Em guarda: Samir Chantre foi o campeão peso-pena em San José. Fotos: John Cooper.

Com quase mil inscritos, a edição 2012 da American Cup reuniu, no fim de semana, alguns dos futuros campeões de Jiu-Jitsu da Califórnia e dos EUA, com o padrão de organização que é marca registrada das competições do pioneiro Claudio França, professor carioca radicado na paradisíaca Santa Cruz.

Entre os destaques do campeonato, Diego Herzog (Ralph Gracie) abiscoitou o ouro absoluto na faixa-preta, enquanto Matthew Todd (Gracie Fighter) faturou o absoluto marrom. O aberto roxa ficou com Manuel Diaz, também atleta da Gracie Fighter.

Veja os resultados completos no site oficial do evento, aqui.

Confira as melhores imagens do grande evento, pelas lentes do incansável John Cooper.

5ª American Cup – Domingo

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5ª American Cup – Sábado

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Photo: John Cooper.

Day two from the 5th American Cup in San Jose, CA started out with the white belt competitors. And what they lacked in experience in Jiu-Jitsu they made up for with heart and determination. These fighters came to represent themselves and their academies and put on quite a show for the nearly packed house.

Next up was the main event – the black belts. Diego Herzog from Ralph Gracie took the gold in the adult black belt open class final against Marcus Atecante from Soul Fighters, informs our John Cooper.

Also of note, Samir Chantre from Gracie Fighter won gold in the adult black belt feather weight final while Osvaldo Augusto, also from Gracie Fighter, took gold in the adult black belt light weight final.

Manuel Diaz takes purple belt open gold medal

To close out the day were the purple belts. Manuel Diaz from Gracie Fighter won the adult purple belt open class final with a victory over Ryan Jensen from Gracie Barra.

Tom Tupper from Coalition 95 won gold in the Senior II purple belt division. Also of note, Jose Fernandez from Sandro Batata won gold in the adult purple belt light feather weight division with his victory over Jonathan Gaxiola from Coalition 95.

Here are the team trophy results. Stay tuned for the American Cup pictures by John Cooper, this Monday, in GRACIEMAG.com.

Adult Team

1st – Gracie Fighter, 66 pts.

2nd – Ralph Gracie, 55 pts.

3rd – Coaltion 95, 54 pts.

Juvenile Team

1st – Yemaso BJJ, 18 pts.

2nd – Coalition 95, 16 pts.

3rd – Merced MMA, 9 pts.

Female Team

1st – Gracie Humaita

2nd – Ribeiro JJ

3nd – Coalition 95