NAGACompleted
NAGA San Diego Grappling Championship
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Alliant University · San Diego, CA
213Competitors
53Academies
261Matches
82Divisions
88Golds
Results
Cage Combat Academy ZENITH dominated the NAGA San Diego Grappling Championship, capturing 6 gold medals across 17 total podium finishes to lead all 53 academies. The San Diego-based program's medal haul nearly doubled second-place Victory MMA's 5 golds. Top individual performers included yellow belt Elijah Ryder Gutierrez (rating: 6633) from Checkmat Murrieta and blue belt Malik Cano (rating: 4878) from Balance Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, who earned multiple gold medals across the 64 divisions. Sebastian Caballero earned Tournament MVP honors.
By the Numbers
The event produced a 53% submission rate across 261 total matches, exceeding the North American Grappling Association's 49% season average by 4 percentage points. Submissions accounted for 138 decisive finishes, while 116 matches ended by decision or points. The youth beginner male 50–59.9 nogi division emerged as the deepest bracket with 9 placements, indicating strong youth participation in that weight class.
Academy Intel
Cage Combat Academy ZENITH's 17-medal total more than doubled third-place Kenams Fighting Club's 8 medals, establishing clear separation at the top. Alliance Jiu Jitsu Chula Vista finished fourth with 5 golds and a perfect 4-0-1 record, while Checkmat Upland (4 golds, 0 silvers) and 10th Planet–Burbank (3 golds, 5 silvers) rounded out the top six. The 10th Planet affiliate gyms combined for 10 total medals across two separate teams, demonstrating the no-gi program's depth in the Southern California region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cage Combat Academy ZENITH led the team standings with 6 gold medals. Top gold medalists include Jasmine Marguerite Ruediger, Elijah Ryder Gutierrez, Joel Thomas Flynn.
Cage Combat Academy ZENITH finished first with 6 gold medals at NAGA San Diego Grappling Championship. View complete team standings and academy results on Jits.gg.
NAGA San Diego Grappling Championship had a 53% submission rate across 261 matches.
Yes, 261 matches are tracked for NAGA San Diego Grappling Championship. View full brackets and results on Jits.gg.
NAGA San Diego Grappling Championship was a NAGA tournament held at San Diego, CA.
