Master Sérgio Ignacio began his career in Rio de Janeiro, at his father’s private security firm. His father was an honorable Air Force lieutenant and former boxer and mixed martial arts fighter in Belém, Pará.

Sérgio quickly learned that the streets presented unpredictable scenarios, with physical confrontations and high-risk incidents where success was never guaranteed. Therefore, he sought something more reliable than weapons and wiser than luck: knowledge.

Instructed by some of the most prepared and experienced instructors in all fields, Master Sérgio Ignacio became an encyclopedia of techniques, tactical and strategic defense knowledge, after decades of firsthand experiences that can now help people during complex police operations or in situations as commonplace as a night on the subway.

The renowned police commissioner, now an active coral belt Jiu-Jitsu instructor in Florida, has experienced numerous high-risk situations, such as in 2016 when he nearly lost his life in an operation in the alleys of Vila Cruzeiro, a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, after a grenade bounced and landed between his feet. He survived the shrapnel thanks to the teachings he had learned, combined with the composure he possessed under maximum pressure, a quality honed on the streets and on the mats.

“It wasn’t my time,” reflects the master, who has become a solid bridge between martial arts and public and private security. Looking back on his career, Sérgio Ignacio reflects:

“I am an experienced police officer, and if I have survived this far, it is thanks to the excellent instructors and training partners I have had since the 1980s. What I learned in active service, I make a point of passing on in BJJ Defense classes, a course for the benefit of martial arts instructors and teachers, public and private security agents, and people of all ages in civil society. A self-respecting instructor wants their students to be better than they were, and that’s how I always try to teach. As a friend says: I don’t save money, I’m going to save knowledge?”

Master Sérgio began Jiu-Jitsu in the early 1980s, brought by his friend Renzo Gracie, and was one of the first students of the renowned Gracie Barra team. He was Renzo’s training partner and accompanied him in several MMA fights in the United States and Japan.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the study of combat arts provided him with invaluable resources and technical details that saved him from countless close calls as a police officer. He went on to teach and shape the vision of thousands of good police officers in Rio de Janeiro.

Over the years, he also distinguished himself in the private security sector, participating in national and international events, providing security for celebrities, authorities, and the general public.

Just another day in the office for master Sérgio

It is this practical experience, tested in real-life situations, that he seeks to transmit through his teaching system called BJJ Defense in academies around the world, from police department mats to Jiu-Jitsu schools in Florida, Rio, and New York, across all flags and teams.

BJJ Defense instruction takes place in training sessions of a few hours or in segmented seminars divided into modules, depending on the demand of those interested. The courses have already served academies, public security forces, the private sector, Jiu-Jitsu instructors seeking specialization, and civil society in general, in schools such as Renzo Gracie Upper West Side, run by Professor Luca Atalla, and Ralph Gracie, run by Professor Regis Calixto.

* Check out scenes from one of the BJJ Defense courses in New York:

The Jiu-Jitsu master also explained how he adapted and condensed everything he experienced while actively practicing. After all, Sérgio Ignacio has accumulated specializations in various courses and training programs, and developed and implemented the most renowned tactical courses for civil police officers in Rio de Janeiro, such as the Special Tactical Operations Course (COTE) of the Special Resources Coordination of the Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro (CORE).

“The BJJ Defense system is a bridge between classic self-defense and the perceived needs of the contemporary world. Nothing that works is discarded in my courses, where I try to make as many connections as possible with real life. The philosophy of what I teach is to offer the maximum resources for professionals or citizens to avoid any confrontation. By distancing themselves from the problem, they will have a better chance of returning home safely. There can always be unforeseen events on the streets, the result can be unexpected, but training increases our chances of victory or survival,” analyzed the master, who also worked as private security for the Brazilian headquarters in five Olympic Games, in Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, London and Rio.

“There’s a well-known protocol in the US that teaches how to act in the face of imminent crises and attacks, whose motto is ‘if possible, avoid confrontation: Run or hide; if not possible, fight.’ What BJJ Defense instruction seeks to convey, in a practical and objective way, is how to use the Technique-Tactics-Strategy tripod to increase your chances of success in a difficult moment,” summarized Master Sérgio Ignacio.

For the police officer and instructor, the real dynamics of events will show us what is necessary and possible to do – sometimes even to have the opportunity to escape or hide, it may be inevitable to have to fight. After all, victims under threat need to find ways out and solutions in the blink of an eye, and for this to be done efficiently, experience and technical knowledge are necessary. Through training, students develop not only physical reaction capabilities, but also essential attributes such as reaction time, proper positioning, perception of the scenario, and the ability to make decisions under pressure.

And is Jiu-Jitsu focused on self-defense compatible with training for competition, in the master’s view?

“Of course it is,” assures Sérgio. “And the proof of that is my own son, my first black belt. Daniel is trained in both areas. I took him from white belt to black belt with all aspects of BJJ involved, and always with the guidance and participation of Renzo Gracie. He even underwent periodic knowledge exams at every belt promotion. We always respect the maturation time at each stage, but we mainly demand technical knowledge in all areas. That’s how you train a complete black belt instructor.”

As a purple belt, at first Gracie Barra school, in the 1980s.

Those who had the opportunity to study and learn from the master never tire of praising his teaching methods and system. Such is the case of police chief and former Rio de Janeiro civil police secretary Marcus Vinícius:

“Sérgio Ignacio is one of the best civil police officers in the history of Rio de Janeiro. His rare ability to combine and multiply his operational, tactical, and technical knowledge made him a reference for me, as well as for thousands of police officers in Rio. I was fortunate to have him as a teacher at the police academy and had the pleasure of accompanying him on numerous street operations. I believe that some of his most valuable qualities, such as discipline, hierarchy, and calmness, he brings from a lifetime dedicated to the sport on the mats, as well as from training and police operations.”

Sérgio, his son Daniel and master Renzo Gracie in NY

Or as his friend Renzo Gracie, MMA champion, summarized: “The reason I became the champion I am was because I trained daily with him since my blue belt. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from this master.”

* For more information, visit BJJDefense.com or contact BJJ Defense by email:

bjjdefense1@gmail.com.

* And follow master Sérgio Ignacio on Instagram, here.

≥≥≥≥ Below, check out some testimonials about Master Sergio Ignacio’s work:

* Renzo Gracie

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Master

“Sérgio Ignacio is today one of the ten greatest experts in self-defense techniques on the planet, for a simple reason: his technical arsenal manages to be efficient inside a ring, an alley, or a moving car. The reason I became the champion I am was because I trained daily with him since blue belt. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from this master.”

* Victor César dos Santos

Federal Police Chief and Secretary of Public Security for the State of Rio

“Sérgio Ignacio’s work in the area of ​​training and capacity building was a turning point for the civil police, regarding the deployment and reorganization of special operations units. He participated in the creation of the Special Resources Coordination, CORE, and its subdivisions. His experience as a Jiu-Jitsu instructor, combined with the various courses he took around the world, helped public safety by promoting greater efficiency and effectiveness in the techniques used in operations. His teachings helped preserve the lives of generations of police officers and prevented countless incidents of collateral damage during operations in extremely high-risk areas in Rio.”

* Rodrigo Oliveira

BJJ black belt, veteran police chief and one of the longest-serving coordinators of CORE in Rio

“As a police officer and instructor, Sérgio Ignacio is an exceptional master. Unconditional loyalty, rare technical ability, and a willingness to work rarely seen throughout my career. I remember with great pride the inauguration of CORE Jiu-Jitsu, an association at the headquarters of the Special Resources Coordination of the Rio police, an achievement of his, on an afternoon with the presence of the great master Robson Gracie. As a black belt, he always followed the philosophy ‘Anytime, in any weather, and anywhere’. I am very proud to have served alongside him.”

Daniel Mérola Ignacio, 25, grew up on a mat. Son of black belt and famous referee Sérgio Ignacio, he was raised in the traditions of the Gracie family, and was accompanied from his earliest training by his godfather, Renzo Gracie.

It was Master Renzo who guided him throughout his entire training — from the loose kimono he wore as a child to the black belt he earned with merit and honor.

More than a disciplined and technical athlete, Daniel found his true calling in teaching. From a young age, he began leading classes and seminars, with emphasis on his work with women and children, where he combines sensitivity, clarity and confidence. He believes that Jiu-Jitsu can be a powerful tool for personal transformation — today, his greatest goal is to make this transformation accessible to everyone.

In addition to teaching at gyms for a variety of audiences, Daniel has a unique role in the area of ​​training focused on security and self-defense. He studied Business Administration, balancing his studies with training, classes and seminars, and is now a partner in one of the most respected security training companies in Brazil.

On a daily basis, he instructs private and public security professionals, helping them with the technical, physical and emotional development necessary for their roles. He is also a guest instructor at institutions such as the Special Resources Coordination of the Civil Police (Core), the Army Paratroopers group and Acadepol, the training academy of the Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

In one of the most complex urban contexts in Latin America, his contribution is recognized by colleagues and authorities as a rare differential for someone his age.

Daniel’s trajectory in competitive Jiu-Jitsu is marked by significant achievements that demonstrate his excellence. In 2022, he was the Brazilian No-Gi vice-champion by the IBJJF. The following year, he won the gold medal in the black belt heavyweight division at an international CBJJO event. Also in 2023, he was champion of the “King of Rio”, a tournament promoted by FJJ-Rio, the first Jiu-Jitsu federation in the world. In 2024, he won the Rio International Open No-Gi championship in the black belt super heavyweight division, promoted by IBJJF.

These achievements are always combined with hard work inside and outside his company. But, according to him, these are just a few steps on his path. The next steps? Taking his knowledge to new frontiers — inside and outside Brazil.

GRACIEMAG: Do you still remember how you took your first steps in the kimono?

DANIEL IGNACIO: I can barely remember my first day on the mat; it’s as if I had always been there. I feel that Jiu-Jitsu has been present in my life since day one, because I was blessed to have a father who always put the ideals of Jiu-Jitsu as a model of education to guide me inside and outside the academy. My early contact with Jiu-Jitsu is due to my father, Sérgio Ignacio, and my godfather, Renzo Gracie. When I was around 3 years old, I started judo, and soon after I moved on to Jiu-Jitsu — and then also to wrestling. Wrestling is so popular in the United States, and I lived there during my childhood, so it is also a fight that is part of my trajectory.

How did that passion for Jiu-Jitsu prevail?

I always knew that Jiu-Jitsu was my greatest passion. I grew up on the mat and in a family-run security training company, where we used Jiu-Jitsu to teach self-defense. In addition to having the encouragement and inspiration of my father and godfather, I was lucky enough to have a mother who always went out of her way to take me to and be present at all training sessions, fights and competitions from a very young age. Without her dedication and love, it would have been impossible.

How did you feel when you became a black belt?

My journey to black belt was long. From white belt to black belt, it took over 16 years of walking. The evaluations for changing belts always followed a rigorous process: the first step was to be actively training Jiu-Jitsu; then, I had to know all the techniques corresponding to my belt at the time, as described in the book by Renzo and Royler Gracie – a book where the techniques are separated by belt. I also studied the contents of the book by the great master Helio Gracie on Jiu-Jitsu and self-defense. With this knowledge consolidated and having already completed the appropriate time, I went through a technical and performance evaluation in which I had to defeat more senior and bigger opponents to earn the next belt. Since my father and godfather Renzo always encouraged me to participate in the best seminars and train with some of the best in the world, my evolution never stopped.

And how was your phase as a brown belt, about to receive the black belt?

At that stage, I chose to compete in the CBJJ Brazilian Championship while still a brown belt, to end that stage in the best possible way. I ended up winning silver medal and the title of Brazilian vice-champion. After that, I traveled to the Renzo Gracie academy in New York, where I spent a month training intensely. I owe much of who I am and what I believe in to my father and Renzo. I couldn’t be more grateful for, as we say, having learned straight from the source. I was extremely privileged to have access to so many influential names in the Gracie lineage from an early age, and I made sure to take advantage of every opportunity that was given to me. After that month, I finally “graduated” as a black belt. It was a remarkable day, full of emotion, in which I realized how worthwhile each stage of the journey was. It is not an easy path, much less a quick one; it teaches the value of perseverance and patience. There is no shortcut to becoming a black belt, the only way is to never give up.

And what about your work focused on public and private security?

Our company has been in business for over 35 years. This legacy has been passed down from my grandfather to my father, and from my father to me. The company’s motto is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life and intend to pass on to my future children: “Fight and win!” It’s a short phrase but full of meaning. Giving up is not an option. In addition to the technical knowledge of self-defense and Jiu-Jitsu, we try to convey this message every day: the path is tough, but through struggle comes triumph — and it’s this belief that drives us forwards. Today, I have been practicing Jiu-Jitsu for almost 20 years, which seems like a lifetime. However, I know that this journey is just beginning.

What have you learned as a competitor?

In the championships, I learned a lot about self-control and how to deal with my emotions — whether they were good or frustrating. I learned how my mind and thoughts control my body and the decisions I need to make in milliseconds. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if there were hundreds of hours of training, weight training and good nutrition — your mind needs to be focused, calm and positive, or it’s over. Jiu-Jitsu teaches us to respect our opponents before anything else, because arrogance is the fastest way to defeat — and the truth is that we can learn from everyone. It doesn’t matter the color of the belt, the age or the weight: everyone can have something to teach us. It’s amazing how much I learn teaching young children — whether about Jiu-Jitsu or about the worldview.

What is your approach when teaching Jiu-Jitsu to children?

I love teaching children, they have a lightness, purity, and a special outlook on life. I try to bring a little of their positivity into my personal life. At this stage of life, they are like sponges and absorb everything we go through, so we need to be careful about what we say and how we can help build their self-esteem and self-confidence. The approach with little boys and girls has to be subtle. Jiu-Jitsu is introduced in a light and fun way. It can’t be a boring class with extremely technical movements. It is a balance between technique and leisure time. Therefore, children’s training must be fun, but disciplined. We want children to have fun, but we also want them to learn respect, discipline, and self-defense. Understanding that Jiu-Jitsu is a form of defense and not attack is essential.

Medal received for contribution to police education, in Rio de Janeiro.

What is the main goal of teachers who deal with such young students?

Our team always seeks to teach the importance of boys and girls being self-confident and, at the same time, humble. We teach them to keep their distance from problems and to deal with them with determination and with their heads held high. Many children are there because they want to learn or because they have suffered some kind of trauma. At this age, Jiu-Jitsu is important to create a secure, fearless, confident child with good self-esteem, in control, prepared and respectful. Jiu-Jitsu, therefore, is essential to prevent bullying, both to prevent it from happening and to prevent the child from being a target of it. We work on this a lot with the children, teaching them all the necessary techniques so that they are able to defend themselves.

Where did you learn to teach kids?

To convey all of this in a light and pleasant way, we use several different techniques and methods. I acquired much of this knowledge in a special course for BJJ instructors taught by Master Leão Teixeira, a national reference in teaching Jiu-Jitsu to children. It was in this course that I had the opportunity to teach and increase my experience with them. Today, I already meet teenage students who I taught a few years ago, when they were children, and they are very grateful for how I was able to participate in their personal development. I can’t wait to see, in a few years, that my work has led to the development of better adults, with character and confidence.

What was the greatest lesson in overcoming adversity that you learned in Jiu-Jitsu?

There was a tournament I competed in where I had been sleeping very badly for days, in the hospital, with my wife admitted. Then, I tore an ankle ligament in the first few minutes of the fight. My body was exhausted, my mind was very worried about her health, and I had not trained for weeks due to various personal issues. Furthermore, fighting with a torn ligament is excruciatingly painful. Even so, I did not give up and ended up submitting my opponent, taking the gold medal to the hospital. These moments show you that the Jiu-Jitsu we learned from the Gracie family goes far beyond fighting — it is a life lesson. Because, in life, we will almost never have the ideal conditions to achieve anything. We have to work with what we have, do our best and believe that it will be enough. This tenacity and determination are what change someone’s life — it is what defines the type of life they will have.

Have you seen Jiu-Jitsu change the lives of young people with problems?

I have students who have truly changed their lives thanks to training. They left behind drugs, excessive drinking, and harmful influences that were holding them back. They started to believe in their own potential, to make better choices, to have discipline and routine — and this took them to places they never imagined they could reach. These life changes that I witness every day, through Jiu-Jitsu, are certainly what impacts and motivates me on this path.

When did you discover your calling to teach?

Since I was 12 years old, when I would go to the training company where I work today to accompany my father to his classes. That’s how my grandfather taught him, and he taught me. My father is a natural teacher, and I was always amazed to see how easy it seemed for him to speak to so many people and to build a clear line of reasoning, so that everyone could follow and assimilate. Like my father, I believe that I have always had a calling to teach and help; I have always had the patience and clarity to guide my students’ progress. But what I have learned over time is that when we master a subject, have the humility to learn even more about it, and teach with love and attention, we can become good teachers. After a few years of being forged within the company as an assistant, I started teaching officially in 2019, when I already felt more ready and prepared. Since then, I have done everything to be the best teacher possible.

Daniel Ignacio and his special silver medal at Brasileiro da CBJJ. Photos: GRACIEMAG

What does it take to be an effective BJJ instructor?

I believe that teaching is closely linked to empathy: knowing how to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and understand how they will receive the message you want to convey. Each student has a different story, cultural, family and personal context. Teaching requires connecting with students and understanding their needs in order to understand the best way to deliver the message. The language, the level of difficulty, the demands, and many other aspects of teaching adapt according to the type of student on the other side. Understanding this was essential to give a good class and be understood. Classes for laypeople, for police professionals, for children, men or women: all have their own specificities and deserve specific care.

What are your self-defense classes for women like?

Unfortunately, we live in a sexist world, where women always have to fight harder to feel heard, respected and, most importantly, safe. Jiu-Jitsu, for almost a hundred years, has always proven to be an excellent tool for giving women some of the self-confidence and security that society takes away every day. It is something I recommend to all women I know, of all ages. Knowing how to defend yourself is essential for all of us, but especially for women, who are often targets of barbaric crimes, both inside and outside the home. For my specialization, I went to the reference for women’s Jiu-Jitsu, the Gracie Kore school of champion Kyra Gracie, a renowned black belt with books on the subject. Kyra has made it her main mission to bring Jiu-Jitsu knowledge to women in a way that they feel quite comfortable and safe absorbing it. I took a professional course in teaching Jiu-Jitsu to women, using the Gracie Kore methodology, where I learned a lot about how to conduct classes in a way that makes women feel valued, respected and confident. I learned there how to create a comfortable and inclusive environment for everyone on the mat.

Have you ever taught female police officers? What is that experience like?

Yes, I had the opportunity to teach Jiu-Jitsu techniques applied to women’s self-defense at the Civil Police Sports Center in Rio de Janeiro. In this class, we had female police officers and also the “Empoderadas” group, a sensational group that fights violence against women, very inspiring and necessary. It was a great experience, where I was able to teach strong women how to have more ways to defend themselves. I intend to continue learning a lot in this area, since I really want to help women in the best way possible. As a man, I understand that there are nuances in women’s lives that I don’t experience firsthand, so it’s important to listen in order to understand.

How important is Jiu-Jitsu for the security forces, in Rio or in the world?

Training agents goes far beyond simply being technically ready for a conflict. Thanks to Jiu-Jitsu, agents are shaped with self-control and self-confidence, capable of dealing with real situations calmly, clearly and ethically. My greatest responsibility is to make these professionals better trained, so that they can protect themselves and the population. This training is both technical and mental. A good security professional, trained in Jiu-Jitsu, can transform a potentially lethal situation into a non-lethal one, saving and sparing the lives of others. A police officer trained in Jiu-Jitsu, in many situations, does not need to use a firearm to defend himself, which offers security that goes beyond carrying a weapon. Thus, Jiu-Jitsu can be used to prevent the escalation of conflicts, where, through technical control, we can protect both the security agent and the citizen. All of our training is adapted to the realistic environment of the public or private security forces for which we are offering this training.

How does your knowledge of real-life situations help your results as a fighter in sports Jiu-Jitsu?

I like to fight forward, always looking to takedown and submit. My preparation routine involves always training and being active, whether it’s with heavy training, drills, weight training or teaching classes. A good fighter must always be ready and prepared. Ever since I got my brown belt, I’ve been focusing on Jiu-Jitsu without a Gi, or “No-Gi” abroad. I saw a greater similarity there with our daily lives and with self-defense, since we don’t have the Gi to hold on to and control is much more difficult. I believe that every Jiu-Jitsu practitioner should test themselves in an official competition at least once. We discover a lot about ourselves when we’re on the mat, in the middle of an arena full of opponents. We learn to deal with pressure in a different way. Our mindset should be to always want to evolve and learn, to always be prepared for combat, and to know how to deal with victory as well as defeat. The main thing is to feel trained and always learning. This gives you a sense of accomplishment before the fight begins, and this feeling is more than essential to winning. Without it, you are already defeated.

What are your goals today as a teacher?

When we breathe Jiu-Jitsu, we learn that our discipline is not just a sport; it is a lifestyle. Today, I don’t think about training athletes to win championships. I want to build strong and confident people who, through Jiu-Jitsu, achieve a better life and become better people. I want to combine my academic background in Business Administration from IBMEC, my command of the English language and my knowledge of self-defense to work globally. I want to develop educational programs, help expand Jiu-Jitsu around the world and train students with the principles and values ​​I believe in. And, with all this, I want to continue to be active in high-level competitions, because I learn and evolve a lot in each one. I hope to be able to inspire others, just as many veterans have inspired me to be who I am. Thank you very much to everyone for the opportunity.

Daniel among his father and his godfather Renzo, at Renzo Gracie Academy in New York. Photos: Personal Archives

Henrique Carepa celebrates expansion of the federation on the North American scene.

The expansion of the AJP Tour as a Jiu-Jitsu organization has demonstrated increasing development, promoting Jiu-Jitsu championships around the world, valuing athletes by rewarding them with cash prizes. A part of the organization operating in the United States, AJP USA follows the same methods as the parent company, promoting and encouraging Jiu-Jitsu competition in North American territory. In an interview with VF Comunica, Henrique Carepa, head organizer of AJP USA, talked about the organization’s work in the country.

The United States has established itself as a powerhouse in terms of sporting opportunities, no wonder many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes dream of living legally in the country to train and compete. According to Henrique, AJP USA differentiates itself by offering competitions that value quality, amidst the huge offer of tournaments in the country. Careful refereeing, athletes’ comfort during the competition and adherence to the schedule are evident qualities in AJP events.

“Here in the United States, if you are an active competitor, you can fight every weekend by driving a few hours from home. There are many organizations offering Gi and No Gi championships, with different rules, but many of them are not committed to quality and, consequently, continuity. AJP has been on the market for many years and is certainly the organization with events in most countries in the world. There is no other international Jiu-Jitsu organization as active as AJP in territories such as South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.”, he highlights.

Henrique Carepa is a professor at Gracie Barra Charleston, a black-belt aware of the huge potential that Jiu-Jitsu has in the country where he lives. Active in the competitive environment since the end of the 90s, he is a key player at AJP in defining strategies and developing the fastest growing federation internationally.

“I have been involved in Jiu-Jitsu competitions since 1999, whether competing or helping to organize events. In 2010, organizing championships and promoting Jiu-Jitsu became my profession. I was able to closely follow the improvement of competitive Jiu-Jitsu. It is already known to everyone that AJP is mainly focused on valuing athletes and seeking to enable them to have a professional career”, he states.

The North American edition of the Grand Slam is scheduled for September this year in Dallas, at the Curtis Culwell Center, a modern arena capable of holding an event of the magnitude of a Grand Slam. According to Henrique Carepa, AJP events will be more frequent in the United States throughout the season, given the potential of this territory.

“I would venture to say that there are more people practicing Jiu-Jitsu in the United States than in Brazil, certainly competing. The United States has the largest sports industry and Jiu-Jitsu is very popular around the world, but here is the residence of most of the world’s top Jiu-Jitsu athletes, who seek high-performance training and the main stages to develop their careers. AJP could not ignore this public. Therefore, we will hold events throughout the year in the United States.”, he anticipates, projecting another year of excellence for the federation.

The preparations are all set for the second edition of the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship! Scheduled for January 19th, the tournament had fight fans on the edge of their seats even before it actually began, steadily unveiling the explosive grappling and Jiu-Jitsu matches that will make up its Main and Preliminary card. Now, after weeks of build-up, the final duels of the ADXC 2 have finally been revealed.

Alongside AJP, ADXC’s technical partner, the organization put together all 14 matches for its upcoming championship, and now it’s time to analyze the full card that will take over the modern Mubadala Arena and bring about another memorable night in the UAE’s capital. Check out below the card’s details and the full line-up for the ADXC 2!

Main Event

In the first match revealed for the upcoming event and also the very last fight of the night, two UFC athletes will face each other under grappling rules and on a familiar battlefield. Inside the ADXC cage, the Grappling Main Event will be headlined by the former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling and the fierce Chase Hooper. While Sterling poses a very real threat with his versatile game and unorthodox submissions, the younger Hooper doesn’t fall behind and joins the roster extra motivated by the chance to face a former champion of the Ultimate and increase his reputation in the fighting world. Between Sterling’s drive to reassert his dominance and Hooper’s desire to make his name known to the world, this match has the makings of a memorable match that will have fight fans talking for a long time.

Before that, the Jiu-Jitsu Main Event will be led by Portugal’s Bruno Lima and the Brazilian Manuel Ribamar. An ADWPJJC 2023 champion, Lima closed the season with his greatest feat as a black belt, beating the favorite Uanderson Ferreira to take the title, but now he is ready for another challenge and will come to the ADXC cage hungry to take the win. Meanwhile, the experienced Jiu-Jitsu athlete and grappler Ribamar boasts two ADGS gold medals and countless high-profile victories around the world, coming to the Mubadala Arena armed with the knowledge to overcome his opponent and taste victory in the UAE. With both fighters having similar fighting styles, this match-up stands to be a high-octane duel from start to finish.

Co-Main Event

The Grappling Co-Main Event will feature Ffion Davies and Luana Pinheiro in the ADXC cage. Hailing from Wales, Davies is widely regarded as one of the best grapplers around and has the record to back that claim, coming as one of the most dangerous competitors and a strong contender for the win in this battle. On the other hand, Pinheiro has a purple belt in both Jiu-Jitsu and judo, but it’s her experience as a UFC athlete that stands to help the most in this new battleground, as she employs her stamina and experience with gridwork to counter Ffion’s sweeps and submissions.

Moving on, two proficient guard players will go toe-to-toe in the Jiu-Jitsu Co-Main Event. The Argentine Pablo Lavalessi will face Norway’s Espen Mathiesen in a highly technical match where the smallest mistake can bring the duel to an abrupt end. Armed with his deft sweeps, Lavaselli will have to stay sharp as he enters the cage to face Mathiesen, who’ll be ready to use his quick spins and leg grips to take the back and tip the scales in his favor. It’s worth noting that this match is replacing the previously announced bout between Pedro Ramalho and Max Lindblad, as Ramalho could not join the card because of an injury.

Main Card

The Main Card of the ADXC 2 has many thrills in store for the fans, such as the duel between the wrestlers Pouya Rahmani and Denzel Freeman. Rahmani comes with his experience competing in both MMA and Grappling to bring yet another victory to his country of Iran, while Freeman, an American MMA fighter and PFL athlete, comes to the UAE with his arsenal of takedowns and ground control techniques to pump the brakes on his opponent and seize the win. Before that, UFC and Bellator clash as Terrance Mckinney and Sidney Outlaw rise to the ADXC cage. UFC’s McKinney has eight submissions in his MMA career, the same as Outlaw, who fights for Bellator. This won’t be the only time both organizations collide in the ADXC 2, as Brazilian Douglas Lima, from Bellator, and the Russian Rinat Fakhredinov, from the Ultimate, will also be in the Main Card. Lima comes with 33 wins in his MMA record, ten of those coming via submission, while Fakhredinov boasts 21 victories, six by submission, and hasn’t been defeated for the last ten years.

Still in the Main Card, the Bahraini Ali Monfaradi and Brazil’s Talison Costa will don their gis to put on a show at the event. In a rematch after their encounter at the ADWPJJC finals last November, in which Ali rose as the winner and champion, the athletes will once again go toe-to-toe against one another, with Talison hungry to get some payback while Ali aims to use his strong half-guard to defeat his rival once more. Meanwhile, the Brazilian ace Gabriel Sousa faces the Japanese standout Yuta Shimada in a Jiu-Jitsu Bout. Sousa comes as one of the hottest names in his weight division, with powerful performances in recent seasons both in Jiu-Jitsu and grappling. Across the cage, Shimada has been carving a name for himself in the Asian competitive scene for the last couple of years, with many titles earned as a black belt in his homeland, and he now joins the ADXC card to face one of the most challenging battles of his career.

Prelims Card

Kicking off the action at the ADXC 2, the Preliminary Card has a handful of exciting matches to not only warm up the mats but also set the tone for the action that fans can expect for the night. From the duel between the Egyptian Ahmed Amir and the Slovakian Matus Arpas in a Grappling Bout, all the way to the brothers Omar and Mohammed Al Suwadi, who will be facing Shay Montague in Jiu-Jitsu and SeongHyeon Joo in Grappling, respectively. Still in the card, Yara Kakish and Emily Ferreira headline a Jiu-Jitsu bout while the promising newcomers Yaroslav Rymashevkii and Alinus Kuatuly show the talent of the new generation as they lead the very first match of the tournament.

That’s all for the ADXC 2 card, but the organization still has some things in store before the tournament begins. Stay tuned to @adxcofficial on social media for all the information on the next Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship, including the press conference, Meet & Greets, and much more. Check out the full card below, and we’ll see you in Abu Dhabi!

ADXC 2
MUBADALA ARENA, ABU DHABI – UAE
JANUARY 19, 2023

Aljamain Sterling vs. Chase Hooper – Grappling (Welterweight)

Bruno Lima vs. Manuel Ribamar – Jiu-Jitsu (Middleweight)

Co-Main Event

Ffion Davies vs. Luana Pinheiro – Grappling (Catchweight)

Pablo Lavaselli vs. Espen Mathiesen – Jiu-Jitsu (Welterweight)

Main Card

Denzel Freeman vs. Pouya Rahman – Grappling (Heavyweight)

Terrance McKinney vs. Sidney Outlaw – Grappling (Welterweight)

Douglas Lima vs. Rinat Fakhredinov – Grappling (Catchweight)

Ali Monfaradi vs. Talison Costa – Jiu-Jitsu (Welterweight)

Gabriel Sousa vs. Yuta Shimada – Jiu-Jitsu (Lightweight)

Prelims Card

Ahmed Amir vs. Matus Arpas – Grappling (Welterweight)

Omar Al Suwaidi vs. Shay Montague – Jiu-Jitsu (Flyweight)

Yara Kakish vs. Emily Ferreira – Jiu-Jitsu (Featherweight)

Mohammed Al Suwaidi vs. Seonghyeon Joo – Grappling (Lightweight)

Alinur Kuataly vs. Yaroslav Rymasjevkii – Jiu-Jitsu (Featherweight)

Photo: Personal archiveGabriel Oliveira, known by his friends as “Blade,” is an example of persistence. Currently one of the stars of team Alliance, this black-belt started seeing BJJ as a professional sport when he was still a brown-belt. Blade only got around to competing in his first IBJJF World Championship in 2018, winning silver. He was 26.

His competitive career began when he was already an adult, and, in practice, he proves that that makes no difference. Three years after that silver medal, this Mario Reis pupil has won the titles of world and Pan champion in the brown belt, and is now the black-belt heavyweight Brazilian champion.

Up until 2016, Gabriel considered himself an amateur athlete; he trained without dreaming of winning tournaments, until everything quickly changed. In 2018, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, he joined Mario Reis’s competition team. Gabriel began living and sleeping on the gym mat.

“When I competed in my first International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championship, I was already dedicating myself like a professional athlete,” he said in a recent interview. “But it was in 2019 that I had my big victories, already as a brown-belt. I won the Pan and the Worlds consecutively.”

“To speak a bit about 2019, an important year for me, my biggest memory is that it was a very difficult year in my personal life,” he continued, recalling that he had his U.S. visa denied twice before finally getting accepted. “There were many difficult events parallel to the training and preparation. Becoming world champion was a title that brought me lots of confidence and assurance that I’m on the right path, especially because I had so little experience as a professional athlete. It was a title that brought me strength to keep working hard on my following goals.”

A black-belt for two years, after winning the most important brown-belt titles in 2019, Gabriel began his journey amongst the elite with a gold medal in the CBJJ’s Brazilian Nationals, which took place two months ago in Rio de Janeiro.

“This title has a special significance to me, and I hope to win the Brazilian title more times as a black-belt,” he said. “Winning in the elite is a special feeling; it’s where you have the most visibility and face the best in the sport. Winning is very gratifying.”

Blade will be fighting again this weekend at the IBJJF Worlds in Anaheim, California. He’s enrolled in the heavy division.

“I managed to compete a lot prior to the Worlds, and was able to see how my jiu-jitsu is going. I’m very excited to fight; I won the gold medal in my last worlds, which was in 2019. I’ll leave the best of me on the mat! You can expect good matches, with no stalling!”

Lucas on the podium.

Held at the NYTEX Sports Centre, in Texas, the 2021 IBJJF No-Gi Pan took place last weekend, with great matches across the board.

The men’s section saw Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa (Atos Jiu-Jitsu) take silver at heavyweight and then gold in the absolute. To win the title, he defeated Giancarlo Bodoni (Alliance), who had beaten him in their weight division, plus his own teammate Michael Anthony Perez in the final.

In the women’s section, Elisabeth Clay (Ares BJJ) bagged double gold. Elisabeth beat Bridget Mceliece (Renzo Gracie Academy) at medium heavyweight and Kendall Reusing (Gracie Barra) in the absolute final.

Elisabeth Clay’s two gold medals.

Paulo Miyao also had an outstanding weekend. The Cícero Costha representative, who had appeared in the masters’ age group at the World Pro in Abu Dhabi, threw himself again into the arena with the lions of the adults’ group, conquering the light featherweight division by defeating Bebeto Oliveira in a hard-fought final.

 

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Check out the adults’ complete results below.

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/ROOSTER
1
ESTEVAN G MARTINEZ-GARCIA
ZR Team Association
2
ROITER LIMA SILVA JUNIOR
Gracie Barra
3
LEE D. ROSENFIELD
Form Jiu Jitsu Academy
3
SANTOS RENE BRUCKNER RIVERA
Undisputed Tucson

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/LIGHT-FEATHER
1
PAULO HENRIQUE BORDIGNON MIYAO
PSLPB Cicero Costha USA
2
CARLOS ALBERTO OLIVEIRA DA SILVA
GF Team
3
RICHARD ALARCON
One Jiu-Jitsu USA
3
EDWIN OCASIO
Unity Jiu-Jitsu

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/FEATHER
1
DIEGO OLIVEIRA BATISTA
PSLPB Cicero Costha USA
2
JOSHUA ANTHONY CISNEROS
Ares BJJ
3
ORLANDO FERNANDO CASTILLO ANDAVIZA
Fight Sports
3
THIAGO AGUIAR ABUD
Unity Jiu-jitsu

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/LIGHT
1
GIANNI PAUL GRIPPO
Alliance
2
JOHNNY JOACHIN T. APOLINARIO
Alliance
3
DEANDRE VILLARAMA CORBE
Luiz Palhares Jiu-Jitsu
3
KIERAN ROBERT KICHUK
Team Lloyd Irvin

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/MIDDLE
1
MATHEUS GABRIEL PINHEIRO BARROS
CheckMat
2
HUGO DOERZAPFF MARQUES
Ares BJJ
3
MICHAEL RAY TRASSO
Gracie Humaita
3
JOSHUA AARON BACALLAO
Gracie Barra

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/MEDIUM-HEAVY
1
JEFERSON GUARESI
Unity Jiu-jitsu
2
ANDREW WILTSE
Pedigo Submission Fighting
3
JAIME SOARES CANUTO
GF Team
3
JOHN TAYLOR COMBS
Easton BJJ

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/HEAVY
1
GIANCARLO BODONI
Alliance
2
LUCAS DANIEL SILVA BARBOSA
Atos Jiu-Jitsu
3
JOSÉ BRUNO PEREIRA MATIAS
Gracie Barra
3
YURI ALLISON P. DOS SANTOS
LEAD BJJ

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/SUPER-HEAVY
1
DEVHONTE M. JOHNSON
Unity Jiu-jitsu
2
ARNALDO MAIDANA DE OLIVEIRA
CheckMat
3
DIEGO DIAS RAMALHO
ZR Team Association
3
ELIOT ANDREW KELLY
American Jiu-Jitsu Syndicate

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/ULTRA-HEAVY
1
VICTOR HUGO COSTA MARQUES
Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu
2
AARON MICHAEL JOHNSON
Alliance
3
JOSEPH OTHMAR DIERKHISING
BJJ Revolution Team
3
JOHN LESLIE HANSEN
Rodrigo Vaghi BJJ

ADULT/MALE/BLACK/OPEN CLASS
1
LUCAS DANIEL SILVA BARBOSA
Atos Jiu-Jitsu
2
MICHAEL ANTHONY PEREZ
Atos Jiu-Jitsu
3
ANTONIO ZUAZO
Alliance
3
GIANCARLO BODONI
Alliance

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/LIGHT-FEATHER
1
MAYSSA CALDAS PEREIRA BASTOS
GF Team
2
SOFIA ROSA AMARANTE
Fight Sports
3
PATRÍCIA MARIA N. FONTES DOS SANTOS
CheckMat
3
JESSAMINE JADA KHAN
Art of Jiu Jitsu

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/FEATHER
1
GABRIELLE MCCOMB LIMA
Gracie Humaita
2
PATRÍCIA MAGALHÃES MACHADO
Brazilian Top Team
3
MY BAO NGUYEN
Standard Jiu-Jitsu

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/LIGHT
1
NATHALIE WAN SOARES VERAS RIBEIRO
CheckMat
2
SHELIAH DENAE LINDSEY
Soul Fighters BJJ
3
JUDITH JOAN MARIE GOMES
10th Planet Jiu Jitsu
3
VICTÓRIA MONTREZOR
Gracie Barra

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/MIDDLE
1
VANNESSA NANCY GRIFFIN
Crazy 88
2
ERIN JOHNSON
Iron Roots BJJ

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/MEDIUM-HEAVY
1
ELISABETH ANN CLAY
Ares BJJ
2
BRIDGET GRACE MCELIECE
Renzo Gracie Academy

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/HEAVY
1
MARIA MALYJASIAK
Abmar Barbosa Association
2
MARGARET ROSE GRINDATTI
Fight Sports
3
EMILLY ALVES SILVA
Atos Jiu-Jitsu
3
ELIZABETH KATHERINE MITROVIC
Alliance

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/SUPER-HEAVY
1
KENDALL MARIE REUSING
Gracie Barra
2
MAYARA MONTEIRO CUSTÓDIO
CheckMat

ADULT/FEMALE/BLACK/OPEN CLASS
1
ELISABETH ANN CLAY
Ares BJJ
2
KENDALL MARIE REUSING
Gracie Barra
3
MAYARA MONTEIRO CUSTÓDIO
CheckMat
3
MARIA MALYJASIAK
Abmar Barbosa Association

Although he’s not very flexible, Renzo has found ways to make his guard into a nightmare. That is just one example of that fact that in BJJ, a fighter’s physical traits barely matter. Note how Renzo draws attention to the fact that the same logic can be applied in one’s daily challenges. Just like in BJJ, don’t let yourself be foiled by a limitation. Be creative and persistent; adapt and keep going.

Get full access to Renzo Gracie Online Academy here.

Esdras is a Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt. Photo: Personal Archive

Esdras Júnior has been enjoying some success in jiu-jitsu. At the end of March, in Dallas, TX, the black-belt proved himself above his competition in the master 1 age group, coming out on top in the no-gi absolute division of the IBJJF’s Dallas Open.

Despite some hurdles, he performed well. Unopposed in the lightweight division, the Ares BJJ athlete was left to shine in the absolute. The gold medal came at the end of three matches. The final saw him outplay a super-heavyweight opponent, as Esdras recounted.

“It was a tough final,” he said. “Since my opponent was much heavier and had a good closed guard, I knew I’d have to pull before him to have greater chances of winning. Right at the start I feigned a takedown to go to the guard; after that, it was an even fight. Then I decided to attack more; I didn’t care about exposing myself, because I wanted to win. I attacked with an armbar attempt and sweep attempts throughout the fight, which wound up giving me the win.”

Esdras added: “My biggest goal is to score as many points as possible in the tournaments and climb up the IBJJF rankings. I can’t wait to fight again.”

Esdras’s campaign was complicated by a tonsillitis crisis in the week of the tournament, which left him bedridden and feverish. “Thank God,” he said, “I tested negative for covid-19, but, even so, they were pretty worrying moments, where I had to focus on my recovery and work on my psychology to get there and have good fights. I believe I won the championship even before it took place, because my biggest opponent was my own self. I had preoccupations, I was afraid I wasn’t going to fight well, but I controlled my mind and ended up the champion.”

He pointed to the training with Osvaldo Queixinho as an important factor to his no-gi victories. “In fact, my preference was always the gi, but with some adaptations, my game style gets pretty versatile in the no-gi matches. The training sessions with Prof. Queixinho are decisive, because learning with someone who’s won the No-Gi Worlds four times helps quite a bit, right?”

Esdras continued: “I like fighting no-gi because the match gets faster, and my way of fighting is centered on that game of speed and pressure. My hip gets looser, which makes it easier for me to attempt finishes and sweeps frequently.”

Esdras ended the interview with an open challenge, saying he’s up for fighting any featherweight or lightweight under Fight to Win, BJJ Stars or Third Coast Grappling. “Superfights are all the rage now. This has become a new tendency in this new world in which we’re living now. I have my focus on the IBJJF rankings, but I don’t rule out the possibility of doing superfights. It would be nice to return to those events’ stages. Just send me the contract — I’m ready!”

Beatriz Mesquita. Images: Ane Nunes/AJP

What a season it was! For both good and bad, the 2020/2021 season of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam will be one to be remembered for ages. The Covid-19 pandemic made every step of the journey 10 times more difficult. Only through the hard work and the dedication of the AJP Team, we were able to complete the schedule of competitions.

The grand finale could not have happened in a more suiting venue. The Jiu Jitsu Arena, in Abu Dhabi, welcomed athletes, officials, coaches, referees and all of those needed to make the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam a success. During the two days of competitions, we have all experienced the relief and the joy of a job well done and a mission accomplished, despite all odds.

Safety was the number one priority. The AJP spared nothing to create a bubble of health that made sure no transmission would occur. Athletes, media members, referees, etc were tested on a daily basis since their arrival in Abu Dhabi. In the venue, social distancing and hygiene measures were in place to keep everyone safe.

Day 2 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Abu Dhabi was a black belt affair. Upcoming talents and household names mixed on the mats of the Jiu Jitsu Arena to compete for their spot among the best. Here’s how each division in the adult male black belt division and the adult female brown/black belt division played out.

Adult Male

Light-featherweight (-56kg) – With three athletes in the bracket, the division was fast and furious. Francisco Jonas Andrade fought twice to secure the gold medal. He first caught Finland’s Marko Oikarainen with a choke from the back. In the final, Jonas was able to catch Johnif Rocha with a foot lock to secure the gold medal.

PODIUM

1^st – Francisco Jonas Andrade (Brazil)

2^nd – Johmif Rocha (Brazil)

3^rd – Marko Oikarainen (Finland)

Featherweight (-62kg) – Hiago George took the hard way to the gold medal. He first beat Pablo Dutra 1-0 in a tough match. The semifinal put Hiago against the division ranking leader Lucas Pinheiro and another 1-0 lead took George to the final. Old rival Diego Batista was waiting and a chess match ensued. A 3-2 lead was enough for Hiago to celebrate the title.

PODIUM

1^st – Hiago George (Brazil)

2^nd – Diego Batista (Brazil)

3^rd – Lucas Pinheiro (Brazil)

Leonardo Saggioro.

Lightweight (-69kg) – Leonardo Saggioro means business. At 32, he fears no young gun and proved that this Saturday, in four matches. His way to the gold medal begun with a rear naked choke on Mauricio Ospina. Then he beat Daniel Vieira by referee decision and finished Gustavo Azevedo. In the final, Saggioro used up his experience to beat Israel Sousa 3-2 and secure the gold medal and the top of the division ranking in the season.

PODIUM

1^st – Leonardo Saggioro (Brazil)

2^nd – Israel Almeida (Brazil)

3^rd – João Gabriel de Sousa (Brazil)

Welterweight (-77kg) – The only way to become the favorite is beating the favorite. Luiz Paulo Medeiros did just that. After beating André Cantanhede 4-0 and Tiago Bravo by medical stoppage, he faced ADWPJJC and ADGS champion Espen Mathiesen in the semifinals. A choke from the back was Luiz Paulo’s passport to the gold medal match. A 3-2 lead was the narrow edge against Adriano Araujo that secured Luiz Paulo’s title.

PODIUM

1^st – Luiz Paulo Medeiros (Brazil)

2^nd – Adriano Araujo (Brazil)

3^rd – Espen Mathiesen (Norway)

Isaque Braz.

Middleweight (-85kg) – Isaque Braz had a lot at stake in Abu Dhabi. The leader of Dream Art travelled to Abu Dhabi with dozens of students and training partners. He needed to represent the school the best he could and so he did. In three matches, the first one was the toughest against Norway’s Tommy Langaker. A 2-2 tie with Isaque scoring last was the reason Braz made into the semifinals. Then he caught Julio Junior with a kimura and secured the title with an armbar finish on Mauricio Oliveira.

PODIUM

1^st – Isaque Braz (Brazil)

2^nd – Mauricio Neto (Brazil)

3^rd – Tommy Langaker (Norway)

Patrick Gaudio.

Light-Heavyweight (-94kg) – Patrick Gaudio fought three times in Abi Dhabi. He first beat Portugal’s Bruno Lima 3-2, then outscored Croatia’s Matko Kvesic 7-0. The final was the biggest challenge, as Patrick had to face fellow Brazilian Guttemberg Pereira. Luckly for Gaudio, a toe hold opportunity presented itself and he took it to secure the gold medal.

PODIUM

1^st – Patrick Gaudio (Brazil)

2^nd – Gutemberg Pereira (Brazil)

3^rd – Renato Cardoso (Brazil)

Super-Heavyweight (-120kg) – Roosevelt Sousa left no stone unturned on his way to the top of the podium. Always very intense, Sousa debuted with a 10-0 against division ranking leader Wallace Costa. In the semifinal, he beat Max Mendes 4-2. The final was short-lived. Roosevelt looked for a foot lock and it came before the first minute of the match against Anderson Munis.

PODIUM

1^st – Roosevelt Sousa (Brazil)

2^nd – Anderson Munis (Brazil)

3^rd – Erich Munis (Brazil)

Adult Female

Roosterweight (-49kg) – The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina in South America is well known by everyone. Brazilian Brenda Larissa and Argentinian Eliana Carauni wrote another chapter of that rivalry in Abu Dhabi. Larissa made it to the gold medal match with a choke from the back on Isadora Maggioni. The final was very tactical and a narrow 1-0 lead granted Brenda the title.

PODIUM

1^st – Brenda Larissa (Brazil)

2^nd – Eliana Carauni (Argentina)

3^rd – Vanderlucia Barbosa (Brazil)

Light-featherweight (-55kg) – The only thing Ana Rodrigues could not beat on the mat this Saturday was her tears with the title won. In two matches, she first beat Estonia’s Liisi Vaht 6-1 to meet well known rival Amanda Canuto in the gold medal match. That’s when her guard game showed up and Ana managed a beautiful armbar to finish her opponent and secure the title. And then came the tears.

PODIUM

1^st – Ana Rodrigues (Brazil)

2^nd – Amanda Canuto (Brazil)

3^rd – Ariadne de Oliveira (Brazil)

Lightweight (-62kg) – Three matches, two arms and a neck. That’s a accurate way to describe Beatriz Mesquita’s campaign for the gold medal. Dominant in every aspect, Bia showed once again why she is considered by many the best female Jiu Jitsu competitor of all times. Turkey’s Hind Charifi and Italy’s Margot Ciccarelli had their arms stretched, Brazil’s Andreia Cavalcante tapped to a choke from the back.

PODIUM

1^st – Beatriz Mesquita (Brazil)

2^nd – Andreia Cavalcante (Brazil)

3^rd – Larissa Paes (Brazil)

Middleweight (-70kg) – Julia Boscher could not hide her happiness for being on the mat in Abu Dhabi. Smiling from ear to ear, the Brazilian built a solid campaign to win the gold medal and the division ranking for the season. She beat Priscilla Assunção 2-0 in the semifinals and met Rafaela da Silva in the gold medal match. After five minutes of regulation and an extra minute of overtime, a stubborn 1-1 tie was settled by the referees and Julia opened her smile with another win and the title.

PODIUM

1^st – Julia Boscher (Brazil)

2^nd – Rafaela da Silva (Brazil)

3^rd – Buyandelger Battsogt (Mongolia)

Yara Nascimento.

Heavyweight (-95kg) – Yara Nascimento knew she was the favorite for the title. She performed accordingly and won both her matches by submission. She first caught Thaynara Dias with an americana from the mount and then choked Michele Xavier using the lapel from the north and south position. With the gold medal in Abu Dhabi, Yara also secured the top of the division ranking for the season.

PODIUM

1^st – Yara Nascimento (Brazil)

2^nd – Michele Xavier (Brazil)

3^rd – Thaynara Dias (Brazil)

Thrills galore in the Masters Division

They have a few more years under their belt, but the desire to win is still the same. In the masters 1 and 2 black belt division, talent and drive ran unrestricted and champions took their spot on the top of the podium. Here are the champions of the day:

Black Belt Master 1

Featherweight (-62kg) – Gil Catarino (Brazil)

Lightweight (-69kg) – Thiago Marques (Brazil)

Welterweight (-77kg) – Hebert da Costa (Brazil)

Middleweight (-85kg) – Sergio Dias (Brazil)

Light-Heavyweight (-94kg) – Pablo Aragão (Brazil)

Super-Heavyweight (-120kg) – Igor Silva (Brazil)

Black Belt Master 2

Lightweight (-69kg) – Dzhamalutdin Dadaev (Russia)

Welterweight (-77kg) – Lidio Santos (Brazil)

Middleweight (-85kg) –Ingmar Santos (Brazil)

Light-Heavyweight (-94kg) – Alexandre Moreno (Brazil)

Super-Heavyweight (-120kg) – Paulo Pinto (Brazil)

End of the season ranking winners crowned

After the toughest of seasons, the AJP celebrated the ranking winners in each weight class of the adult black belt division for men and the adult brown/black belt division for men. They received their trophies from AJP Chairman, H.E. Abdulmunan Al Hashemi at the center of the mat in Abu Dhabi. Here are the winners for the 2020/2021 ADGS season:

Adult Male Black Belt

Light-Featherweight (-56kg) – Francisco Jonas Andrade (Brazil) 10000pts

Featherweight (-62kg) – Lucas Pinheiro (Brazil) 3800pts

Lightweight (-69kg) – Leonardo Saggioro (Brazil) 4800pts

Welterweight (-77kg) – Lucas Nascimento (Brazil) 3000pts

Middleweight (-85kg) – Wellington Sebastião (Brazil) 4200pts

Light-Heavyweight (-94kg) – Gutemberg Pereira (Brazil) 5400pts

Super-Heavyweight (-120kg) – Wallace Costa (Brazil) 6200pts

Adult Female Brown/Black Belt

Roosterweight (-49kg) – Brenda Larissa (Brazil) 5400pts

Light-featherweight (-55kg) – Amanda Canuto (Brazil) 4800pts

Lightweight (-62kg) – Andreia Cavalcante (Brazil) 3600pts

Middleweight (-70kg) – Julia Boscher (Brazil) 6000pts

Heavyweight (-95kg) – Yara Nascimento (Brazil) 5400pts

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Tour returns for the 2021/2022 season in a few months. It will be bigger and better. The 2020/2021 season concludes next weekend with the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship, on April 7-9, also at the Jiu Jitsu Arena. Stay tuned for more news shortly.

Follow the complete coverage on our Instagram Page.

Watch all matches live on our YouTube Channel.

Click here for the full results of the ADGS Abu Dhabi.

[Source: PR.]