Not all bracket predictions are for the NCAA Basketball’s March Madness.

I have reviewed the brackets and bios of all 16 competitors in the EBI 3 170 lbs tournament. After watching video on all of the competitors and watching some of these guys compete at previous EBIs and other tournaments around So Cal, here are my predictions. Feel free to boo and mock them in the comments below.

First Round

Garry Tonon vs Josh Valles

Prediction: Tonon

Thoughts: Valles won NoGi Worlds at Blue Belt, but he is no match for Tonon.

Karen Daradedyan vs. Joey Hauss

Prediction: Daradedyan

Thoughts: Daradedyan is the more experienced grappler and has nasty foot locks. Hauss is talented, but no match for the Gokor product. On a sidenote, Hauss is an up and coming comedian on the LA comedy circuit.

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Match 3: Stephen Martinez vs. Enrico Cocco

Prediction: Cocco

Thoughts: Cocco, the ADCC veteran and Black Belt should be able to handle Martinez. I would like to see Cocco walk out to the mats with ‘CoCo’ as his entrance song.

Lauri Karpinnen vs Eddie Cummings

Prediction: Cummings

Thoughts: Cummings has already taken out one of 10th Planet’s top Black Belts, Denny Propokos. Karpinnen, a 10th Planet Purple Belt, will likely get caught in some foot lock by Cummings.

Richie Martinez vs. Julio Cordova.

Prediction: Martinez

Thoughts: Boogieman Martinez made the finals of the first EBI and will likely catch Cordova, who is also an EBI veteran.

Darragh O’Conaill vs Marcelo Mafra

Prediction: Mafra

Thoughts: Possibly the best first round match up between 2014 World NoGi Champion Mafra and the 2014 London Open Gi and NoGi Champion O’Conaill. Mafra has the edge with the home court advantage.

Josh Hinger vs Michael Padilla

Prediction: Hinger

Thoughts: Hinger has more experience on the west coast BJJ scene with 2nd place finishes at the 2014 American Nationals Gi and NoGi divisions.

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Matt Secor vs Nathan Orchard

Prediction: Orchard

Thoughts: This is Orchard’s third EBI appearance. He finished in second place in the last edition and his experience with this format and his mean streak will give him an edge over Secor.

Quarterfinals

Garry Tonon vs Karen Daradeyan

Prediction: Tonon

Thoughts: This could really go either way. This match is a dream match for BJJ fans with a foot fetish. The loser will likely be limping off the mats.

Enrico Cocco vs Eddie Cummings

Prediction: Cocco

Thoughts: This is such a close match up. Eddie’s best chance to win is to catch Cocco with a leg lock early in the match. Cocco has the edge in major competitions and will eek out a win in overtime where the comptitors will start in top arm bar or back control positions.

Richie Martinez vs Marcelo Mafra

Prediction: Mafra

Thoughts: This will be close. I give the edge to Mafra based on experience and technical skills.

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Josh Hinger vs. Nathan Orchard

Prediction: Orchard

Thoughts: Dead Orchard. That is all

Semifinals

Garry Tonon vs Enrico Cocco

Prediction: Tonon

Thoughts: Tonon defeated Cocco by rear naked choke at NoGi Worlds. I see a repeat of this match at EBI 3.

Marcelo Mafra vs Nathan Orchard

Prediction: Mafra

Thoughts: Mafra will play a tight and conservative game and best Orchard in overtime by riding/control time.

Finals

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Garry Tonon vs. Marcelo Mafra

Prediction: Tonon

Thoughts: Tonon will have his choice of burgers and women after he wins that tight EBI belt.