The world of jiu-jitsu united in a spectacular show of unity and tolerance as Abu Dhabi solidified its standing as the sport's global home following an action-packed finale at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
With numerous world No. 1 athletes in action, the finals of the week-long ADWPJJC 2019 saw 24 athletes from nine countries - Belgium, Brazil, France, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, UK, USA and UAE - contest 12 World Pro titles in seven male black belt weight divisions and five female brown / black belt weight divisions.
At the end of 12 matches on the Mubadala Arena mats, Brazil topped the country rankings with a stunning total of 11 gold medals and 3 silvers. The UAE and the UK tied second overall with two silver. Norway came third with one gold.
UAE won two silver medals through Faisal Al Ketbi in the men's 85kg division and Yahia Al Hammadi in the 110kg division.
At the end of the finals Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, awarded medals to the jiu-jitsu heroes.
Other dignitaries watching the gripping finals, included: Sheikh Tariq bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Chairman of Emirates Global Funding Group; Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, Chairman of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union & Senior Vice President of Jiu-Jitsu International Federation; Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Khalid Al Nahyan; Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Minister of the Federal Supreme Council at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Mohammad Abdullah Al Junaibi, Director of Presidential Protocols at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
Major names from the world of jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts were also in attendance, including Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, who said: "This championship always attracts the best-of-the-best, but the quality is getting even higher. Abu Dhabi has done great things for our sport, in bridging the gap." between amateur and professional levels, and making it accessible to people of all ages - from children through to older adults."
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Interim Heavyweight Champion, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, was also in attendance.
In the men's 110kg division, superstar Brazilian heavyweight Joao Gabriel Rocha, of Soul Fighters Team, submitted Al Hammadi while leading 4-0.
The 94kg division title was claimed by emerging Brazilian superstar Kaynan Duarte, 21, who submitted Poland's Adam Wardzinski after only 88 seconds. With Duarte's win adding ADWPJJC 2019 glory to two Abu Dhabi Grand Slam golds earlier this season, the Brazilian's scintillating victory run has confirmed his rookie black belt season as a stand-out chapter in jiu-jitsu history.
In the 85kg final, a split decision by judges saw the UAE's Al Ketbi lose to Brazil's Rudson Matheus, 23, of Brasa Cta Team. Only seconds before the six-minute match had elapsed, Al Ketbi had a penalty overruled by the judges ensuring the two athletes finished their final with exactly the same scorecards of two points, one advantage and two penalties each. The Emirati hero raised his arm in victory, only to plunge to the mat in disappointment when the referee awarded the match to Matheus.
Norway's Tommy Langaker won the 77kg category title by submitting the UK's Oliver Lovell. Langaker had led the final 6-0 at the time of the submission.
In the 69kg final, Pslpb Cicero Costha Team's Paolo Miyao beat the USA's Isaac Doederlein. The pair's match ended tied 2-2 on scored points, but Miyao won by account of the American's penalty point for a technical fault.
In the 62kg final, World No. 1 Joao Gabriel Sousa, of Zr Team Association, underlined his dominance of the division by beating compatriot Joao Miyao - the brother of triumphant 69kg champion Paolo - on advantage points after their match finished 2-2.
In the 56kg final, Brazil's Hiago George, from Pslpb Cicero Costha Team, defeated fellow countryman Carlos Alberta De Silva, from GF Team, on advantage points after the contest ended 2-2.
In a truly international female field where athletes from six countries were among 10 women contesting five brown / black belt weight divisions, Brazilian athletes delivered a devastating clean-sweep.
An all-Brazilian final in the 49kg division final saw Mayssa Caldas Pereira Bastos defeat her GF Team colleague Thamires Aquino on points after the six-minute contest went the distance.
In the 55kg division, Brazil's Bianca Basilio, the world No. 6, beat defending ADWPJJC champion Amal Amjahid, of Belgium, 4-2 in a tense encounter. Basilio's gold sealed her second consecutive ADWPJJC title after she claimed gold in the 62kg division in 2018. "I am living my dream all over again, I am so happy to win - this feels so good and I want to thank my team and family for supporting me," said Basilio.
Brazil's Beatriz Mesquita continued the South American women's superiority with a 10-2 defeat of the UK's Ffion Davies in the 62kg final. "I feel great to win my fifth title in Abu Dhabi and the gold gives me so much confidence going into the Brazil nationals next weekend."
In the 70kg final, Brazil's Thamara Silva registered the first submission of the ADWPJJC finals when she made New Zealand's Alessandra Moss tap out after 150 seconds.
The Brazilian women's clean-sweep of titles was confirmed when Gabrieli Pessanha, the current world No.1, underlined her status as the world's leading superstar heavyweight by submitting France's Claire-France Thevenon in the 90kg final.
"It was a good fight and I'm really happy to win on my first time in Abu Dhabi. I want to keep on winning major competitions, Grand Slams and, of course, in Abu Dhabi next year," said 18-year-old Pessanha.
Following the ADWPJJC 2019, the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards will crown 23 category winners during a glittering ceremony at the Emirates Palace in the UAE capital on Saturday. Awards will be handed out to individual winners, the best players from six continents and various schools and clubs from around the globe.
