Closing a division is one of the controversial topics of Jiu-Jitsu at the moment especially after the Pan Ams where 5 out 9 black belt divisions ended in a close out between team mates.
Today the IBJJF has announced a new rule regarding close out:
“The IBJJF would like to officially announce the new rules regarding closing out fights for the 2022 World Championships. There will be no cash prizes allocated to any athlete that closes out in their finals match of the World Championships. Furthermore, the athletes who close out will also forfeit their rank points for the event. Please keep in mind that the IBJJF has a disciplinary penalty already implemented regarding immediate double DQ. Here is article 6.1.5 in Disciplinary Penalties:When one or both of the athlete’s disregard the seriousness of the competition or perform actions simulating a fake combat.”
Gordon Ryan, as outspoken as ever, decided to give his two cents on the matter. For him, IBJJF competitors are to blame since nobody wants to see their boring matches. He posted on his IG:
IBJJF decided to take steps to prevent close outs and now athletes are complaining that they want to be paid more to fight team mates in the finals. While i do agree that SOME athletes deserve to be paid more, most don’t deserve to be paid ANYTHING… The fact is these athletes are only crying about athlete pay now because they see me rich and it drives them nuts… You look like an absolute joke. I agree IBJJF should pay bigger prizes and even give SOME athletes more show money, but most of you honestly don’t deserve a dime, even the adcc and world champions. The fact is, no one cares about you, and that’s by the numbers… If IBJJF was smart they’d offer me a $75k show purse to enter one of their GP’s this year so I can help save the sinking ship that is their brand. The ibjjf is in the wrong on a lot of things but you athletes live in another world of delusion too.
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