Paulo Miyao [69KG Adult] and Paulo Pinto [94kg Adult] have made it to the finals of their respective black belt categories
Elcirley Silva wins Bronze at the Para Jiu-Jitsu Black belt 110kg Master 2 category
UAE players won a total of 6 medals [1 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze] in different weight and belt categories
London, United Kingdom, 10th March, 2018: Abu Dhabi Grand Slam® Jiu-Jitsu World Tour fifth leg in London began today at the Copper Box Arena with some skillful fights of the gentle art, in the purple, brown and black belts categories [male and female] on the seven mats. The talented players from around the world, across different weight categories, performed at the top of their level with action packed fights and went after their share of the US$125,000 in prizes and final chance to get at the top of the UAEJJF rankings ahead of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships 2018, which will be held in April in Abu Dhabi.
Day 1 Of Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour In London Begins With Some Exciting Fights from Jiu-Jitsu Times on Vimeo.
With passionate fans in attendance and the viewers across Abu Dhabi Sports TV and the 18 TV Partners from around the world, witnessed six hours of jiu-jitsu and were treated to an exciting set of fights between some of the top brown and black belt players.
Mr. Tareq Al Bahri, director of Abu Dhabi Grand Slam® said, “Our mission is to build and develop the sport of jiu-jitsu here in London and UK as a whole, by providing all the aspiring athletes from this region a world class platform to compete against the best. We are steadily growing the sport here, the numbers speak for itself. The first day was really good here in London at the Copper Box Arena. I would like to congratulate all the competitors who took part today and for the black belt finalists tomorrow.”
After making it to the finals of the Adult black belt, 69kg category, Paulo Miyao said “First of all I would like to thank UAEJJF, my coaches and team mates at Pslpb Cicero Costha, without them this would not be possible. I am looking forward to the finals tomorrow against my teammate Victor Othoniel Moraes, I was looking forward to this tournament after I won the gold in Abu Dhabi, so it is great to come back to London and finish off the season in style.”
Paulo Pinto who made it to the finals of 94kg Adult black belt said “This season has been the toughest for me as a competitor, that is a clear indicator of the increase in the quality of performance from the athletes. This is what its all about, developing as a human being and as an athlete and this is what we now expect from UAEJJF, as they are setting the standard in the sport. I’m looking forward to the finals tomorrow. Thank you to the fans in London for your support”
Emirati Obaid Al Kaabi of Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won Bronze in the 69kg Master 3 black belt category said, “Thank you to UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, thanks to Al Jazira club, my coach and team mates, I’m very happy to win the silver and I dedicate it to them. Our club competed at all the five Grand Slams this season and now we will move our focus to the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships next month.”
Day two of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam® in London continues tomorrow 11th March from 11am to 6pm London standard time, at the Copper Box Arena, where the top Black belt players will compete, including Joao Miyao, Jackson Sousa, Paulo Pinto among many others.
Day two of the event will be broadcasted live on Abu Dhabi Sports TV in UAE & MENA from 3pm UAE time, Combate in Brazil from 10pm Brazil time and worldwide live streaming on FloGrappling.com.
The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championships 2018 will take place from 16 April to 29 April 2018 and it will be the 10th anniversary of the championship. Please visit HERE to register
For the complete Day 1 results please visit HERE
Male Black Belt Recap
56kg – Jose Carlos Lima once again finished the division on the top. In two matches, the Brazilian first beat João Kuraoka 4-2 in a tough match and then managed a 2-0 lead over Andrea Verdemare to take the gold medal home. It’s Jose’s fourth title in five Grand Slam events this season.
62kg – Hiago George is on the way to another gold medal this season. He fought once to reach the final, beating Pedro Clementino 5-0 on advantages in the semifinal. Hiago’s opponent will be Korea’s Wanki Chae, who beat Jorge Nakamura 4-0 and then finished Wellington Lima in the other semifinal.
69kg – Paulo Miyao wants his back to back title. He fought twice this Saturday to secure a spot in the final. He first choked Max Campos from the back and then beat Jan Basso 9-0 in the semifinal. Also fighting for the gold medal is Victor Otoniel, who took the long way to the final. He beat Alex Cabanes 6-4, then finished Eduardo Vieira and finally outscored Alexandre Vieira 5-2 in the semifinal.
77kg – In the most crowded bracket, Jamie Canuto fought three times to reach the final. He caught Krzysztof Suchorabski with a flying armbar, then outscored Bruno Borges 13-0 and finally met Kywan Gracie in the semifinal, settled with an armbar after guard pass and mount. On the other side, Marcos Paulo Costa also had a long way to the final, beating Kenji Sette 4-2, Oliver Lovell 2-1 on advantages and finally Rafael Mansur 2-0.
85kg – Isaque Bahiense and Charles Negromonte will meet once again. After a tough final in Abu Dhabi, Bahiense wants to take the title back from Negromonte, who will have the boost of his teammates rooting for him in London. This Saturday, Negromonte fought twice to reach the final, first finishing Bruno Reale with a choke from the mount and then Sweden’s Max Lindblad by ref decision. Bahiense also had a tough route to the final. He beat Igor Sousa 4-0 and then José Henrique Carodoso 2-0.
94kg – Jackson Sousa held his home turf with a solid performance this Saturday. In two matches, he caught Steve Combourg with a foot lock and then choked Ben Hodgkinson from the back to reach the final. Paulo Pinto was the surprise element in the bracket. He beat favorite Adam Wardzinski by one penalty in the semifinal to meet Sousa in the final.
110kg – Thiago Sá wants the gold medal in London. He fought twice this Saturday to reach the final. He beat Antonio Junior 10-0 and then finished Lukasz Lepianka in the semifinal. Champion at the Grand Slam Rio, Poland’s Gerard Labinski wants his second title in the season. In the semifinal, he beat Matthew Leighton by referee decision after a 0-0 tie on points.
Female Brown/Black belt Recap
49kg – In a single match, Arantazazu Romero claimed the gold medal with a referee decision win over Serena Gabrielli.
55kg – Belgium’s Amal Amjahid and Holland’s Rose El Sharouni will clash for the gold medal this Sunday. Amjahid beat sitting champion Amanda Nogueira by referee decision in the semifinal while Sharouni beat Mayara Abrahão 7-2.
62kg – Germany’s Charlotte Von Baumgarten wants her back to back title. She caught Nadia Melo with an armlock to reach the final and meet Larissa Paes, who beat Julia Maele by ref decision and then Hannah Rauch 3-0 in the semifinal.
70kg – Ana Carol Vieira did what was expected of a ADWPJJC champion. She fought twice and finished both her opponents on her way to the final. She caught Katherine Hill with a katagatame and then repeated the recipe on Barbara Ruiken. Carol’s opponent will be Thamara Silva, who beat Rana Qubbaj 19-0, then Nathalia Zumba by ref decision and finally caught Ane Svendsen with a foot lock.
90kg – Laila Carneiro fought twice to reach the final, beating Jessica de Andrade 5-2 and after that getting a referee decision win over Grace Ferla. Arizona Brodie had to step on the mat only once, beating Laura Barker 3-0 to reach the final.
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