Rodolfo secured his place in yet another installment of the Abu Dhabi WPJJC. (Flashport publicity photo)

At the WPJJC Trials in Rio de Janeiro last month, Rodolfo Vieira of GFTeam started out getting set back by a splendid takedown from CheckMat’s Pedro Henrique. The world champion was unflustered by this, of course, and ended up finishing with a choke.

Learn how the current absolute champion of Abu Dhabi does it:

Rafael “Barata” Freitas will compete in the final of the under 143 category at the San Diego WPJJC Trial on Sunday January 27 / Photo by Erin Herle

The matches in the Miramar College gym went off without a hitch today at the San Diego WPJJC Trial.

The day started at 10 a.m. with the adult blue belts filling the four mats. As the day moved on down the belts and the division winners were solidified, the crowds grew. The blue belts, many under the age of 21, captured the action well. By the time the purple belts began, crowds were watching intently as the athletes had their chance to shine. Moving to brown and black belts, it was a time for all to admire the technique and tenacity unfolding in search for a ticket to Abu Dhabi in April.

Overall, the final matches of each division garnered their own intensity, cheers and sweat poured. Tomorrow will be time for the absolute divisions to begin with white belts qualifying from semi-final division winners and up and all other divisions qualifying from the quarter-final winners and up.

Here are the winners of the divisions:

ADULT MALE

WHITE
Light Feather:  Chuong Vu/Lotus Club Jiu-Jitsu
Feather: Mark Barrett/Cobrinha BJJ
Light: Ivan Herrera/Undisputed
Middle: Alex Ogiyevich/Gracie Barra Northridge
Medium Heavy: Michael Scott/BJJ Revolution
Heavy: Russell Delmar/SDBJJ
Ultra Heavy: Max Necochea/Undisputed

BLUE
Light Feather: Ian Sanders/Gracie Barra Manhattan Beach
Feather: Jeremy Jackson/Gracie Barra Northridge
Light: Angelo Guerrero-Barden/ATOS Jiu-Jitsu
Middle: Erick Leon Garcia/Gracie Barra
Medium Heavy: Kaniela Kahuanui/Caio Terra BJJ
Heavy: James Gray/Megaton Jiu-Jitsu
Super Heavy: Luke Pollard/Kaijin
Ultra Heavy: James Friedrich/ATOS Jiu-Jitsu

PURPLE
Light-Feather: Bobby Castle/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Feather: Jeremy Spry/Undisputed
Light: John Meno/ATOS Jiu-Jitsu
Middle: Nisar Loynab/ATOS Jiu-Jitsu
Medium Heavy: Daniel Hampton/Nova Uniao
Heavy: Mike Carbullido/ATOS Jiu-Jitsu
Super Heavy: David Morehead/Joe Stevenson’s Cobra Kai
Ultra Heavy: Eric Geib/Victory MMA

FEMALE ADULT

WHITE/BLUE
Light Feather: Sheryl Lawrence/Fight Sports Avengers
Feather: Claudia Diaz/Caio Terra BJJ
Light: Erica Plummer Santana Nascimento/Lotus Club Jiu-Jitsu
Middle: Christine Giaquinto/Gracie Humaita San Diego
Medium Heavy: Natyna Vidato/Selva BJJ
Heavy: Tara White/ATOS Jiu-Jitsu

PURPLE/BROWN/BLACK
Light Feather: Tracy Leung/Gracie Humaita USA
Feather: Chelsea Bainbridge-Donner/ATOS Jiu-Jitsu
Light: Sarah Black/Nova Uniao

BROWN/BLACK ADULT MALE FINALS FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 27:

Under 143: Rafael Freitas v.s. Baret Yoshida
Under 163: Rodrigo Freitas v.s. Zak Maxwell
Under 183: Don Ortega v.s. Marcelo Mafra
Under 202: Eliot Kelly v.s. Roberto Alencar
Over 202: Marcus Almeida v.s. James Puopolo

Two brown/black open divisions have been added, under 183 and over 183. Cash prize available to the winner of each at $500.

For schedule, results and more information, head to www.prosportsbjj.com

FGB Arena in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials in San Diego, CA are set for Jan 26-27 with divisions for kids to seniors and many available prize tickets to compete in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Cup of 2013.

The brackets are up on the website now, see who you will be facing here: http://www.t360reg.com/Brackets.aspx?TournamentID=25

Weigh-ins are to be held today at 858 Fight Shop from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The address is 7128 Miramar Rd San Diego, CA 92121. Phon: (858) 530-8181

NOTE: You may also weigh in at the venue one (1) hour before your fight time. All athletes are weighed in without the gi!

The venue is located at the large gymnasium at Miramar College: 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92126.

Schedule will be announced shortly on the website! All information regarding the San Diego Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials can be seen here: www.prosportsbjj.com

See everyone tomorrow!

The medals for the 2013 Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials in San Diego, CA Jan 26-27

If you haven’t registered yet, make sure you go to www.prosportsbjj.com and sign up for the 2013 Abu Dhabi Pro Cup Trials in San Diego, CA on January 26-27. The San Diego event has been the hub for many ticket holders who have won their place in the 2013 Abu Dhabi World Professional Cup in Abu Dhabi.

The deadline to sign up is Tuesday, January 22 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard time, divisions from kids to seniors all welcome! The location is at the large gymnasium at Miramar College 10440 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92126.

As a five star tournament, the opportunity to gain access for a free ticket is the largest. Winners of the adult male brown/black belt weight divisions receive a package and all other ranks can win in one or two open class divisions.

Some notable attendees include: Roberto “Tussa” Alencar, Alberto Crane, Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, Rafael Freitas, Rodrigo Simoes, Kristina Barlaan, Michael Liera, Jr., Mike Carbullido, Tanner Rice, Ryan Beauregard, Manuel Diaz, Ruotolo twins, Alyssa Wilson and more!

Register now at www.prosportsbjj.com

Herbert Burns (grey sleeves) with his buddies in Sweden, where he even helped train UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gusfasson (Personal archive photo)

One of the most hotly disputed qualifiers for the April main event in Abu Dhabi, the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil leg of the WPJJC Trials will be held Jan. 19 and 20 at Caio Martins Gymnasium in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State.

The tournament is sure to go off, as world champions Rodolfo Vieira and Gabi Garcia are set to hit the mats there.

Another big name confirmed for combat is Herbert Burns, brother to Gilbert “Durinho”, who is traveling Europe and will return home raring to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the United Arab Emirates.

What do you expect at the Trials in Niterói?

I expect the best. I always go in it to win it, and this time will be no different. With six-minute matches the action becomes more dynamic, much more explosive, but that’s how I fight. Anyone who wants to win has to stay ahead on the scoreboard the whole time.

How’s your training been going, with this tour of Europe and all?

I arrive in Brazil on the 10th because I’ve got a series of seminars to teach in Sweden. Truth is, here I’ve been training more MMA and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, but as soon as I return I’m going to tune up my gi game with my teacher Casquinha at Top Brother and Oriente academies in Niteroi. Here in Sweden I managed to keep in shape, and I even competed at and won a grappling tournament. Check out one of the matches.

You’re coming off a blemishless campaign at the 2012 Brazilian National No-Gi Championship. Do you consider yourself to be a firm favorite to win at the Trials?

I never enter a competition for competing’s sake; if I don’t think I have what it takes to win I don’t even sign up. I feel this business of there being favorites only exists before the match begins. I’m going to give it my all and gun for my objective, which is to make it to top spot on the podium. I always work on everything and try to be prepared for any situation I might encounter, so my game is always free-flowing and attacking, with lots of movement. I’m going to fight like I always do—going for the finish, which is Jiu-Jitsu’s essence.

What about you, gentle reader, how about competing in the United Arab Emirates with all expenses paid? Click here to get in on the WPJJC Trials in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State.

Roberto Cyborg in photo by Dan Rod

Decorated Jiu-Jitsu competitor Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu is recovering from knee surgery but already has a date set for his competition return. The leader of Florida-based Fight Sports team is confirmed for the Miami leg of the 2013 World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Cup Trials.

The interesting part is that the black belt has already earned his way to the main event, for having won the New York Trials. Cyborg just can’t pass up an opportunity to compete in his own backyard, though.

Besides the February 9 and 10 tryouts in Miami, athletes will also have a chance to earn all-expenses-paid trips to compete in the United Arab Emirates at the San Diego, California tryouts on January 26 and 27, as well as the February 2 qualifiers in Hawaii.

The main event will take place April in Abu Dhabi. To sign up for the tryouts, visit www.prosportsbjj.com.

GRACIEMAG.com had a quick chat with Cyborg about his injury and anticipated return to action:

GRACIEMAG.com: How did you get injured, and how is rehabilitation going, Cyborg?

ROBERTO CYBORG: Right, well I tore my medial meniscus halfway through the year at the 2012 Worlds. It was bothering me a lot and costing my performance. But as I had a bunch of seminars scheduled and the No-Gi Worlds in November, I chose to wait. It was cool. I managed to complete my mission of winning my fourth No-Gi World Championship, and after that I went and got my knee fixed. I operated on November 18, and thank God I’ve been doing physiotherapy ever since day one. It’s been a Cyborg-style recovery, a lot faster than the medics and physiotherapists expected.

You qualified for the WPJJC coming up in April by winning the qualifiers in New York but will be competing at the tryouts coming up February in Miami, anyways. Will you have time to train for it?

No, I won’t have time to train for it. What I’m doing is working on my physical conditioning with Eduardo Ferrino, who’s “the man”. Ferrino has been doing my preparations with me for years and knows my body well. So long as my body’s strong when I get out there, the Jiu-Jitsu’s runs in my veins.

Why compete at the tryouts if you’re already qualified.

Though I’ve already secured my place and am coming back from surgery, the WPJJC Trials is a serious event and is worth including on the circuit. There’s no way I can keep out of it, being in my backyard and all. We’re going in with our elite team to get as many berths for the team as possible. I have to lead my students. Besides this qualifier, I’m also thinking about competing at the tryouts in Hawaii. I’m fortunate to have great friends over in that island paradise, so I want to compete there and enjoy the natural setting.

What does someone who wants to train with you have to do?

I’d like to invite the entire Jiu-Jitsu community to visit my academy and train with me in Miami. Just check out the Miami BJJ Center website  or visit my online-learning website, www.bjjworldchampion.com. Thanks goes out to everyone for the support.

Victor Estima celebrates winning the Abu Dhabi WPJJC Trials in Portugal. Personal archive photo.

Last Saturday, Cascais, Portugal’s Pavilhão dos Lombos gymnasium hosted a leg of tryouts for the Abu Dhabi WPJJC, a professional tournament paying out in big-money prizes next April.

Promoted by black belts Sergio Vita and Zé Marcello, the event featured over a hundred athletes, and the standout among them was midddleweight fighter Victor Estima, a Jiu-Jitsu teacher from Brazil now living and teaching in England.

GRACIEMAG.com had a chat with the champion, who explained his last-minute decision to compete in Lisbon, the move he used to wrap up the final, and much more.

GRACIEMAG.com: Were you training hard for this leg of the WPJJC Trials?

VICTOR ESTIMA: Not exactly, although I was well trained. My trip to Portugal was a short one, as I decided to compete at the last minute. I arrived there on Friday just in time for weigh-ins, and I returned home on Sunday, one day after the tournament. But I had no problem making weight, as I normally weigh 80 kg, so all I had to do was show my Jiu-Jitsu, like I always do.

What was the final, against Mathias Ribeiro, like?

To me it was the best match I was in. I missed passing his guard on two occasions, and I learned that I need to be a bit more patient in such positions. I was going for the tapout, and so I tried passing guard on speed. So I ended up not passing, but I did channel the fight to my best game and ended up tapping him out with a footlock–the “Estima-lock” (laughs).

Of those qualified in your weight class, the under-83 kg division, who is the sternest test in your opinion?

There are so many first-rate opponents, like Lucas Leite, Claudio Calasans, Keenan Cornelius, who did great at the tryouts in the USA. I’m really confident in my game and have already started training for this competition. I know I’m going to need to do some tough matches but I’m focused on my own Jiu-Jitsu, and I’m preparing to fight anybody.

Besides Abu Dhabi, what are your plans for 2013?

I plan to compete at the big Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, like the Europeans, Worlds, Abu Dhabi WPJJC as well as the ADCC–to do that I’ll also have to do the tryouts too. For the second half of the year, the plan is to do a seminar tour in the USA because I’ve gotten a number of invites.

Middleweight Keenan Cornelius at the 2012 IBJJF Worlds. Photo: GRACIEMAG

Keenan Cornelius was a brown belt for less than six months. Even so, he went head on at the recent World Pro NYC trials and got himself a gold medal, a bronze medal and an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2013 WPJJC, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. To do that, he had to face and beat well-rounded black belts. In the final in his weight division, he defeated the 2009 no-gi absolute black belt world champion, Roberto “Tussa” Alencar. In the absolute, he ended in third palce, after losing to Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu in a close match. In this quick interview, Cornelius talks about his performance in NY and reveals the (not so) secret recipe for the talent coming out of Lloyd Irvin’s school.

Was it the first time you competed against black belts? How was the feeling?
Yeah this was my first time fighting black belts! It was a lot of fun but I train with some of the best black belts in the world, JT Torres, DJ Jackson, Jimmy Harbison and master Lloyd and nobody brings the heat like they do. So I felt more than prepared.

What can you tell us about the battle against Roberto Tussa Alencar?
Tussa was the hardest fight I had that day!! He has really good passing and pushed the pace the whole fight but I had a game plan for him and stuck to it and attacked a lot of sweeps and made sure I had good guard, recovery grips and I was able to pull it off even when he started raking in advantages at the end.

There is a lot of talk about your fight against Cyborg. Do you feel you won that one?
I lost the Cyborg match, I didn’t pay close enough attention to the score and wasn’t aggressive enough in trying to get the two points back. It won’t happen again.

A lot of good new talents are coming from Lloyd Irvin’s school. What is the secret recipe?
I think it’s just great coaching, great team mentality and hardwork!

Check out Cornelius’ battles against Cyborg and Tussa at the WPJJC NYC Trials.

Paulo Miyao in back control at WPJJC Trials in Natal. The 21-year-old will be competing in Abu Dhabi next year. Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com.

A competition standout ever since he was a purple belt, Paulo Miyao, 21, was recently promoted to brown belt, and already met with success last weekend at the Abu Dhabi WPJJC tryouts in Natal, Brazil.

The last opponent standing between him and the all-expenses-paid trip to Abu Dhabi for winning the under-65 kg division was Nova União black belt Lucas Dantas.

After dispatching Dantas, the beast from Andirá, Paraná State, had a brief chat with GRACIEMAG.com about the conquest and his expectations for the April 2013 competition in Abu Dhabi. Check out what Miyao had to say and watch two of his matches from the weekend event in the following videos shot by Junior Samurai.

GRACIEMAG: How do you feel, now you’ve won the tourney in Natal?

PAULO MIYAO: It was really cool to have won this event, but now I want to train a lot so I’ll be in good shape for the upcoming tryouts and the main competition in Abu Dhabi. I tried to impose my game from start to finish. I didn’t make too many mistakes, but I will correct the ones I did so I’ll be better at the next competitions.

What was the final with Lucas like, and what do you expect now?

It was a tough fight. He’s really strong, but thank God I managed to beat him. I’m going to compete at all the tournaments I can until the end of the year.

The 13 qualified for Abu Dhabi and promoter Fabio Hollanda / Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

Sunday was a big day for Jiu-Jitsu in Northeastern Brazil, as competitors from all across the region descended on Natal, Rio Grande do Norte State, to clash on the mats in hopes of earning an all-expenses-paid trip to the April 2013 WPJJC main event in Abu Dhabi.

The tournament organized by our GMA Fabio Holanda paid out in 13 full travel packages to the United Arab Emirates.

Paulo Miyao in action / Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

Among those who’ve secured their travel fare is brown belt Paulo Miyao, who took top spot in the brown/black belt under-65 kg division upon outdoing Lucas Dantas and his Kimura/Nova União cheering section.

“I had three matches. In the semifinal my teammate Felipe Iwasaki let me go past. I’m training and you only reap the fruit of your work,” he said.

Another brown belt confirmed to be on the mats in the Middle East is João Gabriel, who in his last two matches displayed one of Jiu-Jitsu’s cardinal qualities—patience.

The Soul Fighters representative was losing his semifinal against the muscular Bruno Novaes (Nova União) when he pulled a Hail Mary sweep from his sleeve as the clock ran its course. In the grand finale, he kept his cool and outpointed the giant Caião Alencar by 2-0 to take gold in the over-92 kg division.

“It was a really difficult campaign. I only had tough opponents. It was war the whole time. What made the difference for me was that I believed I could do it the whole time. Before the competition I wasn’t feeling too well, but I thought to myself ‘Since I’m already here, I’ll give it my all,’ and it worked out. I think it was all about heart,” he said.

In the under-74 kg division, local fighter Bruno Ramos, whose game is based on animal movements (read about it here), put on a show. He earned his flight to the UAE by overcoming Paulo Ledesma (Atos JJ) by 4-0 in the final. “It was really gratifying to win at home. Last year I struck out, but this year I made it. Today I put all the moves Professor Zé Radiola teaches to work and didn’t let my prey get away,” said Ramos.

CheckMat closed out the under-92 kg division. On one side, Tarcísio Jardim took out three opponents, while Nivaldo Oliveira did the same at the other end of the bracket. Tarcísio ended up taking the ticket.

Leandro Lo against Charles Negromonte in under-83kg semifinal

Now Leandro Lo (Cicero Costha) continues his rampant competition campaign, winning the under-84 kg division. The São Paulo native beat four opponents before meeting Diogo Sampaio in the final. In the big decider, Lo swept, got knee-on-belly and launched an arm attack to seal the deal with an armbar.

Thrilling female contest

Jessica Cristina (Gracie Miquinho) won the lightweight division on Saturday and came back for the lightweight absolute on Sunday. The São Paulo native outpointed Michelle Nicolini 2-2 on points and 3-2 on advantage points for the gold in the purple/brown/black belt division. “It was tough. I faced Marina Ribeiro and Michelle Nicolini, but I dedicated myself to training because I wanted to earn my ticket again. And I did,” said Jessica.

Another pleasant surprise was the like-named Jessica Oliveira (Gracie Barra), who sunk a triangle, swept and tapped out black belt Ana Lewroy with an armbar in winning the heavyweight absolute.

Colored belts

João Miyao celebrates victory in the purple belt lightweight absolute.

In the purple belt lightweight absolute, João Miyao and Marcio André put on another dazzling bout, which this time ended in a draw. In the 12th meeting between the two (it stands at 6-6) the referee’s decision favored João. Now Patrick Gaudio and Max Santos closed out the heavyweight absolute for GFTeam, and Gaudio took the win.

At blue belt, Admilson Gobi (de la Riva) tapped out Dennys Ricardo (Kimura/Nova União) via armbar and took the heavyweight absolute title.

In the lightweight absolute, Isaque Braz (Kimura/Nova União) took top spot. In the blue belt female contest, young Jaqueline Amorim (Asle), 17, outpointed Iris Batista (Kimura/Nova União) by 6-0 in the final.

Another who’ll be heading east is João Carlos of Kimura/Nova União, who won the white belt absolute.

João Miyao tapped out two purple belt opponents at the Abu Dhabi Trials in Natal. Today marks the purple belt absolute contest, with an all-expenses-paid trip to the UAE on the line. Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.

João Miyao tapped two purple belt adversaries out in winning the Abu Dhabis tryouts yesterday in Natal, Brazil. Today he’ll be competing in the purple belt absolute for a chance to compete in the Emirates with all expenses paid.

There was no lack of excitement on the first day of Natal chapter of the WPJJC Trials, and more than 600 competitors took to the mats in competition.

Of the adult black belts in the running, only the girls saw action, as the men are competing today (Sunday).

At lightweight, Jessica Cristina (Gracie Miquinho) caught Luiza Monteiro by surprise and snapped up the gold, while Michelle Nicolini (CheckMat) won the featherweight division.

In the veterans mix, Bruno Ramos (Gracie Barra) came out on top in the under-83 kg brown/black belt master division, while Caio Magalhães’s teacher Guilherme Santos of Nova União tapped out Eduardo Lima of Gracie Barra with a choke to win the under-92kg division.

At purple belt, João Miyao (Cícero Costha) used a choke of his own to send off two opponents and take gold in the light featherweight division. Now Rio de Janeiro native Matheus Guilherme of Gracie Humaitá had four matches in winning the lightweight division. Rodrigo Mendes of Gracie Barra PE took top spot at super heavyweight. It’s worth noting that no one has assured an all-expenses-paid trip to the Emirates yet: the berth will be determined today, in the absolute blue and purple division.

Check out João Miyao in action in the light featherweight final. Keep your eye peeled for the knee-on-belly and neck attack.

Today the competition carries on with the contest for 13 berths in the main event, which takes place in April 2013 in the United Arab Emirates. The winners of the black belt-men weight divisions, the colored-belts absolutes and the female lightweight (under 63 kg) and heavyweight (over 63 kg) opens classes will earn their way to the Middle East to compete.

João Miyao finalizou dois na faixa-roxa, na Seletiva para Abu Dhabi em Natal. Hoje ainda tem o absoluto roxa, chance para ele ir lutar nos Emirados com tudo pago. Foto: Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG

No primeiro dia de disputas da Seletiva de Natal para o WPJJC de Abu Dhabi, em Natal, não faltou emoção nas áreas de luta montadas no ginásio Nélio Dias. Foram mais de 600 competidores inscritos.

Na faixa-preta adulto, só as meninas estiveram em ação, já que os homens estão lutando agora (acompanhe tudo pelo nosso Twitter).

No peso leve, Jessica Cristina (Gracie Miquinho) surpreendeu Luiza Monteiro e levou o ouro, enquanto Michelle Nicolini (CheckMat) venceu a categoria pena.

Entre os veteranos, Bruno Ramos (Gracie Barra) foi o melhor da divisão até 83kg marrom/preta master, enquanto o professor de Caio Magalhães, Guilherme Santos (Nova União) finalizou Eduardo Lima (Gracie Barra) com um estrangulamento para vencer a categoria até 92kg.

Na faixa-roxa, João Miyao (Cícero Costha) também usou o estrangulamento para despachar dois adversários e ficar com o ouro no peso-pluma. Já o carioca Matheus Guilherme (Gracie Humaitá) fez quatro lutas para vencer no peso leve. Já Rodrigo Mendes (Gracie Barra PE) foi o melhor do superpesado. Vale lembrar que ninguém está garantido ainda no torneio profissional dos Emirados: a vaga sai hoje, com os absolutos azul e roxa.

Veja João Miyao em ação na final da categoria pluma. Fique atento ao joelho na barriga e a investida no pescoço.

Hoje a competição segue com as disputas das 13 vagas para o evento principal, que rola em abril de 2013 nos Emirados Árabes. Classificam-se os vencedores das categorias de peso no masculino faixa-preta, os campeões absolutos das faixas coloridas e as vencedoras no aberto feminino leve (até 63kg) e pesado (acima de 63kg).

Quem vai embarcar para Abu Dhabi com tudo pago em 2013, amigo leitor?