Shai Gerena has taken a monumental step toward the biggest moment of his career, winning the Polaris lightweight contenders tournament and earning a title shot against reigning champion Ethan Crelinsten at Polaris 36 on March 7th, 2026. In doing so, the Belgian brown belt not only secured the opportunity of a lifetime, but also etched his name into the lineage of one of Europe’s most respected professional grappling promotions.
Founded in 2015 by UK grappler and promoter Tom Barlow, Polaris Professional Jiu Jitsu Invitational was created to showcase elite submission-only jiu-jitsu in a professional, spectator-friendly format. From its earliest events in the UK, Polaris built its reputation by hosting world champions and ADCC veterans, quickly becoming one of Europe’s premier stages for no-gi grappling. Over the years, Polaris has featured athletes such as Garry Tonon, Craig Jones, and Dillon Danis, while steadily expanding its international reach. By the time it reached the mid-30s in event numbering, Polaris had firmly established itself as a proving ground where rising European talents collide with seasoned global veterans.
Gerena entered the lightweight contenders tournament on February 22nd, 2026 as one of the favorites, but few could have predicted the sheer dominance he would display. Over the last several years, he has been steadily building his résumé, including a quarter-final appearance at the ADCC European, Middle Eastern, and African Trials in 2025. Still, what he accomplished inside the Polaris bracket exceeded expectations.
His run began against top Hungarian prospect Matyas Jonas, whom Gerena submitted with an ankle lock in just 1 minute and 44 seconds. In the semifinal, he faced veteran competitor and two-time ADCC UK champion Sam Gibbs. Gerena needed even less time this round, catching Gibbs with another ankle lock in a blistering 40 seconds.
If there were any doubts remaining, he erased them in emphatic fashion. He submitted Jakub Bonkowski in just 20 seconds before finishing Jay Herridge in the final with a devastating Estima lock after only 8 seconds of action.
In total, Gerena tapped four elite European opponents in under three minutes of combined mat time. It was one of the most explosive tournament performances in Polaris history and instantly elevated him from top prospect to legitimate title challenger.
Now, he faces the toughest test of his career: reigning Polaris lightweight champion Ethan Crelinsten. A seasoned ADCC veteran who has competed on the sport’s biggest stages, Crelinsten captured the Polaris lightweight title at Polaris 24 nearly three years ago and has successfully defended his position as one of the division’s most dangerous competitors. Where Gerena brings youth, momentum, and leg-lock ferocity, Crelinsten brings experience, composure, and years of elite-level battles.
Polaris 36 will not only feature the lightweight championship bout, but also a featherweight title fight between Owen Jones and Gianni Grippo for the vacant belt, adding even more intrigue to an already stacked card.
As Polaris continues its evolution from a UK-based invitational to a global platform for world-class grappling, Shai Gerena now stands on the brink of championship history. On March 7th, 2026, he will attempt to turn one of the most electrifying tournament performances the promotion has ever seen into a world title victory.
The full Polaris 36 event, including the lightweight championship clash between Gerena and Crelinsten, will stream live on FloGrappling.
London continues to be one of the hottest scenes for professional jiu jitsu.
