Olympic Champ Wins BJJ Debut; Cruz, Pessanha Take Absolute Gold At No Gi Worlds

The ultimate main Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) occasion to shut out the yr was the 2024 IBJJF No Gi World Championships, and it noticed dominant performances from new and previous champions alike.

2024 IBJJF No Gi Worlds crown new black belt champs

Only a month after turning 20 years previous, BJJ prodigy Cole Abate beat the likes of Gabriel Sousa and different extra skilled foes to take gold on the featherweight division and win his first world title. Elder Cruz was additionally a standout from the occasion, taking silver at tremendous heavyweight and gold in absolute division to formally turn into a two-time world champion.

Within the girls’s facet of issues, two embellished world champions continued their dominance. Mayssa Bastos received gold at 114 lbs., making it her ninth IBJJF world title throughout gi and no gi. Gabrieli Pessanha, who’s among the many most dominant gi rivals ever, received her no gi debut. She solely had one opponent in her super-heavyweight division, however she received that and absolutely the division to win double gold but once more.

Additionally having a powerful displaying was Elisabeth Clay, who received double gold on the IBJJF No Gi Pans in November and gold once more right here on the No Gi World Championships a month later. These three gold medals in main tournaments make it an much more insane accomplishment since she simply gave start three months in the past. The win additionally marked her fourth no gi world title.

Cassia Moura, the 18-year-old phenom who went from blue to black belt in a yr, simply turned the youngest world champion in IBJJF historical past by profitable gold at 125 lbs.

Full outcomes and extra highlights from the no gi world championships are right here.

IBJJF No Gi World Championships: Wrestlers steal the present at Blue Belt

Whereas black belts naturally garner probably the most consideration at BJJ occasions, a few blue belts made plenty of waves on the 2024 IBJJF No Gi World Championships.

Two wrestling champions competed on the blue belt degree, which did result in some clear mismatches on account of IBJJF’s outdated ruleset. It was attention-grabbing to see regardless although.

Olympic wrestling champion Helen Maroulis formally switched and made her BJJ debut on the main occasion. Whereas she lacked expertise within the submission grappling ruleset, the three-time Olympic medalist used that elite wrestling to go 5-0 en path to a gold medal.

Whereas Maroulis diving into BJJ is definitely intriguing, it was a distinct wrestling standout that made headlines for the incorrect causes.

Pat Downey, who has confronted Gordon Ryan and dominated Luke Rockhold at CJI, additionally competed at blue belt regardless of his credentials as an expert grappler. Having expertise in opposition to excessive degree professionals, it wasn’t a shock that the US Open wrestling champion dominated the sphere of blue belts.

Downey received all 5 of his matches, together with the ultimate, the place he put his opponent to sleep from entrance headlock. It was a powerful efficiency, however there have been some taunting, and his opponent clearly didn’t take the loss properly.

Quickly after he wakened from the submission loss, Shamil Murtazaliev shoved and threw a punch at Downey, which led to a brawl between the 2 rivals. After the chaos ended, each Downey and Murtazaliev had been disqualified they usually forfeited what would’ve been the gold and silver medals.

Watch the clip beneath:

Regardless of technically not “profitable” the match, Pat Downey was awarded his purple belt after his dominating 5 matches and never conceding a single level. This implies he ought to be capable of compete in opposition to barely higher opposition subsequent time round, however Downey additionally swore off the IBJJF after the incident.

“This competitors went higher than I ever (might’ve) anticipated. I couldn’t have scripted a greater end result,” Downey wrote on social media. “With that being stated, I’m very unhappy with how IBJJF dealt with my finals match.

“I’m additionally not a fan of them being profitable off of us athletes whereas paying nothing. For these causes I’ll NEVER compete on this group once more. (f—) you IBJJF.”

For the newest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and grappling-related information click on right here.