In one of the most thrilling fights of the thirteenth edition of the AEC tournament, the talented Manny Grimodou managed to impose his rhythm and showcase a level of combat maturity that surpasses his current status as an amateur, when he forced his opponent Tom De Gasparo to submit in the second round with a rear naked choke, marking his ninth career victory with only one loss.
The bout, held in the featherweight category (under 66 kg) on the main card in Fréjus, showed from the first moments the signs of a complex tactical battle. Grimodou, known for his wrestling and ground control abilities, attempted from the first round to dictate the pace by taking the fight to the ground. However, De Gasparo displayed a disciplined defensive approach, successfully countering takedown attempts with great caution and skill.
Mani Grimaudo décroche son title shot sur cette soumission⚡️ pic.twitter.com/1Aw1TcvsLm
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But the picture changed entirely in the second round. After carefully reading his opponent’s movements, Grimodou shifted his strategy, exploiting a moment of lost balance to bring De Gasparo down, then transitioned into a focused ground-and-pound phase, using strikes and control to neutralize his opponent, before finishing the bout with a rear naked choke executed with unflinching precision.
This victory wasn’t just another win in Grimodou’s record—it was a pivotal moment indicating that the young fighter is ready for higher levels of challenge. While his opponent clung to defensive techniques, Grimodou matured right there on the mat, asserting himself as a fighter with tactical intelligence, mental strength, and the drive to finish.
In a world that punishes hesitation, Manny Grimodou proved that the line between amateur and professional can sometimes be crossed with a single calculated move—and that his new record (9-1) is not just numbers, but a strong signal of what’s to come.
Technical Analysis: A deep dive into Grimodou and De Gasparo’s performance
From a technical standpoint, this bout revealed the subtle differences between a fighter seeking to dominate and one trying simply to endure.
Manny Grimodou presented an advanced model of in-fight reading. In the first round, he repeatedly attempted takedowns using the “double leg” technique, backed by deceptive level changes to throw his opponent off balance. De Gasparo responded with a solid high defense, using the “whizzer” and “underhooks” to nullify the attempts.
Although the first round did not clearly favor either fighter, what unfolded in the second round showed that Grimodou wasn’t merely executing techniques—he was gathering intel and building a strategy around his opponent’s weaknesses.
In a smart moment, he switched attack angles, using an “outside trip” near the hip area, surprising De Gasparo. From there, he transitioned into grappling dominance, moving to side control and then to back control.
Most notable was his calm and focused transition to the rear naked choke—he did not rush, but instead wore his opponent down with measured strikes to the head and shoulder to open the defense, before locking in the choke cleanly with no resistance.
As for Tom De Gasparo, despite showing disciplined defense in the first round, he made a strategic error in the second: instead of shifting to a more aggressive stance or trying to stand up early after being taken down, he chose passive defense, which allowed Grimodou full control of the pace and positioning.
