Cássio Francis’s leg lock on Antonio Braga Neto at the Rio Open

Cássio has his hand raised after his semifinal win.

Held last weekend, the IBJJF’s Rio Fall Open had the stands shaking at Tijuca Tennis Club.

In one ultra-heavyweight semifinal, for example, Cássio Francis (Gracie Barra) faced two-time world champion and UFC fighter Antônio Braga Neto (Babalu’s Iron Gym). Cássio wasted no time before pulling guard, and Braga worked on top with pressure to try to pass. With some fine technique, Braga Neto managed to pose problems to Cássio, who found himself on all fours with Braga Neto behind him trying to choke or place the hooks to score the four points.

But with a sneaky move, Cássio left the disadvantageous position and spun under Braga, unexpectedly attacking the unattended leg. The leg lock was sunk with precision, and victory went to Cássio.

Later Cássio lost the final to Antonio Assef (GFTeam). In the open division, Victor Bonfim and Marcus Junior closed it out for GFTeam.

Below, check out Cássio’s complete semifinal match.

Light feather

1 – Lucas dos Santos Pinheiro – Atos JJ USA

2 – Douglas Rufino da Silva – Cantagalo Team

3 – Ighor Luis Alvim Horta – Brazilian Top Team

3 – Luiz Eduardo Cabral da Costa – Academia Pitbull

Feather

1 – Rene Alves de Lima – PSLPB Cicero Costha

2 – Eduardo de Souza Campos – Nova União

3 – Lucas Axel Galbusera – Nova União

3 – Michael Gomes de Souza – GF Team

Light

1 – Cesar Casamajó Cardoso – Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu Family

2 – Eduardo Jantzen Simões Lopes Baptista Vieira – CheckMat

3 – Djalma Santana C. Júnior – PSLPB Cicero Costha

3 – Leonilson Marques Ferreira Junior – GF Team

Middle

1 – Eric Lopez Medeiros de Souza – Constrictor Team

2 – Nilton Barbosa de Oliveira Junior – GF Team

3 – Ruan Quintanilha da Silva – Natal e Rico Jiu-Jitsu

3 – Vagner Nascimento de Azevedo Jr – CheckMat

Medium heavy

1 – Sandro Gabriel Vieira – Cantagalo Team

2 – Flávio Junqueira – Alliance

3 – Christofer Biude Moreira Feijó – Atos Jiu-Jitsu

3 – Gabriel Alves de Lima – Alliance

Heavy

1 – Luiz Felipe Teixeira dos Santos – GF Team

2 – Marcus Vinícius Moraes dos Santos – GF Team

3 – Tiago Hilgemberg – A.S Team

3 – Victor Del Corso Bomfim – GF Team International

Super-heavy

1 – Igor Ribeiro Marques – Ns Brotherhood

2 – Marcos Aurélio Goulart Alves Junior – GF Team

3 – Aloysio Berardo Falcão de Paula Lopes – Nova Geração

3 – Moises Fernandes Cavalcante – JFC Almeida JJ

Ultra-heavy

1 – Antonio de Padua Assef Nunes Nascimento – GF Team

2 – Cássio Francis da Silva – Gracie Barra

3 – Antonio Braga Texeira Neto – Babalu’s Iron Gym

3 – Otavio Tome Serafim – Alliance

Absolute

1 – Victor Del Corso Bomfim – GF Team International