Esaul Ramos and Grecia Ramos did not stumble into the Pitmasters Season 1 finale as surprise contenders. From the middle of the competition, 2M Smokehouse had already established itself as one of the strongest teams in the field, combining Esaul’s mastery of BBQ and live-fire cooking with Grecia’s precision in pastry and desserts.

That combination became one of their biggest weapons as the competition repeatedly pushed the pitmasters beyond traditional barbecue. While Esaul could deliver the smoky, fire-driven dishes expected from an elite pitmaster, Grecia brought a completely different skill set that allowed the team to remain competitive when the challenges demanded more than meat and smoke.

Their versatility ultimately became crucial in the finale against Connie DeSousa and John Jackson.

The championship battle was remarkably close, with 2M Smokehouse winning by just two points. Food Network confirmed that judges Andrew Zimmern, Jess Pryles, Moe Cason and Ernest Servantes all took part in the final scoring, making the margin even more striking.

But despite the official result, the finale has continued to generate debate among viewers.

Some fans believe Connie and John actually appeared to have the stronger performance across much of the final five-course battle. On Reddit, one viewer said they were “extremely surprised” that the Canadian team did not win, arguing that Connie and John seemed to have taken roughly three of the five courses.

That has fueled a larger discussion about how the final points were awarded.

For some viewers, the turning point was the chicken course. Although Connie and John appeared strong in other parts of the finale, the chicken reportedly became a significant weakness after judges criticized the meat for being too dry.

In a competition decided by such a narrow margin, a single technical flaw could make the difference between winning $50,000 and finishing as runner-up.

And that is what makes 2M Smokehouse’s victory so compelling.

Esaul and Grecia did not necessarily need to dominate every course. Instead, they needed to remain consistently strong across the entire finale while avoiding the kind of major mistake that could cost them crucial points.

Their ability to combine BBQ expertise, live-fire cooking, pastry technique and dessert execution ultimately gave them the edge.

For Esaul, the victory also represents another major achievement in an already respected BBQ career. For Grecia, it highlights just how valuable a complementary skill set can be in a competition where traditional pitmaster credentials alone are not enough.

Still, the two-point margin ensures that the debate will probably continue.

2M Smokehouse officially became the first-ever Pitmasters champion — but for many viewers, the question isn’t whether Esaul and Grecia deserved to win. It’s whether Connie and John were actually closer to taking the title than the final score suggests.