ICYMI: Dominyka Wins For a Cause, ADCC Trials Results, UAEJJF Champions in Curitiba
Another weekend filled with great thrills in the grappling universe. From New Jersey, to Manhattan, from Brazil to Spain, there were lots of attractions for Jiu-Jitsu fans all over the globe. Here’s a quick recap in case you missed something.
Dominyka, Otavio, Miyao, Rocha win big prozes in NY
The IBJJF held another edition of the New York BJJ Pro this Saturday, November 19. The black belt division featured the likes of Otavio Sousa, João Miyao, João Gabriel Rocha, Gianni Grippo, among many others. Otavio beat Marcus Tinoco for the middleweight gold medal and the $4,000 money prize. Other champions were João Miyao after a tough match against Grippo in the featherweight division and João Gabriel beating Mahamed Aly in the ultraheavy. Among women, 2x black belt open class world champion Dominyka Obelenyte made a comeback to the circuit to win the absolute division and cash the $1,500 prize. After the win, she once again pleaded for equal pay in prizes between men and women in the black belt division. After the win, she wrote in her Facebook page: “Although the end result was a happy one there is still work to be done, the least the IBJJF can do is equalize terms for the absolute by giving women a greater purse. I call upon all my ladies to not get discouraged, with each generation of women, whether they be white or black belts, we see an improvement in not only skill but in division size. It is a rare sight to see women in divisions with one or zero fights in large tournaments these days, and with growing numbers, the push for equal pay cannot be deterred.” Click here for the full results.
Great action at the ADCC Trials in New Jersey
Black belt Tom DeBlass organized this weekend the official North American trials for the 2017 ADCC. The event would appoint secure the spot for five grapplers in the main event, next year, in Helsinki, Finland. The prestigious title of being one of the few qualified for the ADCC attracted some of best grapplers out there to the mats set in Toms River, New Jersey. After a day filled with great thrills, the qualified in each division were: Justin Rader (66kg), Mansher Khera (77kg), James Brasco (88kg), Eliot Kelly (99kg) and Tom DeBlass (+99kg).
Big names fight for ranking points at the UAEJJF’s Curitiba International Pro
The UAEJJF added another successful event to its belt this Saturday, November 19. The Curitiba International Pro gathered Brazil’s elite competitors fighting for precious points in the UAEJJF world ranking. The black belt division featured names like Gabriel Arges, Isaque Paiva, Jhonny Souza, Jose Junior, among others. The champions were: Isaque Paiva (69kg), Jhonny Souza (77kg), Gabriel Arges (85kg), Victor Silva (110kg). In the female black/brown belt division, Talita Alencar claimed the 55kg division while Nathiely de Jesus was the 90kg division champion. Click here for the full results.