The Tackle Grapple Grappling League is back with a packed lineup featuring white belts, blue belts, purple belts, a black belt showcase, and a lightweight title fight at the top of the card. That means we get the full spectrum of jiu jitsu: fresh chaos, developing violence, polished technique, and at least one match where someone’s coach will be yelling the same instruction 14 times while being completely ignored.
The card is headlined by Tyler Wittreich vs. Andrew Meissiner for the TGGL Lightweight Belt, giving the event a legitimate championship feel. Belts make everything better. They turn a normal grappling match into a dramatic morality play where one guy leaves with hardware and the other guy gets to pretend he “learned a lot.”
Before that, the card is loaded with matchups across weight classes and belt levels, creating the kind of afternoon where nobody really gets to hide. You either impose your game or you spend six minutes finding out that “working on escapes” is not the same thing as escaping.
The TGGL Card
Justin Hons vs. Jason Klaus
Black Belt Match
The card features a black belt matchup between Justin Hons and Jason Klaus, which should bring a different pace and level of tactical violence to the room. Black belt matches are always interesting because they can look calm right up until someone makes one small mistake and suddenly their leg is being folded into a legally distinct origami project.
Sean Soeder vs. Jackson Dougherty The 185 blue belt division gets a strong matchup with Sean Soeder vs. Jackson Dougherty. Blue belt matches are where grappling starts becoming both technical and emotionally unstable. Everyone knows just enough to be dangerous, but not always enough to be safe from their own confidence.
At 155, Jihad Salti takes on Austin Campbell in what could be one of the faster-paced matches on the card. Lighter blue belt matches tend to bring movement, scrambles, and submission attempts from weird angles, which is great entertainment for everyone except the person currently stuck defending three things at once.
Dillan Cowling vs. Raphael Abernathy brings the 145-pound white belt energy to the mat. These are the matches where cardio, nerves, and survival instincts all walk into a room together and immediately start arguing. Expect speed, urgency, and possibly one of those exchanges where both athletes briefly invent a new martial art.
Abdul Anous vs. Anthony Haywood Another blue belt clash features Abdul Anous vs. Anthony Hay wood, adding more depth to one of the busiest sections of the card. This is the kind of matchup that can turn into a pressure battle fast, where top position, grip fighting, and the ability to stay composed under fatigue may decide everything.
Marty Rehor vs. Korey Datsko-Miller At 170 pounds, Marty Rehor meets Korey Datsko-Miller in a white belt matchup that could easily become one of the most fun fights on the card. White belt matches often produce pure competitive honesty. No elaborate misdirection. No 47-step lapel trap. Just two people trying extremely hard to win a grappling match while their coaches age visibly in real time.
Forrest Ramage vs. Isaih Bronston gives the 155 white belt division another spotlight. At this level, aggression matters, but so does composure. The athlete who can settle in first, win position, and avoid turning every scramble into a haunted house ride will have the edge.
James Neeley vs. Cowan Stevens The purple belt matchup between James Neeley and Cowan Stevens should be one of the more technical fights on the card. Purple belt is where jiu jitsu gets meaner in a quieter way. The mistakes are smaller, the traps are better hidden, and the submissions tend to appear right after someone thinks they’re finally safe.
Tyler Wittreich vs. Andrew Meissiner
TGGL Lightweight Belt
Then comes the title fight.
Tyler Wittreich vs. Andrew Meissiner for the TGGL Lightweight Belt gives this card its centerpiece. A championship match changes the temperature. Every exchange matters more. Every grip feels heavier. Every bad decision becomes part of a highlight reel someone will definitely post online with dramatic music.
This is the match that gives the event its edge. Two athletes, one belt, and a room full of people pretending they would be calm in the same situation.
They would not.
Cleveland Jiu Jitsu Gets Its Own Stage
TGGL continues to carve out a space for local grappling that feels more direct, more personal, and more entertaining than a standard tournament format. Instead of getting lost in a massive bracket, athletes get a matchup, a card, and a chance to make people remember their name.
That matters.
Local jiu jitsu needs stages like this. It needs events where white belts can get experience, blue belts can test their progress, higher belts can showcase real skill, and the community can gather around something that feels more like a fight night than a spreadsheet.
On May 16th at 1:00 PM, Tackle Jiu Jitsu is giving Cleveland exactly that.
A card. A crowd. A title fight. A bunch of grapplers with something to prove.
TGGL is back.
Someone is leaving with a belt.
A few people are leaving with sore necks.
And everybody else gets to watch.
