Arena Grappling Series 25 Preview: Title Matches, Fan Favorites, and High-Paced Action in Philly
Arena Grappling returns Saturday, August 2 at 5 PM for Arena Series 25 and if you want to see it live, there’s only one way: be at Eddie Alvarez’s Underground Kings.
While the full card will be posted later for Arena+ subscribers and the undercard will hit YouTube the same week, the only chance to feel the tension in real time is in person.
Main Event: Luke Staley vs. The Face of UFC BJJ Keith Krikorian
Luke Staley has been on a dominant run, but his next defense might be his most challenging yet. He’ll face off against Keith Krikorian the face of UFC BJJ (sorry Kyvann) who’s been on an absolute tear for the past few years and had arguably the best match of the entire UFC BJJ Road to the Title against Isaac Doederlein.
This is a title match with serious implications. Both athletes are known for pushing the pace, and with the 165 belt on the line, every round matters.
Expect action.
Co-Main: Mike Krasnavage vs. Jonathan Pinghera – The Trilogy Fight
This is the tie-breaker. Mike Krasnavage and Jonathan Pinghera each hold a win over the other. Now, with the 155lb title on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Stylistically, this one has all the ingredients: precision, pace, and familiarity. These two know what the other brings and that usually leads to fireworks.
This one is not just about the belt anymore.
Main Card Highlights: Names You Need to Watch
Before we dive into the full match order, here are a few matchups that should be on every fan’s radar:
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James “Jimbo” VanOsdol, out of 10th Planet Bethlehem, has been incredibly active on the competition scene lately, and his match with Nick Toscano is a stylistic clash that promises a lot of movement and a lot of scrambles.
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Dietrich Trumbauer shows up on what feels like every other Arena card, and that’s not a bad thing. He takes on Alejandro Mayorga in what’s likely to be one of the night’s highest-paced matches.
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Steve “Captain America” Joachim is back and fans love him for a reason. His energy, personality, and consistency always bring the crowd to life. He’ll face Josh Sachetti, a pressure-heavy top player who’s also no stranger to Arena events. Classic clash of styles.
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Sam Hoke steps in on short notice to face Brandon Smith. Both competitors are making their Arena debuts and both are new to the ruleset. That usually means high energy, unpredictability, and the chance to see who can adapt his game more effectively to the ruleset.
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Madeleine Avila, one of the region’s most active competitors, takes on 10th Planet purple belt Sarah Vasquez, who’s making her Arena debut. Both women are skilled, scrappy, and eager to make a statement.
Full Match Order – Arena Series 25
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Luke Staley vs. Keith Krikorian
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Mike Krasnavage vs. Jonathan Pinghera
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Nick Toscano vs. James “Jimbo” VanOsdol
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Dietrich Trumbauer vs. Alejandro Mayorga
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Steve Joachim vs. Josh Sachetti
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Brandon Smith vs. Sam Hoke
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Madeleine Avila vs. Sarah Vasquez
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Efrain vs. Evan Lafleur
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Will D vs. Michael Reina
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Annabelle Christie vs. Rachel Jenkins
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Kurzel vs. Henderson
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Philip Okoh vs. Khalil Lewis
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Estrella vs. Cohen
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Backman vs. Marcus
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Mathew Coston vs. Anthony Lorruso
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Long vs. CashDollar
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TJ Salas vs. Kade
Be There or Catch the Replay (But Let’s Be Honest...You Want to Be There)
Arena Series 25 kicks off Saturday, August 2 at 5 PM at Eddie Alvarez’s Underground Kings.
There’s no livestream this time around, so in-person is the only way to catch the action as it happens. The event will drop for Arena+ subscribers a few days later, with the undercard released on YouTube around the same time.
And as always, every match follows Arena Grappling’s signature Endurance Format which includes three 5-minute rounds designed to reward aggression, control, and creativity. You can read the full rules here.
