with momentum and respect, but fell short in the quarterfinals when matched against Elmore’s leg-lock attack.
- Raphael Ferreira and Gianni Grippo had standout moments. Ferreira’s anaconda choke win and Grippo’s arm-triangle in regulation in earlier rounds showed they are still very dangerous in this format.
- Krikorian, a respected practitioner in the leg-lock world, proved once again he is among the top with multiple submission wins including heel hooks before facing the final.
What This Means
Elmore’s performance is more than just a tournament win: it is a statement. He becomes one of the few athletes to submit through all rounds in an EBI tournament, joining the likes of Gordon Ryan, Eddie Cummings, and Garry Tonon. At only purple belt level, his trajectory looks steeply upward, and he will have an opportunity to build on his momentum with his award winning performance guaranteeing his spot in the upcoming UFC BJJ 3 event coming up on Oct. 2nd.
For the lightweight division, this result may shift matchups. Veterans like Krikorian, Grippo, Ferreira will have to adapt to not just resisting leg attacks, but to the speed and creative attack patterns Elmore showed. Also, the grappling community is buzzing about whether this signals an era where younger competitors are closing the gap faster than usual thanks to specialized training (leg locks, dynamic entries, etc.).
Final Results Snapshot
|
Round |
Winner |
Method |
|---|---|---|
|
First Round (Round of 16) |
Elmore vs Corona |
Heel Hook |
|
Quarterfinal |
Elmore vs Bryce Mitchell |
Heel Hook |
|
Semifinal |
Elmore vs Reese Lafever |
Heel Hook |
|
Final |
Elmore vs Keith Krikorian |
Heel Hook / Ankle Lock entry style |
EBI 25 will be remembered for its clean finishes, dramatic upsets, and suggestions that the submission grappling landscape continues to evolve quickly. Landon Elmore’s night wasn’t just a win, it might be the spark for the next generation.