Rafa Mendes match from this weekend (gi or no-gi you must watch)

[Kyle Spalla]

All in days work. What tournament was that? SF Open?

[Mike Nall]

Glad this is getting rightful praise here

[Cora Sek]

I think this was at the Houston Open as he was just here....

[Liquidrob]

This was at the SF open

He won at the Houston open a couple weeks ago also

[Mike Nall]

I think this was at the Houston Open as he was just here....

This was the Houston open match.

[Manzo]

What a BEAST!!!

[Eddie Bravo]

The almost back take from the failed arm bar from the guard was nothing short of sorcery, plus all that guard passing was super sweet on the eyes. From these 2 matches it seems that he likes to go to spider web off the back. Not too many GI guys I'll sit thru, but I'll watch anything by Rafa that's for sure :-)

[Tony Toffolo]

From these 2 matches it seems that he likes to go to spider web off the back. Not too many GI guys I'll sit thru, but I'll watch anything by Rafa that's for sure :-)

ya he often likes to lock the shoulder and go for the arm. he appears to prefer keeping a kimura grip while going for the arm rather than a deep hook while holding the leg. i'm pretty sure he does, however, cross his feet.

[Mike Nall]

The almost back take from the failed arm bar from the guard was nothing short of sorcery, plus all that guard passing was super sweet on the eyes. From these 2 matches it seems that he likes to go to spider web off the back. Not too many GI guys I'll sit thru, but I'll watch anything by Rafa that's for sure :-)

Yeah Eddie. Some insight into his philosophy on that if you were curious, if not just ingore:

Rafa believes from the over-unders/seatbelt (no-gi or gi) that whatever side you land on should dictate whether you attack the RNC or the armbar. If you're on the over-arm side, you go for your RNCs/collar chokes. If you're on your under side you go for armbars and wristlocks.

Rafa is a ninja at pulling armbars from the back. He does that shit all the time both no-gi and gi. I'd say after his roll-thru anaconda choke from top half guard the armbar from the back is probably his most common finish in no-gi.

Glad you liked the matches

[Mike Nall]

ya he often likes to lock the shoulder and go for the arm. he appears to prefer keeping a kimura grip while going for the arm rather than a deep hook while holding the leg. i'm pretty sure he does, however, cross his feet.

This is very true. The only thing I will say is that he doesn't actually prefer to cross the feet or not. he doesn't really care. he keeps his knees pinching no matter what. If both of his feet are behind the far arm (the one that isn't being arm barred) he is fine with crossing the feet.