Posted on June 1, 2009 - by Jim Hughes

Congratulations Jeremy Pavlik and Julian Papasian: World Series of MMA Champions

The World Series of MMA 109: The Gauntlet, congratulates Open Division Champion Julian Papasian and College Division Champion Jeremy Pavlik. www.WorldSeriesofMMA.tv for more details

May 23 was a historic day for MMA in Hartford Connecticut. It was the first ever televised MMA event in the state of Connecticut outside the tribal nations. Royce Gracie Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Self Defense and MMA’s Jim Hughes and Perry Siegel put on the event, taking over Hartford’s Union Station by converting it to an full scale, pro level appearing MMA show, like what one might see at larger venues such as UFC, Pride, WEC, or K1 events. The house was packed with MMA enthusiasts and Fox News was on hand reporting on the event. Coors Lite and Harley Davidson, Whitford Security, Hot Tomatos, Coaches, and Yard Tavern, www.RoyceGracieMMA.com, www.roycegracie.tv, and www.virtualgracie.com were the primary sponsors for the event.

The World Series of MMA held a Grappling oriented competition which is legal in Connecticut. As Fox News reported, “it was a day and evening of non stop exciting action.”

Promoters Hughes and Siegel stated “Congratulations to the World Series of MMA US MMA OPEN Division Champion Julian Papasian and College MMA Challenge Division Champion Jeremy Pavlik. Mr. Pavlik represented the University of Connecticut Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club.” Competitors traveled from all over New England to compete. The next World Series of MMA is schedule September 12, 2009. Legendary UFC champ Royce Gracie is tentatively schedule to appear at the event.

In a phone interview from China where Mr. Gracie was attending the Art of War 12 on the same evening as World Series of MMA 109 The Gauntlet, he said “tell all the guys good job getting in there and competing it makes us better at what we do!”

“The event was strictly the Grappling portion of Mixed martial Arts,” says Mr. Hughes in an interview following the event. Mr. Hughes is a long time brazilian jiu jitsu student of legendary UFC, Pride, and K1 Fighter Royce Gracie. Mr. Siegel, the event director added, this is our 9th event, it was a very smooth running competiton where fighters got a lot of matches and there was great competitiveness as well as camaraderie. We had an important demonstration match of the World Series of MMA “Sting Match” between long time martial artists Paul Bratslavsky of West Hartford and Charlie McShane of Norwich. The “Sting Match” is as close to all out MMA as you can get without crossing the line in places like connecticut where MMA is not yet regulated. “Sting Grappling” concept is based on the intention of fighters to learn from their matches and gain experience rather than harm their opponents just to win.” Siegel continues by saying the WOrld Series of MMA “STING GRAPPLING (TM) and “STING MMA (TM) is a competition method where many fighters can come to the mat and have many matches throughout the day and walk away having really progressed in their skill level while minimizing the risk of injury.” The “sting match” demonstration may be viewed at www.WorldSeriesOfMMA.tv.