Some of the best talent in the nation will come together on Sunday, October 4th, 2015 at the Journeymen Fall Classic. The main event will pair the most highly credentialed guys in each weight class together in round robin brackets. Prior to the main event the Journeymen Classic will feature the Middle School, Women’s Division, and Over-Flo Challenge on Saturday, October 3rd.



The second feature bout in our series is Nick Suriano vs. Vitali Arujau. The winner of this bout will position themselves to be considered for the number one ranking going into the regular season.

#2-Nick Suriano, Bergen Catholic:
3x NJ State Champion
3x Beast of the East Champion
2014 Fila Cadet Freestyle Runner-Up

#4-Vitali Arujau, Syosset High School:
2015 NY State Champion
2015 Fargo Cadet Champion
2015 UWW Cadet Freestyle Runner-Up

Nick Suriano has been ranked first or second in his weight class since hitting the high school scene in 2012. He has had tremendous battles with Spencer Lee and Daton Fix (watch Suriano outlast Fix at Who's Number One from last year). At the Journeymen Fall Classic expect an exciting match-up between Suriano and New Yorker, Vitali Arujau.

Arujau brings a great resume himself and has had eyes on him from the onset of his career. When your father is a two-time World Champion and Olympic medalist you seem to be on people's radar screens.

This match intrigues me because of the weight shift of the competitors. Arujau won the his state championship at 132lbs. last season. He moved down to 126 for NHSCA Nationals and Fargo during the spring and summer months. He is registered for the Journeymen Fall Classic at 125lbs. Suriano has made a steady climb in weight and was a state champion at 120lbs. in 2015.

I expect this to be a wide open match in the neutral position. Arujau likes to use a variety of leg attacks to create action. Suriano is a little more calculated in his approach. He does have a very high finishing percentage due to good shot selection.

I think the real battle in the match is going to take place when Suriano is in the advantage position. He works a good armbar series and poses a threat to anyone that ends up underneath him. If Arujau is able to win that battle he will put himself in position to knock off the higher ranked Suriano. Tune into the action at the Journeymen Fall Classic here.