Highlights of 9th AZ International Open: 670 competitors, gold for Bendo, GDJJ best team

27 Feb, 2014

Teams on the podium. Photo: Personal Archive

GMA member Gustavo Dantas ran another successful tournament in Arizona. The 9th Arizona International Open held on Feb. 22-23 at Phoenix College brought together 670 competitors.

Here are some of the standouts of the weekend:

Standouts:

Male

Black belt – Ben Henderson (JCBJJ) defeated Nathan Mendelsohn (Claudio Franca BJJ) by one advantage in the finals of the black belt medium-heavyweight division.

Ben Henderson wins gold. Photo: Personal Archive

Brown belt – After winning the adult medium-heavyweight division, Daniel Hampton (GDJJ Prescott) defeated Kevin Scott (CTA) in the final of the adult open weight division to secure his double gold.

Daniel Hampton won double gold. Photo: Personal Archive

Purple belt – Horlando Monteiro (GDJJ Academy) and Joao Paulo Fernandes (GDJJ Academy) won the middleweight division and the heavyweight division respectively and closed out the open class.

Horlando Monteiro wins gold. Photo: Personal Archive

Blue belt – After taking second place in the adult heavyweight division, Nathan Hagberg (GDJJ Academy) came back to close out the open class with his GDJJ Academy teammate Thomas Keenan who won the biggest blue belt bracket, the adult middleweight division.

Nathan Hagberg wins gold. Photo: Personal Archive

Female

Blue belt – Krystal Coots (JCBJJ) won the featherweight division and defeated Shayleh Lester (Rey Digo/De Brazil) to win the open class.

Purple belt – After winning the adult lightweight division, Sarah Black (GDJJ Academy) defeated Nana Hawakawa (Ruffhouse) in the final of the open class, and secured her double gold.