Two-time Brazilian national No-Gi champ Kleber "Buiú" Oliveira in photo taken by Gustavo Aragão at No-Gi Brazilian Nationals 2011

Gracie Barra professor Kleber Buiú took top spot at the No-Gi Brazilian Nationals last Saturday at Canto do Rio club in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state.

Before winning the absolute division after closing out the final with his buddy Frederico Zaganelli, Buiú also won the medium heavyweight division, and commented on the conquest: “I really did expect to win,” he told GRACIEMAG.com,

“because I was well trained and really focused.”

It’s the second time Buiú wins the title, explaining when it was that he started believing it was indeed his day:

“I started believing I’d win the absolute as well after winning my first match, which was really tough,” said the black belt, who feels his game flows better at No-Gi competitions.

“I really feel my game is better without the gi, but even in competition I prefer to wear the gi. It’s with the gi that a refine my technique,” he explained.

Head teacher at Gracie Barra alongside Jefferson Moura, Buiú had planned to be at the No-Gi Worlds next week in Long Beach but had let his visa expire.

“I didn’t manage to renew this year, so my main objective now is the 2012 Gi Worlds. Expect me there,” he said in closing.

Learn a sweep by the ever-more famous Buiú, and comment below.

“I felt I did well, was pleased with the result. Truth is, I wanted to do the absolute too, but I competed one day earlier in Brasilia and was really worn out. There, I had nine matches, four in my division and five in the absolute. I won my division but ended up losing the absolute semifinal to Bochecha. It was really high level, a war. There were awesome guys there, like Bochecha, Claudio Calasans, Ricardo Evangelista, Alexandro Ceconi, Alexandre de Souza, Igor Silva, José Carlos and a number of others,” he recounted, referring to the Pan-American championship help in Brazil’s capital, where the absolute winner, Marcus Vinícius “Bochecha” took home a car as his reward.

Leandro in final with Theodoro Canal (GFTeam) / Photo: Gustavo Aragão

“But even though I didn’t do the absolute, I’m really happy to have won the Brazilian national lightweight title. The final was against Theodoro Canal, a really tough and experienced fighter. My game relies a lot on gi grips, so I felt there was a difference, but thank God everything worked out and I won. Murilo Santana helped me a lot in training. He’s really great at both Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu,” said the Cicero Costha student, who sees the No-Gi game as a complement to his Jiu-Jitsu.

“I feel one complements the other. The no-gi game lets you flow more, while the gi game makes you tighter,” he says.

Now Lo is preparing for the December Copa Pódio in Porto Alegre, where he’ll take part in the lightweight GP. “I’ll be at Copa Pódio for sure, but I’ll be at any good championships that come up in the meantime,” he said cheerfully.

Check out the complete results from the Brazilian No-Gi Nationals by clicking here.

Lazaro is one of the Mendes brothers' great hopes. Publicity photo.

At the No-Gi Brazilian Nationals, there was a purple belt drawing attention in the light featherweight division. His name is Lazaro Antonione, an Atos athlete and the divisional champion.

Atos has high hopes for the fighter’s future, as world champion brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes state:

“He’s one of the best purple belts we’ve ever trained. You’ll see him winning a lot more in the future. We’re really happy about his win and for sure it’s just the beginning,” said Rafa and Gui.

Buiú in photo by Carlos Ozório

This Saturday at Canto do Rio Club in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state, the No-Gi Brazilian Nationals unfolded. Among the standouts of the competition, Gracie Barra duo Kleber Buiú and Frederico Zaganelli won their respective weight divisions and closed out the absolute.

In action at medium heavyweight, Buiú took on Roberto Gordo black belt Victor Bonfim. Victor started out well, but Buiú adjusted a foot attack and pulled off the finish. It’s the second year in a row that Buiú wins the event.

Now Espírito Santo native Frederico Zaganelli defeated Antonio José (Gracie Humaitá) in the super heavyweight decider. Zaganelli dominated the match and sunk an arm-and-neck choke to win on points. In the absolute, he celebrated team victory by shutting out the final with Kleber Buiú.

In the middleweight final, Murilo Santana (Barbosa JJ) attacked Sandro Vieira’s (CheckMat) foot for the gold. Leandro Lo (Cicero Costha) took on the game Theodoro Canal (GFTeam) in the lightweight final and added yet another title to his mantel. Meanwhile, Bruno Bastos (Nova União) again showed why he’s at the top of the heap, earning gold at ultra heavyweight.

Some of the others who made it to the top of the podium were Herbert Mitchell, younger brother to world champion Gilberto Durinho, winning at featherweight; Thiago Teixeira (Marcio Rodrigues) overcame Felipe Costa (Brasa) in the light featherweight final; Marcus Adriano (Gracie Barra) won at roosterweight; and Mauro Celso earned further points for GB by beating Nilson Ricardo (Nova União) in the heavyweight decider.

Check out the complete results by clicking here.

Bruno Bastos will be competing at the No-Gi Brazilian Nationals. Photo: personal archive.

Today, on the banks of Guanabara Bay in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro state, the best grapplers in Brazil will take to the mats for the Brazilian No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu National Championship.

Here are our predictions for who will take top spot:

Felipe Costa at light featherweight; Ary Farias and Hebert Mitchell at featherweight; Leandro Lo and Theodoro Canal at lightweight; Murilo Santana at middleweight; Victor Bonfim and Kleber Buiú at medium heavyweight; Diogo Sampaio and Nilson Ricardo at heavyweight; Bruno Bastos at ultraheavyweight.

Click here to check out the brackets.

The Brazilian nationals, this year in the city of Niterói, will feature Murilo Santana, absolute champion of the event and fourth-place in the ADCC absolute. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Jiu-Jitsu stars have already started popping up on the roster. Head to the CBJJ website and secure your spot too.

To find out who’s already signed up, click here.

Victor celebrates triumph at 2010 Brazilian Nationals. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Going with the flow of the No-Gi events season, the CBJJ (IBJJF) will hold the No-Gi Brazilian Nationals on October 29, however, it will be held across the Guanabara Bay, at Canto do Rio club in Niterói. The traditional Tijuca Tennis Club venue is under restoration.

Sign-ups last till the 21st of this month. Click here to find out more.