Bryan DLG beats Agda for heavyweight gold

His black belt is not just for show as Bryan Deleon Guerrero displayed why he achieved the highest level of expertise in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with a gold medal win in Trench Tech Promotions’ “Mats on Fire” submission grappling tournament last Saturday at the Garapan Central Park Roundhouse.

They saved the matchup of the behemoths on the mat for last, as Deleon Guerrero took on a much heftier Kier Agda in the finals of the Adults No-Gi 206-250-lb heavyweight class for five minutes of nonstop, edge-of-your seat action.

Deleon Guerrero held down Agda in the final stretch as Agda settled for silver. Third place was Micronesian Games gold medalist wrestler Ryan Babauta after he defeated Ballen Song. There were five competitors in total in their weight class including Lucas Nutting and Kyle “Panda” Park.

In the finals, Agda used his weight to his advantage, pinning the much smaller Deleon Guerrero for an early 3-0 lead. Both went on trying to gain the upper hand as it was a grappling match that used up the whole floor plan. But Deleon Guerrero used his more refined skills, techniques, and loads of patience to get back into the match, 2-3.

With the five minutes almost all used up, Deleon Guerrero moved into more advantageous positions and guards that resulted in him racking up more points, while Agda stagnated. In the end, Deleon Guerrero’s smaller frame yet more explosive movements collected him more points to win, 6-3.

Deleon Guerrero, owner and coach of the new BJJ gym, Saipan Submissions Academy in Chalan Kanoa, said after the competition that his win felt great.

“The energy was really uplifting and electrifying. I would say everybody was super supportive regardless of what team they were in. They were just genuinely here to watch the sport grow and I think we did a really good job today,” he said.

With his match against Agda, he said, “I felt like he really brought his A-game today. We’ve grappled a few times before just like in training and he felt the best today. So, I really commend him for making it all the way to silver and giving me a really good push.”

“He was in the lead in the first half and I was just able to pull off a couple more points on the back end and secure the win, but the entire time, I had to stay on my toes, so kudos to him,” said the trainee under black belt Baret Yoshida—a prominent American figure in Jiu-Jitsu and a world no-gi champion.

Results of the rest of the Adult No-Gi weight categories and the Kids Gi categories will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.

Mats on Fire served as Trench Tech Promotions’ fundraiser for the upcoming Påtgon Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Guam set for Oct. 26.