Mackenzie Dern earned a spot in the final of the female black belt absolute. Photo: Erin Herle

The first day of the 2014 World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship ended with the black belt match-ups set up for tomorrow, Oct. 5. The new venue on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA accommodated many athletes in and out of the mat areas.

The black belt absolute was a small number of the athletes but the talent was plenty. There were a total of seven females who signed up for the bracket. The matches were completed up until the final, which will be held tomorrow.

Here is how the matches panned out:

Leanna Dittrich of Fight Sports defeated Andresa Correa of Alliance by a triangle submission. As the match began, Andresa went for a nice ankle lock. Leanne stuck it out and earned a submission of her own that ended the match.

Mackenzie Dern of Gracie Humaita defeated Nyjah Easton of Team Lloyd Irvin by one advantage that was earned at the very start in the match. Mackenzie held Nyjah in her closed guard and the later part of the match had Nyjah with Mackenzie in her guard.

Luiza Monteiro of PSLPB Cicero Costha defeated new black belt Sijara Eubanks of Team Lloyd Irvin by kneebar. Sijara worked the pass, the two went into the 50/50 position and while Sijara attacked Luiza’s foot with a toehold, Luiza secured the kneebar.

In the semi-final, Mackenzie defeated Leanna by 3-0 points, 4-0 advantages. Leanna shot in for a takedown in the beginning of the match and Mackenzie defended and went to the back. Mackenzie stayed with one hook for most of the match as Leanna defended but Mackenzie was eventually able to earn a guard pass which gave her the 3 point lead and a spot in the final.

In the other semi-final, Gabi Garcia of Alliance defeated Luiza by an armbar. Gabi pulled guard, swept and closed in as she attacked the arm and a spot in the final opposite Mackenzie.

Stay tuned for the final female black belt absolute match between Mackenzie Dern and Gabi Garcia tomorrow, Oct. 5. Catch the livestream at www.ibjjftv.com

Check out a full photo gallery:

O cobiçado cinturão do absoluto, em Abu Dhabi. Foto: UAE Jiu Jitsu/ Divulgação

Abu Dhabi, a capital dos Emirados Árabes, já se prepara receber o charmoso WPJJC, campeonato profissional de Jiu-Jitsu com polpuda premiação em dinheiro. A competição rola neste fim de semana, nos dias 13 e 14 de abril.

As crianças lutam nessa quarta-feira. A pesagem dos atletas, da faixa-branca à preta, será no dia 11 de abril.

A concorrência está acirrada, com direito a superastros da atualidade. De olho na lista de inscritos e nas diferentes categorias de peso, divulgada pela organização, o GracieMag traz os principais nomes da competição.

Confira e dê seu palpite:

Faixa-preta até 64kg: Cleber Costa, Richard Ávila , Erick Buthsombat, Leonardo Lopes, Thiago Marques, Bruno Lopes.

Até 70kg: Rubens Cobrinha, Theodoro Canal, Gilson Oliveira, Augusto Mendes, João Cunha.

Até 76kg: Lucas Lepri, Jonathan Torres, Roberto Satoshi, Rodrigo Caporal, Leandro Lo, Vinicius Marinho, Vitor Oliveira, Oliver Geddes.

Até 82kg: Claudio Calasans, Guto Campos, Alan Finfou, Victor Estima, Renato Cardoso, DJ Jackson.

Até 88kg: André Galvão, Tarsis Humphreys, Romulo Barral, Rodrigo Di Blazio, Vitor Toledo.

Até 94kg: Rodolfo Vieira, Manoel Neto, Roberto Tussa, Nilson Braga.

Até 100kg: Luiz Panza, Braga Neto, Leonardo Peçanha, João Gabriel Rocha.

+100kg: Marcus Buchecha, Rodrigo Cavaca, Alexander Trans, Roberto Cyborg, Ricardo Evangelista.

Feminino: Gabi Garcia, Luiza Monteiro, Mackenzie Dern, Thaysa Ramos, Beatriz Mesquita, Fernanda Mazzelli, Jessica Oliveira, Tammy Griego, Sijara Eubanks, Caroline De Lazzer.

Faixa-marrom: Keenan Cornelius, Paulo e João Miyao, Gianni Grippo, Ilke Bulut, Victor Silvério.

Para ver a checagem completa, clique aqui.

Rafael Lovato Jr Photo: Mike Calimbas

Rafael Lovato Jr and Sijara Eubanks were the big names of the WPJJ Trials held in San Antonio, Texas, this weekend.

Directed by GMA member Luiz Sergio “Marrinha” Correa, the event gathered a good number of top fighters to decide who would travel with expenses paid to Abu Dhabi in April 2012, for the main event.

The leader of Lovato BJJ won his weight class and the absolute with a solid performance that contained some great submissions.

Lloyd Irvin’s pupil also did great. Still a purple belt, Eubanks cruised by the purple/brown/black belt woemen’s division to win her weight category and the absolute.

Sijara Eubanks Photo: Mike Calimbas

At the open class final, Sijara tapped out also upcoming star Mackenzie Dern, with a wristlock.

Here are the list of absolute winners that got the ticket to the UAE;

MENS WHITE – Pete O’Neal – Marra Senki/Ohana Jiu Jitsu

MENS BLUE (-163) – Tariq Radi – Tony Passos BJJ

MENS BLUE (+163) – Raynald Ray – Gracie Humiata/Rodrigo Pinheiro Jiu Jitsu

MENS PURPLE – Manuel Diaz – Sandro Batata BJJ

MENS BROWN/BLACK – Rafael Lovato Jr. – Lovato Jiu Jitsu

FEMALE WHITE/BLUE – Danielle Alvarez – Alvarez BJJ

FEMALE PURPLE/BROWN/BLACK – Sijara Eubanks – Team Lloyd Irvin (watch below, with video, infos and pictures by Mike Calimbas – txmma.com)

As disputas pelas sete vagas foram quentes nas áreas de luta montadas no Coliseu Freeman, e o grande nome foi Rafael Lovato Jr, que venceu o peso e o absoluto. O faixa-preta americano abusou dos armlocks para bater seus adversários e faturar as premiações pelo primeiro lugar no peso e na divisão aberta. Confira o faixa-preta em ação na final do absoluto:

Sijara Eubanks enfrentou Mackenzie Dern na final do absoluto feminino roxa/marrom e preta, e quase no final do tempo de luta chegou ao cem quilos e finalizou com uma kimura.

Outra luta que merece destaque na competição, Vitor Oliveira (GFTeam) finalizou com um estrangulamento o duríssimo Samir Chantre na final da categoria até 64 kg, faturando 1.500 dólares, mas sem conseguir vaga para o evento principal em abril de 2012.

Confira quem garantiu vaga para Abu Dhabi com todas as despesas pagas:

MENS WHITE – Pete O’Neal – Marra Senki / Ohana Jiu Jitsu
MENS BLUE (-163) – Tariq Radi – Tony Passos BJJ
MENS BLUE (163) – Reinaldo Ray – Gracie Humiata / Rodrigo Pinheiro Jiu Jitsu
MENS PURPLE – Manuel Diaz – Sandro Batata Jiu-Jitsu
MENS marrom / preta – Rafael Lovato Jr. – Lovato Jiu Jitsu
FEMALE WHITE / BLUE – Danielle Alvarez – Alvarez BJJ
FEMALE roxa / marrom / BLACK – Sijara Eubanks – Team Lloyd Irvin