Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025 (TODAY!)
Location: Fairfield Halls, Croydon, UK
Start Time: 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM UK Time
Stream: UFC Fight Pass
Format: 12 fights featuring South America vs. Asia and Oceania theme
Main Event: Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Tommy Langaker vs. Owen Livesey
For the Vacant Polaris Light Heavyweight Championship
This is the marquee matchup that has the grappling world buzzing – a classic David vs. Goliath story with serious technical implications.
Tommy Langaker – The Pound-for-Pound King Moving Up
Background: Norwegian submission specialist widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound grapplers in the world
Weight Class: Naturally competes at middleweight (77kg) – moving up significantly
Credentials:
- ADCC Trials winner and IBJJF No-Gi World Champion
- Multiple Polaris victories with dominant performances
- Known for his incredible technical precision and submission finishing ability
- Exceptional guard game and back control
Style: Technical perfectionist with an incredible submission rate. Langaker’s game revolves around superior positioning, relentless pressure, and finding submissions from seemingly impossible positions. His guard retention and scrambling ability are among the best in the sport.
The Challenge: Moving up multiple weight classes to face a naturally bigger, stronger opponent. This represents the biggest size disadvantage Langaker has ever faced in his professional career.
Owen Livesey – The Physical Specimen
Background: English powerhouse and natural light heavyweight
Record: 8-4-1 in professional grappling
Credentials:
- Polaris veteran with multiple impressive performances
- Known for his explosive athleticism and physical dominance
- Strong wrestling base with dangerous submission threats
Style: Explosive, athletic grappler who uses his size and strength advantages effectively. Livesey combines solid technical fundamentals with overwhelming physicality. His top pressure and submission defense have been tested against elite competition.
The Opportunity: This is Livesey’s chance to capture his first major title and establish himself as a champion. Fighting at his natural weight class gives him every physical advantage.
Fight Analysis & Predictions
Tommy Langaker’s Path to Victory:
- Technical Superiority: Use his superior technique to negate Livesey’s size advantage
- Guard Game: Pull guard early and work his world-class bottom game
- Submission Hunting: Look for back takes and leg entanglements where technique trumps size
- Pace Control: Make it a technical chess match rather than a physical battle
Owen Livesey’s Path to Victory:
- Physical Dominance: Use size and strength to control positions
- Top Pressure: Keep Langaker on bottom and wear him down
- Submission Defense: Survive Langaker’s initial submission attempts and tire him out
- Late Finish: Look for opportunities as Langaker potentially fades from the size disadvantage
X-Factors:
- Weight Cut Impact: How will the weight gain affect Langaker’s cardio and mobility?
- Experience Gap: Langaker’s championship experience vs. Livesey’s hunger for his first title
- Polaris Rules: The specific ruleset could favor either fighter’s style
Event Theme: South America vs. Asia and Oceania
Polaris 33 features a unique continental team competition format, pitting grapplers from South America against representatives from Asia and Oceania. This adds an extra layer of excitement and national pride to each bout.
Notable Fights on the Card:
While the full card details are limited, confirmed bouts include:
- Injana Goodman vs. Gamila Kanew – Women’s bout featuring international talent
- Ross Nicholls vs. Paul Redmond – Regional European talent showcase
- Samuel Nagai – Confirmed for the South American squad
The card promises to showcase emerging talent from both continents alongside established veterans, following Polaris’s tradition of mixing prospects with proven stars.
What Makes This Event Special
Title Implications
This is for a vacant championship, meaning we’re guaranteed a new Polaris champion. The light heavyweight division has been without a titleholder, making this bout crucial for establishing divisional hierarchy.
David vs. Goliath Narrative
Langaker’s decision to move up multiple weight classes creates one of the most compelling size mismatches in recent Polaris history. It’s a testament to his confidence and skill that he’s willing to take this challenge.
Continental Pride
The South America vs. Asia/Oceania theme adds national and regional pride elements that elevate every fight on the card.
Polaris Legacy
This marks another chapter in Polaris’s 10-year history of showcasing elite grappling talent and creating memorable moments.
Viewing Details
- Platform: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
- Time: 2:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM UK Time
- Location: Fairfield Halls, Croydon (South London)
- Tickets: Available through Polaris official channels
Prediction
This fight represents everything great about modern submission grappling – technique vs. athleticism, experience vs. hunger, and the eternal question of whether skill can overcome physical advantages.
Prediction: Tommy Langaker by submission in Round 2. While Livesey will have early success with his size and strength, Langaker’s technical superiority and championship experience will eventually find an opening. Expect Langaker to weather the early storm, find his rhythm, and secure a back take or leg entanglement for the finish.
However, if Livesey can avoid submissions and use his physical advantages consistently, he has a real path to victory and his first major championship.
