The 6 mats saw 386 well-organized participants grind through them and in the end few emerged with gold medals, cash and a ticket to compete in Abu Dhabi.

As for the teams, Lloyd Irvin took first, establishing what is sure to be a strong show across the seas. Alliance came in second while Marcelo Garcia was third.

Full results after the gallery

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Team Winners
1. Lloyd Irvin
2. Alliance
3. Marcelo Garcia

Full Results
Male Brown and Black Belts over 202
1. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Avengers)
2. Abraham Marte (Yamasaki)
3. William Shannon (Tony Passos BJJ)
3. Josua Owen (ATT CT)

Male Brown and Black Belts 202
1. Roberto “Tussa” Alencar (Gracie Barra)
2. Lee Villanueva (BTT Canada)
3. Robert Torrablas (Lloyd Irvin)
3. Steven Patterson (Brasa)

Male Brown and Black Belts 183
1. Lucas Leite (Check Mate)
2. Rafael “Formiga” Barbosa (Soul Fighter)
3. DeAlonzio “DJ” Jackson (Lloyd Irvin)
3. Abmar Barbosa (Drysdale JJ)

Male Brown and Black Belts 163
1. Lucas Lepri (Alliance)
2. Renan Borges (BTT)
3. AJ Agazarm (Gracie Barra)

Male Brown and Black Belts 143
1. Bruno Malfacine (Alliance)
2. Samir Chantre (Gracie Fighters)
3. Daniel Beleza (Sas Team)
3. Joseph Taliercio (Serra BJJ)

Female Purple, Brown and Black above 140
1. Valerie Worthington (Marcelo Garcia)
2. Rachel Demara (Lloyd Irvin)
3. Cecilia Minshall (Renzo Gracie)
3. Nathalia Azoff (BTT)

Female Purple, Brown and Black below 140
1. Vianca Jager (ECU BJJ)
2. Katie Merrill (Wai Kru)
3. Fiona Watson (Nova União)
3. Tassia Ferreira (Renzo Gracie)

Male Purple Belt Heavy Absolute
1. Timothy Michael (Lloyd Irvin)
2. Kenneth Brown (Lloyd Irvin)
3. Tyler Steppe (Marcelo Garcia)
3. Davia Panicca (CTMMA)

Male Purple Belt Light Absolute
1. Jeff Cummings (Alliance)
2. Michael Lierra (Alto BJJ)
3. Nick Schultz (Lloyd Irvin)
3. Wesclay Sardinah (Kioto BJJ)

Male Blue Belt Heavy Absolute
1. Pete Briggs (Lloyd Irvin)
2. Alsonso Washington (Lloyd Irvin)
3. Ariel Sepulveda (Kioto BJJ)
3. Carl Fargnat (BTT)

Male Blue Belt Light Absolute
1. Mike Perez (Lloyd Irvin)
2. Jim Barret (Brasa)
3. Emilio Carreiro (Gracie Barra)
3. Arthur Walcott (Lloyd Irvin)

Male White Belt Absolute
1. Joseph Kay (Renzo Gracie)
2. Muhammal Cladwell (Renzo Gracie)
3. Jonathan Naranjo (Alliance)
3. Robert Chernow (Alliance)

Top Winners Read Gracie Mag

Xande Ribeiro playing on top in Jiu-Jitsu / Photo: Ivan Trindade

With so many big names signed up to compete, the promoters of the San Diego leg of the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup Trials decided to up the ante a bit. Now, the one to win the brown/black belt absolute division this weekend will take home an extra one thousand dollars.

THERE ARE GRACIES TRYING OUT FOR A TRIP TO ABU DHABI

Figuring on the competitor list are such big names as: Xande Ribeiro, Rômulo Barral, Lucas Leite, André Galvão, Kron Gracie, Guilherme Mendes, Clardk Gracie, Marcel “Mãozinha” Fortuna, Mike Fowler, James Puopolo, Joel Tudor and more. The winners of each division will travel to Abu Dhabi for the main event with all costs footed by the UAE government.

To find out more about the event, click here.

And check back with GRACIEMAG.com for coverage from the event.

Isaque Paiva asphyxiating Bruno Frazatto with his legs at Gramado tryouts / Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

Life has never been easy for Isaque, Paiva, the winner of the under-64 kg division at the Gramado leg of the WPJJ tryouts.

After beating Ary Farias by referee decision, he went on to tap out Bruno Frazatto, who declared him the winner even after Isaque was disqualified (get the background story here). Now Paiva runs the risk of having his trip to Abu Dhabi nixed because of his passport, which has been at the American consulate for some time now and needs to reach the organizers of the event in Abu Dhabi soon.

But even with this holdup, the Saikoo team whiz remains confident and smiling. Back in his town of Penápolis, São Paulo State, the fighter spoke with GRACIEMAG.com.

Did you forget the rule penalizing any competitor who runs to join the crowd in the stands after winning?

Honestly, I wasn’t aware of the rule… Everyone who was there and watched the fight saw what happened; there was nothing ill meaning about it at all. I’ve been struggling for some time to make it here, to compete against the best, and I have no reason to, after winning the match, go thumb my nose at the rules and jeopardize everything. It was just an act of pure joy. I always respected my opponents, but after winning I rushed to hug my friend Guilherme Paradeda, who always supported me there in the South.

PERSISTENCE AND PERFECT STATURE FOR TRIANGLE

What did you learn from the Gramado campaign?

I learned that it’s worth doing a good job of preparing. I always kept a straight line, and now I fulfilled a dream. I also learned to pay attention to the new rules and to curb my celebrations. Let me reiterate: what happened was unintentional; I respect Bruno Frazatto and his whole team—I’ve been around them at other championships before… I just didn’t control my happiness for having won, it was never my intention to cause this whole situation. I’m sorry about it, and I now I just want to keep training, since the championship isn’t over yet.

You subbed Frazatto with a triangle with no arm on the inside. What’s different about the way you do the triangle?

It’s the position I practice most, as it’s the one I have the easiest time doing, due to my physical stature. In fact, it’s a great move for anyone with long legs. What I do to work on my triangle is just train a lot, persist in polishing it up and trying to apply the perfect move.

Isaque Paiva chokes Frazatto with his legs at the Abu Dhabi tryouts. Photo: Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.

Bruno Frazatto and Isaque Paiva starred in the most exciting moment of the WPJJ Trials this weekend in Gramado.

GRACIEMAG.com recorded the final of the -64kg category, an action-packed clash with a thrilling ending, even after regulation time was over.

Jiu-Jitsu is attitude

Check out the drama experienced by Isaque and applaud the integrity of Frazatto.

Having watched the video, do you feel the World Pro organization  should invite Bruno to compete in Abu Dhabi?

Ary Farias going strong at WPJJ Trials in Gramado / Photo by Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG

Watch Bochecha's two finishes in Gramado.

São Paulo native Marcus Vinicius “Bochecha” was rampant in the under-92 kg division on day one of the WPJJ Trials in Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

GRACIEMAG.com captured two of the three matches Bochecha had on the day.

In both he put on a splendid show of technique and finished from back control. Check it out!

Ana Carolina Vieira and Rodolfo Vieira

One blue belt athlete who took runner-up in her division on day one of the WPJJ Trials competition in Gramado was the focus of special attention from the media.

Ana Carolina had five matches, won four and got the tapout in three.

Her hopes at winning the gold medal ended at Monique Elias in the under-63 kg final.

Even despite her solid campaign and a spot in Sunday’s absolute division, which could net her an all-expenses-paid trip to the main event in Abu Dhabi this April, what caused the cameras and microphones to turn towards the 18-year-old from Rio de Janeiro was her last name.

Ana Carolina bears the family name Vieira, the same as Rodolfo, the current kingpin of the gentle art.

While her famous sibling barked instructions at her from the crowd, reveled in her joy and comforted her in her disappointment, the spotlight was fixed on Ana.

In a GRACIEMAG.com interview, with her brother by her side, Carol addressed her big-name brother, broke down her performance and promised to strive for better results.

Her faithful sidekick Rodolfo assessed his sister’s strengths and guaranteed that she has much more to offer in the future.

The registration period has been extended from March 5th to March 6th.

In another great piece of news, Budo Videos will be broadcasting live.

Many Jiu-Jitsu stars already confirmed presence, such as Alexandre Ribeiro, Clark Gracie, Baret Yoshida, James Puopolo, Joel Tudor, Marcos Torregrosa.

For more info and to register, go to abudhabiprojj.com/sandiego_2012.

sports.tvgo.ca

Rodolfo Vieira fakes going for a choke in the final of the Abu Dhabi tryouts in Rio. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

In the final at last Sunday’s WPJJ tryouts in Rio, Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam)

works free of Barbosa representative Luiz Panza’s guard, mounts and wins with a well crafted double attack.

Learn how it’s done from the current absolute Jiu-Jitsu champion of the world in this video produced by the folks at BJJFights.com.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc8nz3oXuoo