Rodolfo celebrates, in photo by Ivan Trindade
The finals of the Rio Open are being defined at this moment in the Tijuca Tennis Club, on a sunny winter day in Rio de Janeiro. And it’s turning out to be a day on the beach for the well-known old black belts. Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes (Soul Fighters) for example, will do battle for the lightweight gold medal against revelation Thiago Coelho (Alliance), while Mário Reis (Gracie Barra) will look to add another gold medal to his vast collection against the fortress that is Theodoro Canal.
One of the great bouts of the day was the heavyweight semifinal foreshadowing what is in store in the absolute final between Rodolfo Vieira (GFTeam) and Leonardo Nogueira. At weight, it was Rodolfo’s day. The talented candidate for stardom frustrated Léo’s various attempts to get the sweep, imposed his guard pass and pressed a knee to his opponent’s belly. Sparks are bound to fly in the absolute final, and Rodolfo will go in rested – his teammate Ricardo Evangelista won the other bracket and the two closed out the heavyweight division.
Get more of the facts from the Rio Open first hand right here on GRACIEMAG.com.
FINALS
Galo: Igor Rodrigues vs Rufino Gomes (closed out bracket for CheckMat)
Light featherweight: Samir Chantre (Carlson Gracie) vs Gabriel Moraes (Monteiro)
Featherweight: Mário Reis (Gracie Barra) vs Theodoro Canal (GFTeam)
Lightweight: Augusto Tanquinho (Soul Fighters) vs Thiago Coelho (Alliance)
Middleweight: Luis Gustavo “Guga” (CheckMat) vs Bruno Alves (Gracie Barra-PE)
Medium heavyweight: Felipe Cranivata vs Kléber Buiú (closed out bracket for Gracie Barra)
Heavyweight: Ricardo Evangelista vs Rodolfo Vieira (closed out bracket for GFTeam)
Super heavyweight: Igor Silva (GFTeam) vs Bruno Bastos (Nova União)
Ultraheavyweight: Gabriel Ingênito (GFTeam) vs Agnaldo Rodrigues (Gracie Barra)