Nicholas Meregali applies the winning kimura in the final. Carol Haber
On a night of great thrills, BJJ Stars held this Saturday another grand event. The gymnasium at Hebraica Club in São Paulo was packed with people eager to see the best the sport has to offer.
On top of the superfights on tap, an exciting open weight GP was also featured to ensure no one in the audience would leave dissatisfied.
Nicholas Meregali, the man of the night, was surgical. A student under Mario Reis (Alliance), Meregali had a tough road to the 100,000-real prize. He had three fights that wouldn’t be out of place in a World Championship final, beating Victor Hugo and Lucas Hulk before meeting Gustavo Batista for all the marbles.
Batista, who had defeated Jackson Sousa and his former teacher Leandro Lo, brought Meregali into his wheelhouse and tried to go to work playing deep half-guard. But Meregali surprised the Atos fighter with a fulminating kimura attack, securing the gold.
Bia Basílio, Gustavo Ximu, Marco Barbosa, Luis Marques and Andre Trezza also contributed to a great night with victories of their own.
Complete results:
Open Weight GP
Quarterfinals
Nicholas Meregali def. Victor Hugo 6-2, points
Gustavo Batista def.Jackson Sousa 16-0, points
Lucas Hulk def. Rudson Mateus, kata-gatame
Leandro Lo def. Dimitrius Souza, 2-0 advantages
Semifinals
Nicholas Meregali def. Lucas Barbosa 9-0, points
Gustavo Batista def. Leandro Lo 2-0, advantages
Final
Nicholas Meregali def. Gustavo Batista, kimura
Superfights
Bia Basílio def. Ana Schmitt, foot lock
Gustavo Ximu def. Roberto Godoi 2-0, points
Marco Barbosa def. Juquinha Brites 6-2, points
Luis Marques def. Adriano Silva 13-0, points
Andre Trezza def. Yves Carbinatti 4-0, points