Two more matches have been added to Polaris 19, and one match has been changed as the result of an injury.
Josh Williams was forced to withdraw from his match against retired UFC fighter Phil Harris and he will now be replaced by someone who actually competed in the world’s premier organization alongside Harris, Paddy Holohan. Holohan amassed a respectable 3-2 record in the promotion before abruptly retiring from MMA competition due to a rare blood disorder. He will be stepping up to the mats for the first time in years at Polaris 19 to take on the tough challenge that Harris will present.
Another veteran MMA fighter will be competing on the preliminary card as ‘Mr bag and tag’ Nathan Jones takes on Polaris veteran Shane Curtis. Jones had over twenty fights on the UK MMA scene over the last few years before being signed to make his debut for Bellator back in 2021. Although Jones is an experienced competitor, they don’t come much tougher than his opponent. Curtis has had several exciting performances on the Polaris mats and will be eager to add a big name to his resume.
Finally, ADCC European trials 88kg champion Eoghan O’Flanagan will also be making his return to Polaris. O’Flanagan is one of the coaches at New Wave Academy and has been a regular feature on the UK scene, defeating some of the best competitors in the country like fellow Polaris veteran Ross Nicholls. He is in fine form at present after booking his place at the ADCC world championships later this year and he’ll be facing a man who is also no stranger to the podium at ADCC trials, Valentin Fels.
Fels is the BJJ competition team coach at the legendary Mjolnir MMA, the biggest MMA academy in Iceland. He is a truly impressive grappler and as an ADCC trials bronze medalist, he will be more than capable of challenging O’Flanagan on his home turf.
