This time, the "biggest party in grappling" is in Austin for a three-week residency, beginning with Fight to Win 166. 

Fight to Win 166 starts on March 13 at 4:30 p.m. ET. In the main event, two of central Texas’ finest will show down in a no-gi matchup when veteran black belt Manuel Ribamar takes on the 2020 Breakthrough Grappler of the Year, William Tackett.

Veteran versus rising star appears to be something of a trend at Fight to Win 166, as in the co-main event, Atos’ Lucas Pinheiro will face another 2020 breakthrough nominee, Joshua Cisneros. 

Also near the top of the card, Gabriel Almeida will pick up where he left off in 2020, taking on yet another legend in Rafael Lovato Jr.

Main Event: Manuel Ribamar vs William Tackett

Ribamar and Tackett are each making their second appearance in 2021 in this matchup. Ribamar, a 2019 no-gi world champion, may have a little bit of an edge to him in this matchup, coming off a close victory against Dante Leon at Fight To Win 164. Ribamar and Leon never got to do much jiu-jitsu in that matchup, but Riba did get a chance to show off his wrestling skills. Those will come in handy against Tackett, who has an explosive takedown game.

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Tackett is a well-rounded star in the making. He’s a multiple-time ADCC trials veteran coming off a recent Fight to Win Victory over John Combs. Still a brown belt, Tackett has knocked off several top-ranked already, but Riba would be a huge name to add to that list.

Co-Main Event: Lucas Pinheiro vs Josh Cisneros

Pinheiro and Cisneros each won an IBJJF Pans title last year; Pinheiro took gold at roosterweight while Cisneros won the light featherweight crown. Pinheiro is on a 13-match win streak since his last Fight to Win appearance at F2W 151. Pinheiro is not your typical roosterweight; he has masterful pressure passing, which he displayed in his Pans final. And he’s a finisher, with a nearly 50% submission rate.

Cisneros is new to the black belt ranks, receiving the strap in October 2020. But he’s already taken out several of the key players in the feather and light featherweight divisions. He broke into the rankings with his victory over Paulo Miyao at Pans, and at American Nationals, he avenged his only loss since earning his black belt, beating Isaac Doederlein. 

Cisneros is currently 9-1 as a black belt, and promises to be the next big thing in the lightest weight classes. But he’s up against a veteran on the Fight to Win stage this weekend, and Pinheiro will be looking to put the fire out on Cisneros’ hot streak.

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