Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) is a submission-only jiu-jitsu tournament and is widely considered in the grappling world as one of the top submission-only style events on the planet.
EBI 7 took place live from The Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, July 16 and featured a one-night, 16-man, featherweight tournament with the belt up for grabs. All of the action streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
EBI featherweight champion Eddie Cummings and Bill Cooper were declared the tournament finalists after 17 matches and three victories each. Cummings came up on top in the main event of the evening, as he secured a heel hook less than two minutes into the match against Cooper to retain his title.
Let’s take a look at how both Cummings and Cooper got to the tournament finals.
Cummings kicked off the event with a rear-naked choke over Sergio Hernandez in the opening round. His most impressive win of the night, however, came in the quarterfinals — he tapped Chad George out with another heel hook in only 20 seconds.
The Champ @eddie_wolverine making it look easy in the Quarterfinals at #EBI7 on #UFCFIGHTPASS! https://t.co/LQKCXGiL5x
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) July 17, 2016
In the semifinals, Cummings defeated Mike Davila via rear-naked choke.
.@eddie_wolverine shows why he is the champ in Round 1 at #EBI7 on #UFCFIGHTPASS! https://t.co/veavj8hpFz
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) July 17, 2016
Cooper didn’t have quite as easy of a path to the finals as Cummings did. In his opening round match against Ian Sanders, there was no successful submission in the 10 minute regulation period, but Cooper got the job done in overtime via rear-naked choke. He was supposed to face Denny Prokopos in the quarterfinals, but Prokopos pulled out of the tournament due to a broken rib suffered in the opening round. Instead, Cooper grappled against Prokopos’ opening round opponent, Jose Gutierrez, and tapped him out with a heel hook in under four minutes.
Blink and you’ll miss it! Bill Cooper with the heel hook for win in the Quarterfinals at #EBI7 on #UFCFIGHTPASS! https://t.co/FgWUVdOiCY
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) July 17, 2016
Cooper’s semifinal match against Geo Martinez was one of the most back-and-forth matches of the evening, but it was also filled with controversy. In the overtime period, it was debated by officials whether or not back control was lost. But it was Cooper who ended up securing a quick armbar to advance to the finals, where he would fall to Cummings.
Here’s a full list of results from EBI 7:
Opening Round
Eddie Cummings def. Sergio Hernandez via Rear-Naked Choke at 4:20
Chad George def. Geoff Real via Quickest Escape in Overtime
Mike Davila def. Joao Marinho via Heel Hook at 4:51
Baret Yoshida def. Alex Ecklin via Rear-Naked Choke at 2:20
Bill Cooper def. Ian Sanders via Rear-Naked Choke in Overtime
Denny Prokopos def. Jose Gutierrez via Rear-Naked Choke in Overtime
Rafael Domingos def. Ashley Williams via Rear-Naked Choke in Overtime
Geo Martinez def. Mikey Main via Heel Hook at 9:00
Quarterfinals
Eddie Cummings def. Chad George via Heel Hook at :20
Mike Davila def. Baret Yoshida via Armbar in Overtime
Bill Cooper def. Jose Gutierrez* via Heel Hook at 3:32
Geo Martinez def. Rafael Domingos via Triangle Choke at 9:03
Semifinals
Eddie Cummings def. Mike Davila via Rear-Naked Choke at 2:41
Bill Cooper def. Geo Martinez via Armbar in Overtime
Finals
Eddie Cummings def. Bill Cooper via Heel Hook at 1:45
Special Matches
Cora Sek def. Zoey Chiles via Armbar in Overtime
Danielle Garcia def. Jasmine Johnson via Rear-Naked Choke in Overtime
Grace Gundrum def. Janelle Tkaczuk via Armbar at 6:58
*Gutierrez returned to the tournament after Prokopos pulled out due to a broken rib