Gustavo Dantas held the seventh installment of the Arizona International Open on March 3 and 4, delivering another successful tournament to the Jiu-Jitsu scene. Reaching 650 competitiors, the Nova União black belt showed why his events are so highly regarded. Not only did Gustavo put on a $3000 pro division for the black belts, but he allowed the community’s lower belts a golden opportunity to have some fun and showcase their skills.

UFC champion Ben Henderson suited up and kicking back the way he likes best: competing in the gi / Photo: Many Weapons

At the brown belt level, fans in Arizona got a chance to see a couple of pro MMA fighters at work. Newly crowned UFC lightweight champion Ben “Smooth” Henderson (JCBJJ) took home some gold with the only middleweight matchup of the division. Henderson also managed to take third place in the open class, losing in the semifinals. The big winner at brown belt, though, was former Bellator fighter Jacob McClintock (GD Jiu-Jitsu), who grabbed a hold of the open weight gold, defeating Daniel Grippaudo (BJJ Revolution) in the final and submitting all of his opponents in the absolute. McClintock hopped back into the action following a short break from BJJ competition.

In the purple belt division, a pair from GD Jiu-Jitsu reigned supreme. Issa Able and Daniel Hampton won the middleweight and medium heavy divisions, respectively, and then went on to close out the open weight division; Hampton conceding the top spot to Able. The one to really take note of in the blue belt division was 17-year-old Adrian Nez from team Megaton. Nez marched all the way to the lightweight final to submit Nava BJJ’s Aaron Wilson with an ankle lock. As if not quite satisfied with the gold from his division, young Adrian entered the absolute. Although a lightweight, Nez did extemely well, making it, again, to the final. This time leaving with a silver medal, losing to the ultra heavyweight champ, Alex Centner (Lopez BJJ), by wrist lock. Also at blue, representing the females, was Maria Magna (JCBJJ). Magna, UFC champion Ben Henderson’s girlfriend, managed to win the women’s absolute, despite being a light featherweight. Magna defeated middleweight champ Kayla Reupenny from Relson Gracie in the open weight final.

The sheer numbers combined with the raw talent that GD Jiu-Jitsu Events attracts to tournaments is just a testament to the growing popularity of these functions; showing that Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona is here to stay.

Caio Terra against Queixinho / Photo: Andrew Koeller

Tempe, Arizona, saw its fair share of action last weekend, when Gustavo Dantas’s Arizona Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship rolled into town. Three thousand dollars was up for grabs between the winners of the two black belt divisions, further upping the already scalding hot temperature in the region.

Among the big standouts was 2011 Pan-American champion Caio Terra (Gracie Fighter), who took the decision over Osvaldo Augusto “Queixinho” (Soul Fighters) in the light absolute decider. Now number one in the heavy absolute was Marcel Fortuna (Ralph Gracie), who overcame Brazilian champion Daniel Garcia (Nova União) in the grand finale.

But there was a host of other gentle art aces putting on shows. At brown belt, Daniel Madrid (Gracie Fighting Systems) took the medium heavyweight division and the absolute.

At purple, Gustavo Dantas disciples Issa Able and Christian Broadnax did well in their respective weight classes and then closed out the absolute.

At blue, Alex Centner (Lopez Jiu-Jitsu) took top spot on the super heavyweight and absolute podiums for the double gold.

Check out all the action in the photos by Andrew Koeller below:

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Caio Terra contra Queixinho. Foto: Andrew Koeller.

O último final de semana contou com muita ação em mais uma edição do Arizona Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships, na cidade de Tempe, evento organizado pelo faixa-preta Gustavo Dantas. Em jogo, o total de 3 mil dólares para os campeões das divisões na faixa-preta, o que esquentou ainda mais o verão escaldante na região.

Entre os destaques, o campeão do Pan 2011 Caio Terra (Gracie Fighter) bateu Osvaldo Augusto “Queixinho” (Soul Fghters) na decisão do absoluto leve. Já o número 1 do absoluto pesado foi Marcel Fortuna (Ralph Gracie), que venceu o campeão brasileiro Daniel Garcia (Nova União) na final do absoluto pesado.

Mas muitas outras feras da arte suave fizeram bonito. Na faixa-marrom, Daniel Madrid (Grace Fighting Systems) foi o melhor no meio-pesado e absoluto.

Na faixa-roxa, os alunos de Gustavo Dantas Issa Able e Christian Broadnax foram bem nas suas respectivas categorias e fecharam o absoluto.

Na faixa-azul, Alex Centner (Lopez Jiu-Jitsu) subiu no alto do pódio no super-pesado e absoluto para faturar duas medalhas de ouro.

Confira abaixo toda a ação nas fotos de Andrew Koeller:

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GMA member Gustavo Dantas, of Arizona, is proud of his student Issa Able.

The Iranian who lives in the USA representes the team last weekend at the World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Cup, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

After wining the blue belt category of the US west coast trials, Able took third in the blue belt lightweight division and went as far as the quarterfinals of the absolute.

In total, Issa had 10 fights, wining 8 of them with 5 submissions.

For more info, go to gdjiujitsu.com.