16-man lightweight tournament produces shocking championship result as teenager makes statement
San Antonio, Texas – EBI 25: The Lightweights delivered one of the most surprising tournament conclusions in recent memory on September 12th, as 19-year-old Landon Elmore captured the lightweight championship by defeating heavily favored Keith Krikorian in the final via ankle lock submission in under one minute.
The Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu representative, who trains under the legendary John Danaher, put on a masterclass performance throughout the 16-man bracket, finishing every single opponent with leg attacks and earning $20,000 for his efforts.
The Road to Glory
Elmore’s path to the title was nothing short of spectacular. After submitting late replacement Roman Corona with a heel hook in the opening round, the teenager faced his biggest test in the quarter-finals against UFC veteran Bryce Mitchell. In what many considered the upset of the tournament, Elmore effortlessly submitted the highly regarded MMA fighter with another heel hook, announcing himself as a legitimate force in the grappling world.
The semi-finals saw Elmore face teammate Reese Lafever from Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, but training partnerships meant nothing as Elmore secured yet another heel hook victory to book his place in the final.
Krikorian’s Impressive Run Falls Short
Keith Krikorian, the 10th Planet veteran and pre-tournament favorite, had his own dominant run to the final. The experienced competitor submitted Jonathan Wilson and rising prospect Raphael Ferreira with heel hooks before facing his toughest test against decorated veteran Gianni Grippo in the semi-finals.
Krikorian and Grippo delivered the match of the night, an epic battle that required EBI overtime to determine a winner. Krikorian ultimately secured the victory with a rear-naked choke, setting up the highly anticipated final against the teenage sensation.
The Final: Youth Conquers Experience
Despite Krikorian’s vast experience and championship pedigree, Elmore showed no nerves in the final. The teenager immediately went to work on Krikorian’s legs and secured the ankle lock in under a minute, stunning the San Antonio crowd and cementing one of the biggest upsets in EBI history.
Complete EBI 25 Results
First Round:
- Derek Rayfield def. Ethan Crelinsten via submission (armbar) in EBI overtime
- Reese Lafever def. Mauricio Rios via decision (ride-time) in EBI overtime
- Bryce Mitchell def. JJ Bowers via decision (ride-time) in EBI overtime
- Landon Elmore def. Roman Corona via submission (heel hook)
- Keith Krikorian def. Jonathan Wilson via submission (heel hook)
- Raphael Ferreira def. Henrique Camargo via submission (anaconda choke)
- Gianni Grippo def. Grayson Henley via submission (arm-triangle choke)
- Dylan Cameron def. Ben Eddy via decision (ride-time) in EBI overtime
Quarter-Finals:
- Reese Lafever def. Derek Rayfield via decision (ride-time) in EBI overtime
- Landon Elmore def. Bryce Mitchell via submission (heel hook)
- Keith Krikorian def. Raphael Ferreira via submission (heel hook)
- Gianni Grippo def. Dylan Cameron via submission (arm-triangle choke)
Semi-Finals:
- Landon Elmore def. Reese Lafever via submission (heel hook)
- Keith Krikorian def. Gianni Grippo via submission (rear-naked choke) in EBI overtime
Final:
- Landon Elmore def. Keith Krikorian via submission (ankle lock)
Superfights:
- Lauren Sears def. Hope Holmes via submission (gogo clinch)
- Manning Leverett def. Jeremy Owens via submission (triangle armbar)
What This Means
Elmore’s victory represents a changing of the guard in lightweight grappling. At just 19 years old, training under one of the sport’s most respected coaches, and with a devastating leg lock game, Elmore has announced himself as a major player in the no-gi scene.
The tournament also showcased the continued evolution of leg lock attacks, with heel hooks and ankle locks dominating the submission finishes throughout the bracket.
For Krikorian, despite the loss, his run to the final reinforced his status as one of the sport’s elite competitors. His overtime victory over Grippo was a technical masterpiece that reminded everyone why he was the pre-tournament favorite.
EBI 25 will be remembered as the night a teenager shocked the grappling world and claimed his first major championship. With his combination of youth, technical skill, and championship mentality, Landon Elmore looks poised to be a dominant force in submission grappling for years to come.
The full EBI 25 event replay is available on UFC Fight Pass.
