Polaris 40: Garry Tonon returns to face Sam McNally

Name: Polaris 40
Start: 2026-11-21T14:30:00+00:00
End: 2026-11-21T22:30:00+00:00
Location: Central Hall

Published 2 November 2026 · Updated 2 November 2026 · GREATER News

Portrait of a shirtless Garry Tonon, in an official ONE Championship photo — Photo: ONE Championship

Garry Tonon is back on the stage that made him famous. On Saturday 21 November he faces Sam McNally at Polaris 40, at Central Hall in Southampton (UK), with the Polaris lightweight title on the line and a score to settle: McNally knocked him out of ADCC 2022 in an upset.

Key points

· It is a rematch: McNally, the lowest seed in the division, eliminated top seed Tonon 3-0.

· Tonon has never lost at Polaris: four wins and one draw in five matches.

· He comes in off an MMA loss: a decision defeat to Shamil Gasanov in August 2025.

The specialist who helped build Polaris

To understand this return, go back to 2015. Polaris had just been born and Tonon, known as the "Lion Killer", produced some of his most memorable performances there: he heel-hooked three well-known MMA fighters (Marcin Held, Masakazu Imanari and Gilbert Burns), drew with Rousimar Palhares, another feared leg-lock specialist, and closed the run with a decision win over Dillon Danis in 2017.

Graphic showing Garry Tonon's five Polaris matches: four wins and one draw

That submission-first style took him to ONE Championship in 2018. His MMA record stands at 9-2 according to Wikipedia, with jiu-jitsu finishes such as his kimura on Johnny Nuñez and his kneebar on Gasanov. His two losses are the knockout against Thanh Le in a 2022 title fight and the rematch with Gasanov.

Is he really "returning" to jiu jitsu?

With some caveats. FloGrappling and Polaris present it as his first jiu-jitsu superfight in nearly six years, but Tonon has not been completely away. He competed at the 2022 and 2024 ADCC World Championships, and in May 2022 he was submitted by Tye Ruotolo with a D'Arce choke in ONE.

What is new is the context: he is 35 and, according to Wikipedia, was no longer under contract with ONE in April 2026. The three top-level appearances we have found since 2022 all ended in defeat, so this match will also show how much he has left at the top of grappling.

An ADCC 2022 rematch

At the 2022 ADCC World Championship, Tonon dropped to the -66 kg division as the top seed. Waiting in the first round was Ireland's Sam McNally, who qualified through the European trials as the division's lowest seed. McNally won 3-0 on points, and Polaris itself is selling the match as Tonon's chance at revenge.

Two factors change this time. The first is weight: Wikipedia puts the Polaris lightweight title at 70.3 kg, above that 66 kg limit, although the promotion does not state the limit for this match. The second is the format: Southampton is not a round in a big tournament but a fight for a belt.

One question remains open: Polaris does not say on its website whether the belt is vacant. Wikipedia still lists Ethan Crelinsten as lightweight champion, which may be out of date.

Polaris 40: date, venue and tickets

Date: Saturday 21 November 2026.
Venue: Central Hall, St Mary Street, Southampton SO14 1NF.
Eventbrite schedule: doors at 14:00, prelims from 14:30 to 18:30 and main card from 19:00 to 22:30 UK time. This is the venue schedule, not the broadcast time, so check again in the week of the event.
Tickets: on sale on Eventbrite, limited and non-refundable. Under-16s must attend with a parent or legal guardian.
Card: for now, the official site only shows the main event.

How to watch Polaris 40 live and how much it costs

Where: on FloGrappling, the platform named by Polaris. It is a paid service.
How much: $29.99 a month, or $10.62 a month on the annual plan, paid for the year up front (US dollar prices checked on 1 November 2026; they may vary by country and offer).
When: the broadcast time is not confirmed yet. We will update this when it is announced.

FAQ

When is Polaris 40?

On Saturday 21 November 2026, in Southampton (UK).

Who is Garry Tonon facing?

Sam McNally, who beat him 3-0 on points at the 2022 ADCC World Championship. They are competing for the Polaris lightweight title.

What is Garry Tonon's record at Polaris?

Five matches between 2015 and 2017: four wins and one draw, with no losses.

Where can I watch Polaris 40?

On FloGrappling, with a subscription.

More competition: Kade Ruotolo vs Ok Rae Yoon, IBJJF The Crown 2026 and the Abu Dhabi World Pro 2026.

Taking students to compete? Manage their classes, attendance and progress with GREATER. Discover GREATER for jiu-jitsu academies

Sources: Polaris Pro Grappling · Eventbrite · FloGrappling · Wikipedia (Garry Tonon) · Wikipedia (Polaris) · Wikipedia (ADCC 2022) · Sherdog · Bloody Elbow (accessed 2 November 2026). Cover photo: ONE Championship.