The beginning of the 2013 IBJJF season was as usual the European Open in Lisbon. This year, the competition was full of eventful moments. Many things were expected by BJJ fans: The return of the charismatic Fernando Tererê, after a 9 year absence from IBJJF tournaments due to long term psychological and drug abuse problems and his return in adult black belt against such current champions as Claudio Calasans, Alan Finfou or Dj Jackson. The rise of Europe’s best BJJ player, Alexander Trans. Mackenzie Dern’s first tournament at black belt. Romulo Barral and Cobrinha competing in Europe. Brown belt prodigies, Keenan Cornelius , Joao and Paulo Miyao. The performance of recent BJJ kumite competitors like Luke Costello, Lucal Anacoreta, Ilke Bullut, AJ Alagazarm or Darragh O Conaill…
Absolute podium
Terere had a good run in the middleweight division, beating his first opponent on points and meeting in the semis, his ex student who was issued from his favela social project: Alan Finfou Nascimento. The biggest and most beautiful moment of the European Jiu Jitsu Open occurred when, Alan “Finfou”, after conceding the win to Fernando Tererê in their middleweight match, handed Tererê his black belt. He later explained his actions: “Fernando Tererê made me what I am in Jiu-Jitsu. He taught me since the white belt. This belt, he gave me one day and asked for 5 reais for it, I knew he was going to buy crack. I told him then that I was going to give him back the belt when when he got back on his feet. There was no better moment than that! I will sleep filled with joy and proud today!” Unfortunately Terere ended up being DQ’d in his final versus Calasans with a questionable leg reaping call, as his leg reaped the arm and leg of Calasans, not just the leg. Oh well, it was great seeing him back in the mix and let’s hope that he can secure a Visa for the USA for bigger competitions. This won’t be an easy task following his legal problems in the US a few years ago…
Recently promoted black belt, Mackenzie Dern made her IBJJF tournament debut. She was defeated in the absolute by Polyana Lago in the absolute division, however, she won her weight division choking out Nyjah Easton, and having Michelle Nicolini concede the final to her through injury. Danish and best European competitor, Alexander Trans made it his second straight European Open gold medal at black belt, beating the very good opponents in Vedran Ikic, Leo Nogueira, and Rodrigo Cavaca in the final. He also took third in the absolute.
Keenan Cornelius took double gold and subnmitted Joao Miyao in the absolute final
Keenan Corenelius continued on his victorious run taking double gold at brown belt, beating Joao Miyao in the absolute final. The other BJJ Kumite fighters did well too: Luca Anacoreta, Luke Costello and Ilke Bullut took gold in their divisions, and Darragh O Conaill and Aj Algazarm took bronze. Renato Cardoso from Checkmat did reaonably well taking bronze in his contested weight class. BJJ superstars Cobrinha and Romulo Barral took gold without too much difficulties on their path.
BLACK – Adult – Male
Rooster
FIRST Brandon Mullins – Gracie Barra
SECOND Koji Shibamoto – Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy
THIRD Jordy A. Jean Antoon Peute – Gracie Barra
THIRD Takahito Yoshioka – Tokushima BJJ
Light-Feather
FIRST Laercio Fernandes – Alliance
SECOND Carlos Vieira Holanda – CheckMat
THIRD Thomas Lincoln Correa Lisboa – Alliance
THIRD Andre Carvalho Monteiro – BJJ Revolution Team
Feather
FIRST Rubens Charles Maciel – Alliance
SECOND Augusto Lopes Mendes – Soul Fighters BJJ
THIRD Osvaldo Augusto Honorio Moizinho – Institute of Martial Arts – Caio Terra
THIRD Eduardo Ramos da Silva – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Light
FIRST Michael Langi – Alliance
SECOND Vinícius Tavares Marinho – GF Team
THIRD Gabriel Rodrigues A. Goulart – Alliance
THIRD Maxime Silvére Olivier – CheckMat
Middle
FIRST Claudio Calasans Camargo Júnior – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
SECOND Fernando Augusto da Silva – Alliance
THIRD Mathias Fernandes Ribeiro – Alliance
THIRD Alan Douglas Pereira do Nascimento – CheckMat
Medium-Heavy
FIRST Rômulo Claudio Barral – Gracie Barra
SECOND Rodrigo Fajardo – Gracie Barra
THIRD Renato Guimaraes Cardoso – CheckMat
THIRD Vitor Fabio Martins Toledo – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Heavy
FIRST Dimitrius Soares Souza – Alliance
SECOND Leonardo da Costa Maciel – GF Team
THIRD Fabiano Junior Leite de Souza – Alliance
THIRD Marcelo da Silva Bernardo – United BJJ
Super-Heavy
FIRST Bernardo Augusto Rocha de Faria – Alliance
SECOND Lucio Furtado Rodrigues – Gracie Barra
THIRD Mauricio Henrique Cristo Lima – PSLPB Cicero Costha
THIRD Filippi Soto Mattos – Barbosa JJ
Ultra-Heavy
FIRST Alexander Riis Hilligsoe Trans – CheckMat
SECOND Rodrigo Henrique Cavaca – CheckMat
THIRD José Ferreira da Silva Júnior – UAE Jiu-jitsu Team
THIRD Leonardo Pires Nogueira – Alliance
Open Class
FIRST Leonardo Pires Nogueira – Alliance
SECOND Bernardo Augusto Rocha de Faria – Alliance
THIRD Alexander Riis Hilligsoe Trans – CheckMat
THIRD Claudio Calasans Camargo Júnior – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
BLACK – Adult – Female
Light-Feather
FIRST Yasmin Tahira Sewgobind – Jiu Jitsu Factory
SECOND Angelica Vieira Ferreira – Atos Jiu-Jitsu
Feather
FIRST Mackenzie Lynne Dern – Gracie Humaita
SECOND Michelle Zonato Nicolini – CheckMat
THIRD Nyjah Easton – Team Lloyd Irvin
Light
FIRST Marina Soares de Araujo Ribeiro – CheckMat
Middle
FIRST Luanna Alzuguir Marton Moraes – Alliance
SECOND Ida Josefin Hansson – CheckMat
Medium-Heavy
FIRST Caroline de Lazzer Cardoso – UAE Jiu-jitsu Team
SECOND Polyana Lago Barbosa – Alliance
THIRD Shanti A. D. Abelha – CheckMat
THIRD Erika Carrarine Correia – De La Riva / BA
Open Class
FIRST Luanna Alzuguir Marton Moraes – Alliance
SECOND Michelle Zonato Nicolini – CheckMat
THIRD Marina Soares de Araujo Ribeiro – CheckMat
THIRD Polyana Lago Barbosa – Alliance
