This Past Weekend in BJJ
World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship
Over the past 4 days at the Anaheim Convention Center, Jiu Jitsu competitors from around the world competed for the title of 2019 No Gi World Champion. These past 2 days saw athletes challenge for the coveted titles in the Black Belt Adult Male and Female divisions. Here are some big storylines coming out of the weekend.
Thalison Soares announces his arrival to black belt- In his first major event as a black belt Thalison submitted his way to the final where he faced a seasoned veteran in Rodnei Barbosa. In a tight match, Thalison showed his gamesmanship and mat awareness winning 4-2
Johnny Tama navigates a tough bracket to gold- Lightweight is always one of the most challenging divisions each event, No Gi Worlds was no exception. Tama brought his exciting style and went after each opponent during his matches this weekend. Tama has yet to have a breakout year at black belt, we saw flashes of brilliance this weekend. We could see a big 2020 for Tama.
Victor Hugo vs Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu- These two squared off against each twice over the weekend. First, they faced off in semifinal of Ultra-Heavyweight. Cyborg scored a last second advantage off a guard pass attempt for the victory. The second round would be contested for the Open Class title, this time the match would end much faster. Hugo pulled right from the start with Cyborg moving around the outside looking for an opportunity to jump past the sitting guard of Hugo. With just under a minute into the match Hugo sucked in a leg clamped in a tight knee bar forcing the tap.
Talita Alencar wins a scrappy match at Featherweight- Alencar squared off with Heather Raftery in the final of the Featherweight division. Both are known for their aggressive and scrappy styles. In a heated affair, Alencar’s guard proved to be the difference. This win was her 3rd No Gi world title at black belt.
Jessica Flowers takes home double gold- After two wins in the Open Class Flowers was awarded the gold medal in a closeout with teammate Kendall Refusing ( they all closeout super heavy).
See below for full black belt results:
Team Results:
Adult Male
1 - Alliance - 64
2 - Gracie Barra - 56
3 - Atos Jiu-Jitsu - 53
Adult Female
1 - CheckMat - 60
2 - Atos Jiu-Jitsu - 45
3 - Gracie Barra - 44
Adult Male Black Belt
Adult / Male / Black / Rooster
1 - Thalison Vitorino Soares - Cicero Costha Internacional
2 - Rodnei Barbosa Gabriel Junior - Qatar BJJ
3 - Marko Tapani Oikarainen - Hilti BJJ Turku
3 - Nobuhiro Sawada - Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Adult / Male / Black / Light-Feather
1 - Hiago George Santos Silva - Cicero Costha Internacional
2 - João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao - Cicero Costha Internacional
3 - Anthony Guy De Oliveira - Werdum Combat Team France
3 - Edwin Ocasio - Unity Jiu-jitsu
Adult / Male / Black / Feather
1 - Alexssandro Pinto Sodré - Nova União
2 - João Gabriel Batista de Sousa - ZR Team Association
3 - Cole Thomas Franson - R1NG BJJ
3 - Gabriel Marangoni de Oliveira - Brasa CTA
Adult / Male / Black / Light
1 - Johnny Joachin Tama Apolinario - Alliance International
2 - Ygor dos Santos Rodrigues - CT MR
3 - Athos Ribeiro de Miranda - Alliance
3 - Fabio Murat Caloi - Alliance
Adult / Male / Black / Middle
1 - Dante Leon - GF Team
2 - Jaime Soares Canuto - GF Team
3 - Felipe Cesar Silva - Unity Jiu-jitsu
3 - Jeferson Guaresi - Unity Jiu-jitsu
Adult / Male / Black / Medium-Heavy
1 - Manuel Ribamar V. de Oliveira Filho - Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ
2 - Gabriel Salles Muniz Almeida - CheckMat
3 - Jose Mathias Macedo de Lira Luna - CheckMat
3 - Rafael Lopes Paganini - Alliance
Adult / Male / Black / Heavy
1 - Adam Wardzinski - CheckMat
2 - Jackson Sousa dos Santos - CheckMat
3 - Fellipe Ubaiz Trovo - Gracie Barra
Adult / Male / Black / Super-Heavy
1 - Vinicius Ferreira Gazola - Alliance
2 - Eliot Andrew Kelly - Yemaso Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
3 - Frederic Vosgröne - Carlson Gracie Team
3 - Marcelo Gomide Oliveira - Gracie Barra
Adult / Male / Black / Ultra-Heavy
1 - Roberto de Abreu Filho - Fight Sports
2 - James Richard Puopolo - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
3 - Fernando Camôles Ribas - Demian Maia Jiu-Jitsu
3 - Victor Hugo Costa Marques - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
Adult / Male / Black / Open Class
1 - Victor Hugo Costa Marques - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
2 - Roberto de Abreu Filho - Fight Sports
3 - Marcelo Gomide Oliveira - Gracie Barra
Adult Black Belt Female
Adult / Female / Black / Rooster
1 - Mayssa Caldas Pereira Bastos - GF Team
2 - Amber Rymarz-freitas - Gracie Barra
Adult / Female / Black / Light-Feather
1 - Amanda Monteiro Canuto - GF Team
2 - Patrícia Magalhães Machado - Brazilian Top Team
3 - Fiona M. Watson - Notorious Mixed Martial Arts
Adult / Female / Black / Feather
1 - Ana Talita de Oliveira Alencar - Alliance
2 - Heather H. Raftery - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
3 - Gabriela Meireles Fechter - CheckMat
3 - Karen Deisy Antunes Girotto Borges - CheckMat
Adult / Female / Black / Light
1 - Nathalie Wan Soares Veras Ribeiro - CheckMat
2 - Jena Rae Bishop - Alliance
3 - Hannah Sharp - Silver Fox BJJ
3 - Nicole Sullivan - Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Adult / Female / Black / Middle
1 - Raquel Dayne Kaleialoha Paaluhi - CheckMat
2 - Jaqueline de Moraes Amorim Ramos - CheckMat
3 - Gabrielle McComb Lima - Gracie Humaita
3 - Hannah Katharina Rauch - Gracie Humaita
Adult / Female / Black / Medium-Heavy
1 - Vedha Clemente Toscano - CheckMat
2 - Julia Boscher Seixas Pinto - Double Five
3 - Andressa Mezari Cintra - Gracie Barra
3 - Thamara Ferreira Silva - Cicero Costha Internacional
Adult / Female / Black / Heavy
1 - Talita Andrea Nogueira - Ns Brotherhood
2 - Elizabeth Foster - Cassio Werneck BJJ
3 - Jessica Guedry - Soul Fighters BJJ
3 - Veronica Macedo Fernandez - Mako Team Paris
Adult / Female / Black / Super-Heavy
1 - Kendall Marie Reusing - Gracie Barra
2 - Jessica da Silva Oliveira - Gracie Barra
3 - Tammy M Griego - Gracie Barra BJJ
Adult / Female / Black / Open Class
1 - Jessica da Silva Oliveira - Gracie Barra
2 - Kendall Marie Reusing - Gracie Barra
3 - Gabrielle McComb Lima - Gracie Humaita
3 - Heather H. Raftery - Atos Jiu-Jitsu