Overview
KASAI Elite Grappling Championships was a New York–based professional submission grappling promotion founded in 2017 by Rich Byrne and his team. The organization quickly became one of the most prestigious no-gi events of the late 2010s. KASAI established itself with a strong emphasis on high production value, elite athlete matchmaking, and a competitive round-robin format that distinguished it from other major promotions of the time. Its events regularly featured ADCC champions, IBJJF world champions, and top MMA grapplers, helping elevate the visibility and professionalism of no-gi competition in the United States.