As previously reported here on GRACIEMAG.com, Gracie Barra’s Flavio “Cachorrinho” Almeida was the big name out of the Australian World Pro trials, winning the under-92 kg weight class and open weight class alike. But there’s another trials winner in the Land Down Under worthy of acclaim, given the weight class he represents.
Marcelino Freitas (top) works to pass Gustavo Falciroli's guard in final. Photo: Marcus Costa
With Eduardo Ramos, Bruno Frazatto and Mendes brothers Rafael and Guilherme having wreaked havoc at the very first major tournament of the year, the question of whether anyone will interfere with Atos JJ’s hegemony makes the featherweight division one of the most intriguing of April’s World Pro event in Abu Dhabi.
One valid candidate is Nova União’s Marcelino Freitas.
Since moving to Australia last June following a solid run that saw him win the New York Open and take runner-up to four-time world champion Rubens Cobrinha at last year’s Pan, Freitas stayed out of the competition mix until Saturday’s World Pro Trials in Sydney, where he won two matches before beating Gustavo Falciroli in the final. Having beaten this year’s European Open champion Bruno Frazatto to take gold at the 2008 Brazilian Nationals, there could be an interesting rematch brewing, adding further fireworks to a featherweight division already guaranteed to be exciting.
Check out the complete results from the Australia World Pro trials, where Flavio Almeida reigned supreme:
World Pro Trials Australia
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Sydney, Australia
Male brown/black Open Weight division
Winner – Flavio Almeida / Gracie Barra
2nd – Michael Wilson / Peter De Been
3rd – Tiago Braga / Roots
3rd – Willian Almeida / Nova União
Male brown/black under 65 kg
Winner – Marcelino Freita / Nova União
2nd – Gustavo Falciroli / Match 1
3rd – Mario Yokoyama / Gracie Oceania
Male brown/black under 74 kg
Winner – Leonardo Arruda / Guigo JJ
2nd – Stacey Wilson / Machado
3rd – Carlos Vieira / Cia Paulista
Male brown/black under 84 kg
Winner – Willian Dias / Nova União
2nd – Tiago Ferreira / GSA
3rd – Rodney Ellis / Nova União
Male brown/black under 92 kg
Winner – Flavio Almeida / Gracie Barra
2nd – Morgan Davies / Zenbu
3rd – Vicente Cavalcanti / Alliance
Male brown/black over-92 kg
Winner – Michael Wilson / Peter De Been
2nd – Istfan Szasz / Zenbu
3rd – Julio Guerra / Gracie Barra
Male blue/white belt under-74 kg
Winner – Aaron Hughes / Kaizen Fitness
2nd – Danilo Tostes da Gama / Gracie Barra
3rd – Harrison Spiteri
Male blue/white belt over- 74 kg
Winner – Brian Falzon / Roots
2nd – George Chehade / Nova União
3rd – Ravick Gomes / Roots
Male purple belt under-74 kg
Winner – David Marinakis / Dominance
2nd – Marcus Schmidt / The Dojo
3rd – Remo Curcio
Male purple belt over-74 kg
Winner – Kit Dale / Peter de Been
2nd – Ben Patterson / GSA
3rd – Sharher Khan / SPMA
Female purple/brown/black under-63 kg
Winner – Jean Alvisse / Nova União
2nd > Kate Aroa / NZ BJJ
3rd – Raissa Oliveira / Roots
Female purple/brown/black over-63 kg
Winner – Philippa Katonivualiku / Roots
2nd – Maren Frerichs
3rd – Fiona Muxlow
Female white/blue belt under-63 kg
Winner – Charlotte Von Baugarten / The Dojo
2nd – Laura NG / Gracie Oceania
3rd – Kate WIlson
Female white/blue belt over-63 kg
Winner – Meagan Green
2nd – Numia Fialele
3rd – Sonia Hamilton / GSA