Gia Thomas of AOJ. Photo: Erin Herle

In the blue belt female absolute featherweight Giovanna Thomas of Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy earned double gold. In the absolute she secured three submissions: triangle, kimura, bow and arrow. In her featherweight divisions she earned three more submissions: two bow and arrows and an armbar.

Pete with a triangle. Photo: Erin Herle

Medium-heavyweight Pete O’Neal of Atos Jiu-Jitsu secured the absolute title and the double gold. He had four matches in the absolute: two triangles, one by armbar and one by points. In his medium-heavy division he won with one triangle and two matches determined by points.

Sarah in her guard. Photo: Erin Herle

In the female purple belt absolute, featherweight Sarah Jones of Art of Jiu-Jitsu Academy came back with a vengeance. She lost her first match in her division by one advantage but returned in the absolute to go against the same girl, Mylene Ramos Engle. She was able to win that first absolute match by points and then in the final she secured the win by points as well.

Horlando Monteiro. Photo: Erin Herle

The purple belt male open weight champion was middleweight Horlando Monteiro of Nova Uniao. In the absolute he had four matches. Two were determined by points, one was finished with a triangle and the final against Ian Sanders of GB Manhattan Beach was finished with an armbar.

Kristina after a long day of competing and refereeing. Photo: Erin Herle

The brown belt female absolute winner was another double-gold champion and also a referee. Kristina Barlaan of Caio Terra Association had one match in the lightweight division where she submitted with a wrist lock from triangle. She won her first match in the absolute by an advantage and then the final was determined by points.

Gabriel secures a kneebar in the final. Photo: Erin Herle

The brown belt male absolute title went to Gabriel Barbosa Checco of Gracie Humaita Las Vegas. After missing his medium-heavy division and getting disqualified, he was still able to get bronze and sign up for the absolute. He’s glad he did because he was able to submit three opponents for the gold. He had two kneebars and a choke for the win.

To see the full results, go here: http://static.ibjjfdb.com/Campeonato/000294/en-US/Results.pdf

Gianni Grippo wins another IBJJF absolute. Photo: Erin Herle

The 2014 IBJJF Vegas Summer Open on Aug. 9 held many black belts in its divisions. The male open weight, however, had four.

Here is how the matches unfolded:

Ultra-heavyweight Ranieri Paiva defeated middleweight Nathan Mendelsohn by one advantage.

Featherweight Gianni Grippo defeated ultra-heavyweight Carlos Eduardo Faria by referee decision.

Gianni defeated Ranieri by 6-5. Ranieri took Gianni down then Gaini went for the berimbolo but came up on top into mount for the 6 points. Ranieri was able to secure a pass but Gianni recovered and went to 50/50 guard. Ranieri was not able to pass the guard or submit and the gold went to Gianni.

For the females, there were two: Charlene Coats of Coalition 95 and Mackenzie Dern of Gracie Humaita. They were in separate divisions and did not fight until the open class.

In the absolute, Charlene pulled guard. Mackenzie pushed to half guard, passed and mounted. Charlene turned and Mackenzie secured the back and the choke winning her gold for the day.

Here is a gallery of the divisions:

Rodrigo Freitas of Gracie Barra wins the lightweight division. Photo: Erin Herle

The 2014 IBJJF Vegas Summer Open is underway at the Sport Center of Las Vegas right off the strip. The one-day event on Aug. 9 is one of the hottest in the summer.

The black belt adults took to the mat early in the day with multiple matches for most of the divisions. The open division will begin at 3 p.m. PST.

Here is how the divisions unfolded:

Light-feather

Fabbio Passos of Alliance defeated Sonny Nohara of SoNo BJJ by 4-0 points.
Nobuo Yagai of Rigan Machado defeated Sonny Nohara by points.
Fabbio Passos defeated Nobuo Yagai by 6-2.

Winner: Fabbio Passos

Feather

Vitor Paschoal of Caio Terra Association defeated Orlando Machado da Silva Junior of Norfight by toehold.
Samir Chantre of Caio Terra Association defeated Gerson Atoigue of Nova Uniao by armbar.
Gianni Grippo of Alliance Marcelo Garcia defeated Vitor Paschoal by 8-6 points.
Samir Chantre defeated Gianni Grippo by 2-2 points 2-1 advantages.

Winner: Samir Chantre

Light

Rafael Benedito of Zenith BJJ defeated Andrea Rico Vaughan of Gracie Humaita Las Vegas.
Rodrigo Freitas of Gracie Barra defeated Francisco Iturralde of Alliance by 2-0 points.
Rafael Benedito defeated Osvaldo Moizinho of Caio Terra Association by 2-0 points.
Rodrigo Freitas defeated Rafael Benedito by armbar.

Winner: Rodrigo Freitas

Middle

Nathan Mendelsohn of Coalition 95 defeated Romulo Cavalcanti of Carlson Gracie Team by armbar.

Winner: Nathan Mendelsohn

Heavy

Antonio Antonioli of Atos Jiu-Jitsu defeated David Reed of Fabio Santos BJJ by DQ by stalling.

Winner: Antonio Antonioli

Super-heavy

Gustavo Pires of Gracie Barra defeated Manuel Diaz of Caio Terra Association by armbar.
Bradley Beckwith of Alliance defeated Thiago Veiga Ximenes of Roberto Traven BJJ.
Gustavo Pires defeated Bradley Beckwith by armbar.

Winner: Gustavo Pires

Ultra-heavy

Carlos Eduardo Farias of Roberto Traven BJJ defeated Thiago Reinaldo de Souza of Gracie Barra by referee decision.
Ranieri Albuquerque of Gracie Elite Team defeated Misael de Oliveira Miranda of Luiz Paulo Jiu-Jitsu by 1 advantage.
Carlos Eduardo Faria defeated Prescott Foster Bailey Jr of Easton BJJ by two advantages.
Carlos Eduardo Faria defeated Ranieri Albuquerque by 8-2 points.

Winner: Carlos Eduardo Faria

See the full results here: http://static.ibjjfdb.com/Campeonato/000294/en-US/Results.pdf

Check out a full gallery of photos below:

The Cascao Jiu-Jitsu team ready for the Vegas Summer Open. Photo: Personal Archive

If you’ve checked the athlete list for the 2014 IBJJF Vegas Summer Open, you’ll see that Walter “Cascao” Vital has unleashed his students. The GMA Cascao Jiu-Jitsu team tops the list as the most competitors registered and the hometown team hopes to bring home the team trophy this weekend on Aug. 9.

We decided to ask Walter Cascao two quick questions about what this event means for the team:

GRACIEMAG: What does it mean for the Cascao Jiu-Jitsu team to win in their hometown?

WALTER CASCAO: I’ve aways thought that competition gives motivation to achieve a goal; to demonstrate determination, and perseverance to overcome challenges. Winning a competition in your hometown with the support of the entire team it’s a good way to make them understand that hard work and commitment leads to a greater chance of success.

How much importance do you place on competition for your students?

BJJ tournaments bring together competitors from different ages, weight, and skill levels. it is a chance for me and my students to show that all the time spent on the mat, training, eating right, and preparing for the fights is worth it.

Follow the action live at the Sport Center of Las Vegas this weekend and learn more about Cascao Jiu-Jitsu at www.facebook.com/cascaojiujitsu