New York — JT Torres returned to competition in style today at the IBJJF New York Spring International Open, submitting both his opponents in the middleweight division to win gold. 


JT Torres works top position against Abmar Barbosa. Photo: Nico Ball 
 
Torres tapped out Athos Ribeiro of Alliance with a wrist lock in the semifinal and submitted Abmar Barbosa with an armlock in the final. 

This was the first time Torres had competed since Worlds last year due to relocating to the East Coast from San Diego and preparations for opening his new gym in Westchester, New York, called Essential Jiu-Jitsu. 


Matheus Diniz controlling the action. Photo: Nico Ball

Matheus Diniz also submitted two opponents to take heavyweight gold, beating Nicolas Penzer with an arm triangle choke and later choking Romulo ‘Caju’ Azevedo with a choke from the back. 


Marcio Andre (blue) versus Johnny Tama. Photo: Nico Ball 

Marcio Andre claimed lightweight gold, following matches with Johnny Tama, Yan Lucas and Rodrigo Freitas. Andre outpointed all three to claim gold. 

In other results, Joao Miyao submitted Tadashi Takashima in his only match of the day. Bizarrely, Miyao’s gi ripped in the first ten seconds of the match, prompting a rapid change of uniform. 

Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor suffered a disappointing loss via DQ at Pans but bounced back in New York to become featherweight gold medalist. He beat Silvio Duran and Windson Ramos da Silva. 

Black Belt results 

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light-Feather
1 - João Ricardo Bordignon Miyao - PSLPB Cicero Costha
2 - Tadashi Takashima - Boston BJJ Academy

BLACK / Adult / Male / Feather
1 - Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor - Team Lloyd Irvin
2 - Windson Ramos da Silva - CheckMat
3 - Christopher M. Kriebel - Nova União Ohio
3 - Silvio Duran de Barros Saraiva - Vitor Shaolin BJJ

BLACK / Adult / Male / Light
1 - Marcio Andre C. Barbosa Junior - Nova União
2 - Rodrigo Lamounier de Freitas - Rodrigo Freitas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
3 - João Paulo de Fatima Alves Ferreira - Alliance
3 - Yan Lucas Cordeiro Paiva - Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu

BLACK / Adult / Male / Middle
1 - Jonathan Torres - Essential Jiu-Jitsu
2 - Abmar Marcelo Barbosa - Zenith BJJ
3 - Athos Ribeiro de Miranda - Alliance
3 - Victor Silverio Santos - GF Team Ohio

BLACK / Adult / Male / Medium-Heavy
1 - Nicholas Patrick Calvanese - TAC Team BJJ
2 - Diego Dias Ramalho - ZR Team Association
3 - Horlando de Jesus Monteiro - Nova União
3 - Richard H. Boucher Jr. - RCJ Machado

BLACK / Adult / Male / Heavy
1 - Matheus Oliveira Diniz - Alliance
2 - Romulo de Souza Azevedo - Welton Ribeiro
3 - Nicolas E. Penzer - PAT Academy Belgium
3 - Todd Brandon Mueckenheim - Soca BJJ

BLACK / Adult / Male / Super-Heavy
1 - Diego Bispo Conceição - Ares BJJ

BLACK / Adult / Male / Ultra-Heavy
1 - Aaron Michael Johnson - Unity Jiu-jitsu
2 - Christian Simmerling - Renzo Gracie Academy
3 - Daniel M.L Richards - Octagon MMA

BLACK / Adult / Female / Light
1 - Jaqueline de Moraes Amorim - CheckMat
2 - Aarae Alexander - Team Lloyd Irvin
3 - Rayanne Amanda Carmo dos Santos - Attack JJ Team - Belém PA

BLACK / Adult / Female / Open Class
1 - Ida Fløisvik - Roger Gracie Academy Norway
2 - Rayanne Amanda Carmo dos Santos - Attack JJ Team - Belém PA