Thalison Soares. Photo by Guardeiros

The European BJJ Championship, which is now in full swing until Jan. 22 in Odivelas, Portugal, already produced a few surprises in its first couple of days. One standout so far is Thalison Soares, who’s being called “little Miyao.” The blue-belt under Cícero Costa became light featherweight champion. Another standout was featherweight blue-belt champion Yaroslav Blazhko, of ZR Team Association.

Yaroslav Blazhko. Photo by Luis Lopes

At purple, Brad Johnston became roosterweight champion. The student under Guilherme and Rafael Mendes had a repeat performance following his 2016 blue belt roosterweight title.

congratulations to Brad Johnston on winning the purple belt rooster weight division at Europeans 2017 || last year Brad won in the blue belt division || @artofjiujitsu @rvcasport @purps @albinoandpreto @shoyoroll #aojfamily #aojstyle || parabens ao nosso aluno Brad por vencer o Europeu no roxa galo, no ano passado Brad foi campeao na azul || OSS @bradjohnstonbjj @ibjjf @flograppling

A photo posted by MENDES BROS (@mendesbros) on Jan 18, 2017 at 11:43am PST

Kenney Maciel, one of the purple belt favorites and son of four-time world champion Rubens Charles, ended up being eliminated right off the bat by William Nunes in the lightweight division. Nunes scored 2-0.

Click here and check out the results so far, and see below a photo gallery by website Guardeiros and photographer Luis Lopes.