The anxiety felt by Michelle Nicolini (Brasa) in the days leading up to her debut at the No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Worlds, that took place in Carson, California, on the 9th and 10th of August, is over. Now living for some time in Las Vegas, Michelle had to adapt to the new rhythm of life and hunt down training, to not go “rusty.” In the meantime, the athlete was always keen to the prestige no-gi grappling enjoys in the United States.
It was under these circumstances that the fighter felt apprehensive about her debut. It was a different culture, style (no-gi), and category (Michelle was a super featherweight but fought at lightweight). Beyond that, there was another reason to want to put in a good showing: the presence of so many friends at the California State Dominguez Hills gymnasium who went just to see her.
“I was really anxious, but I managed to keep a cool head. When I went to compete on Sunday, there were a lot of friends of mine who went there to see me. Friends here in Vegas, who had never participated in a Jiu-Jitsu championship, they were anxious as well. I wanted to do well, for me, for the people who helped me all these months in training, for my friends,” said Michelle, who won her first fight by forfeit.
In the final, Michelle came against Gabriela Bermudes (Gracie Humaita) and submitted her with an armbar from the triangle. “My fight went just as I wanted it to. I brought her into my guard; it was hard to bring her arm in. So I opened up a bit to make her want to pass, so then the arm was a bit more exposed. That was when I crossed over and closed the triangle, however, she was raising her head and I went for her arm. I for one like the triangle. I always practice it and find it in different situations. I had trained a lot. I would say the triangle would be my move in the No-Gi, it almost was,” said Michelle, who intends to participate in more championships in the United States.
