Rômulo Barral in action at Spring Open / Photo: John Cooper

The IBJJF-promoted Spring Open shook things up at the Long Beach Convention Center last Saturday in California. At the event that played out at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, Otávio Sousa of team Gracie Barra won the middle and open weight divisions. Another big standout was Rômulo Barral, who closed out the absolute with Otávio and won the medium heavyweight division.

On his way to assuming his post atop the podium, Rômulo had to overcome a number of adversaries. In the video below you can see him getting a choke from half-guard. Notice how patient Barral is in controlling the lapel and working his way to where he wanted to be. By distracting his opponent with passing half-guard, he sunk the choke and wrapped up the encounter.

Rômulo Barral em ação no Spring Open de Jiu-Jitsu. Foto: John Cooper

O Spring Open, torneio de Jiu-Jitsu da IBJJF, agitou o LB Convention Center, na Califórnia, no último sábado. O evento, que rolou dentro da World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, consagrou Otávio Sousa (Gracie Barra), campeão no peso médio e no absoluto. Outro grande destaque foi Rômulo Barral, que fechou o aberto com Otávio e venceu o meio-pesado.

Na trilha para subir no alto do pódio, Rominho teve de superar diversos adversários. No vídeo abaixo, você vê como ele estrangula na meia-guarda. Repare que Rominho é paciente ao dominar a lapela, e dali trabalha até chegar aonde quer. Ao desviar a atenção do oponente com a insistência na passagem de meia-guarda, ele encaixa o estrangulamento e encerra o duelo.

Otávio em ação. Foto: John Cooper.

Apesar do grande destaque às superlutas do World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, o LBConvention Center, na Califórnia, também trouxe grandes disputas com a realização do Spring Open, mais um evento da IBJJF. E, depois de ter garantido peso e absoluto no NY Open, em abril, Otávio Sousa repetiu o feito nos dojôs em Long Beach.

Sousa foi o campeão no peso médio, ao lado do companheiro da Gracie Barra Claudio de Mattos, e garantiu o primeiro posto no aberto, agora junto do amigo Rômulo Barral. Barral também fez bonito no meio-pesado, onde subiu no topo do pódio.

Barral no Spring Open. Foto: John Cooper

Outros destaques do evento foram Milton Carlos, no pluma; Samir Chantre, no pena; Zach Maxwell, o melhor no leve; Gustavo Pires no pesado; e Gustavo Elias no pesadíssimo.

Confira aqui todos os resultados.

Otávio in action / Photo: John Cooper

Competing for attention with the ballyhooed supermatch card at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo this Saturday in California, the inaugural Spring Open, a tournament promoted by the IBJJF, brought its own fair share of excitement. And after having secured top spot at weight and open weight at the NY Open last April, Otávio Sousa repeated the feat on the mats in Long Beach, California.

Sousa swept the middleweight division alongside his Gracie Barra teammate Claudio Mattos, then doing the same in the open class in tandem with his buddy Rômulo Barral. Barral put on a show all his own in the medium heavyweight division, where he took his spot at the highest perch on the podium.

Barral at Spring Open / Photo: John Cooper

Further standouts from the event were Milton Carlos at light featherweight, Samir Chantre at featherweight, Zack Maxwell at lightweight, Gustavo Pires at heavyweight and Gustavo Elias at ultraheavyweight.

Check out the complete results here.

But while there’s still time to get tickets to the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, time to get your name on the list of competitors gunning for glory at the maiden Spring Open is running out. Today, May 4, is your last chance to do some gi-clad combat and be seen by the many Jiu-Jitsu and MMA stars who will be perusing the attractions and watching the Spring Open from the sidelines.

Sign up here.

For further information regarding the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, click here.

And if you’re in competition shape and ready for the Spring Open, you’re probably all set to go for the most prestigious title of them all, that of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, to be held May 31 to June 3 in the same city of Long Beach, but at California State University campus. For further information and to join the excitement, click here. The registration window closes May 23, but you pay less if you sign up by the 11th.