Gabi attacks from the back.

Not satisfied with the title she won in the London Open’s featherweight division last weekend, Gabriela Fechter signed up for the absolute in search of another gold medal. After advancing through her bracket, she faced Julia Maele in the final.

A tough Julia didn’t allow Gabi to play freely. However, with a technical, precise progression, Gabi made adjustments until achieving control from the top, with Julia on all fours — a perfect situation for the Checkmat black-belt to attack Julia from the back, eventually choking her.

Watch Gabi win the absolute title right here:

Gabi em ataque pelas costas que valeu ouro em Londres. Foto: Reprodução

Não satisfeita com o título conquistado no peso-pena do London Open, realizado no último final de semana, na Inglaterra, Gabriela Fechter se inscreveu e caiu para dentro do absoluto, na busca de mais uma medalha dourada.

Depois de avançar na chave, Gabi encarou Julia Maele na finalíssima em peso aberto. Dura na queda, Julia não deixou que Gabi jogasse com liberdade. Contudo, em progressão técnica e precisa, Gabi foi se arrumando até chegar no controle por cima, com Julia em quatro apoios, situação propícia para que a faixa-preta da Checkmat desse o seu bote nas costas, que eventualmente culminou no estrangulamento.

Confira a técnica de progressão e a finalização precisa da campeã dupla do London Open Gabi Fechter!

Gabi Garcia after she won the open weight division. Photo: Erin Herle

The women competitors of the 2014 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship accomplished yet another year of great fights. Going into the April 17-19 competition, they hit a milestone as the first year the purple belt females competed in their own division. The growth in numbers drove the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation to split the categories and this year only the brown belts and the black belts remained together. The males earned all separate categories for their belts in 2013 and by next year we hope that the same will happen for females next year.

But for this edition, brown and black belts went against one another in the same brackets. Here are the results of the weight categories:

-60kg

There were many promising athletes in this division including the champion of 2013 Michelle Nicolini. But this year she met her match, brown belt Adriadne de Oliveira of Mestre Wilson. Armed with a threatening loop choke, she submitted her first, second and third opponents with the submission. The first match of the division was a deja vu of last year as Michelle Nicolini faced Mackenzie Dern and submitted with an armbar leaving Dern out of the competition. In the final, Adriadne competed against Nadia Melo who defeated Nyjah Easton in the semi-final. Adraidne submitted Nadia by a triangle armbar for the gold.

1- Adriadne de Oliveira
2- Nadia Melo
3- Michelle Nicolini

-66kg

Similar to the -60kg division, the first match of the bracket was one fit for a final as Luanna Alzuguir and Luiza Monteiro, who competed in the 2012 WPJJC final, competed against each other. Luiza was able to earn the win with points and also beat Fabiana Borges on her way to the final. Beatriz Mesquita accomplished a win over Marina Ribeiro and Shanti Abelha to make her way to the finals. Fabiana Borges was able to overtake Marina Ribeiro with advantages to win the third place spot. In the final, Luiza maintained the dominant positions against last year’s champion Beatriz and earned the gold via points.

1- Luiza Monteiro
2- Beatriz Mesquita
3- Fabiana Borges

-72kg

New black belt from Sweden by way of Denmark, Janni Larsson proved her promotion once again since receiving her belt last August. In her first match she defeated brown belt threat Monique Elias by points then went on to defeat Fernanda Mazzelli. She faced Polyana Lago in the final. Janni was able to win on points and jumped for joy with the outcome.

1- Janni Larsson
2- Polyana Lago
3- Fernanda Mazzelli

+72kg

The prior champion, Gabrielle Garcia, was able to win her division once more alongside two other Alliance members. Brown belt eighteen-year-old Dominyka Obelenyte was the contender in the final. Dominyka faced Andresa Correa and defeated her by points to go into the final against Gabi. During the final Gabi earned two points by taking Dominyka down and another three by passing. Dominyka recovered her guard a few times but was not able to submit or gain points against the champion and Gabi won via 5-0 on points.

1- Gabrielle Garcia
2- Dominyka Obelenyte
3- Andresa Correa

OPEN WEIGHT

There were 27 brown and black belts who competed in the open weight division. The bracket was created but not all showed up creating byes within the line-up. Here are the full results of each match:

Vanessa Nascimento defeats Michelle Nicolini by 3-0 advantages.
Jackeline Rodrigues defeats Vanessa English by 2-0 advantages.
Jessica Santos defeats Morena Cuba by 7-0 points.
Shanti Abelha defeats Suelen Dos Tobias by 2-2 points, 1-1 adv, 1 penalty for Suelen.
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Dominyka Obelenyte by 2-0 points.
Monique Elias defeats Fabiana Borges by loop choke.
Mackenzie Dern defeats Nyjah Easton by 4-0 points.
Viviane Gomes defeats Andrea Souza by referee decision after 2-2 advantages.
Janni Larsson defeats Marina Ribeiro by 3-1 advantages.
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Maryanne Mullahy by 5-0 points.
Nadia Melo defeats Talita Nogueira by armbar.
Polyana Lago defeats Ida Hansson by knee injury early on as Polyana jumped guard.
Sijara Eubanks defeats Eirin Nygren by 3-0 advantages.

Luanna Alzuguir defeats Nadia Melo by 4-0 points.
Monique Elias defeats Shanti Abelha by 6-0 points.
Mackenzie Dern defeats Jackeline Rodrigues by 2-0 points.
Sijara Eubanks defeats Viviane Gomes by bow and arrow choke.
Janni Larsson defeats Polyana Lago by armbar.
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Jessica Santos by 2-0 points.

QUARTER-FINALS
Monique Elias defeats Sijara Eubanks by 1-0 advantages.
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Vanessa Nascimento by 3-0 advantages.
Janni Larsson defeats Mackenzie Dern by 5-0 points.
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Luanna Alzuguir by 2-0 advantages.

SEMI-FINALS
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Monique Elias by armbar.
Janni Larsson defeats Beatriz Mesquita by 2-1 advantages

THIRD PLACE MATCH
Beatriz Mesquita defeats Monique Elias by 2-0 advantages.

FINAL
Gabrielle Garcia defeats Janni Larsson by arm lock from side control.

For a full photo gallery of all the matches, click here.

Check out a quick photo gallery of the open weight division finals:

Gabi Garcia in the final absolute match against Beatriz Mesquita. Photo: Erin Herle/GRACIEMAG

Alliance star Gabrielle Garcia, 27, was once again the big name in the women’s division in Pan 2013, which ended last Sunday in Irvine, California. With double gold in her weight category and the absolute, Garcia added two more medals to her collection, and in style: Fabio Gurgel’s black belt submitted all opponents except Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaitá).

In a conversation with GracieMag.com, the fighter from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, talked about the final of the absolute, against Beatriz Mesquita, told what she learned and still needled her rivals, which, according to her, had teased Garcia. Check it out:

GracieMag: What was the hardest part of keeping your position as the absolute queen in Pan 2013?

GABI GARCIA: I think I did a good job because I submitted every opponent except in the absolute final. Too bad I can’t celebrate much because the WPJJC in Abu Dhabi is almost here in the middle of April and I need to keep my focus.

How was this fight with Beatriz in another absolute final?

I always fight with her. And I had always submitted her in them, but lately she seems to be always seeking to keep our fight tied at 0-0 so the judges give the win to her. This is nonetheless a strategy. It just depends on me not to leave the fight as a draw. I know what her game is, and the good thing is that every time I got the victory. I hope it stays that way.

Were there complicated times during the fight?

Yes, when I lost my head in the absolute final with taunts and disrespect from the opponent. That was actually my worst moment! There, I think I’ve learned to keep my head on straight and not lose control. Fabio Gurgel even scolded me for paying attention to her provocations. She wants me to lose control of the fight, but that just isn’t cool. I learned that even disrespected, I have to keep my mouth shut, and not pay attention to someone who doesn’t deserve it.

What’s your secret to submitting almost all of your opponents?

I felt much stronger. My preparation is all focused on strength, thanks to trainer James Heck, who has been taking care of it. I felt my grips on the gi were stronger. And I’m always looking for the submission, it makes a difference. I liked my performance. Now I have
to train harder as I want to keep my titles in the IBJJF Worlds, the WPJJC in Abu Dhabi and the ADCC in Beijing, in October.

What would you say to a girl who longs to be a champion or earn a black belt one day?

Never give up, never stop because of small problems. I’ve always been discredited and today I keep myself on top of Jiu-Jitsu for years. I could easily have given up halfway, but I went ahead. So never give up, practice a lot, be dedicated, and always give your best to achieve your goals. One day, the victory arrives.