IBJJFOct 5, 2017 by Michael Sears
Weekend Preview: See Who Are The Big-Name Black Belts Chasing Gold
Weekend Preview: See Who Are The Big-Name Black Belts Chasing Gold
These events will see four of the current top-20 ranked black belts in action, a fifth possibly breaking into the top 20, and a few of the top up and coming competitors in the world.
The upcoming weekend is filled with IBJJF action, with the federation holding tournaments on three different continents. In North America, the Charlotte International Open goes down in Charlotte, NC, on Saturday, Oct. 7. That same day the German National Championship takes place in Berlin and the two-day South America the Floripa Spring International Open gets underway in Florianopolis, Brazil.
These events will see four of the current top 20 ranked black belts compete for titles and a few of the top up-and-coming competitors in the world.
Hulk & Canuto chase ranking points in Charlotte
The field for the IBJJF Charlotte International Open is highlighted by seventh-ranked Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa (Atos, pictured right) and 15th-ranked Jaime Canuto (GF Team). Both men have had incredible years so far in 2017 and are two of the most active competitors around.
Hulk was the champion this year at both American Nationals and the Asian Open and finished second at this year's Pans. Along the way, he has won several International Opens and placed second at the San Diego Pro, which has seen him rise in the rankings rapidly. Most recently, Hulk won a stacked bracket at the UAEJJF Los Angeles Grand Slam.
Canuto was the 2017 Brazilian Nationals champ and a third-place place finisher at both the 2017 World and European Championships. Known for his deadly closed guard and also being dangerous from the feet with a flying armbar, Canuto is one of the most exciting competitors on the scene today. Canuto and Hulk just went head-to-head last weekend in the open class semifinal of the Dallas International Open after both won their weights. Hulk won that match by advantages and went on to take double gold.
The 67.5 ranking points possible with a double-gold performance in Charlotte would move either competitor up the rankings and closer to the end-of-season prize money awarded to the top three finishers. A win in the weight and open class at Charlotte could push Hulk past teammate Keenan Cornelius to the sixth spot at 637 points. If he won double gold, Canuto could jump all the way from 15th to ninth and would be just 4.5 points behind Bruno Malfacine at the eighth spot.
Two more contenders for the open class in Charlotte should be Horlando Monteiro (GD) and Max Gimenis (GF Team). Monteiro has fought Hulk twice recently, at the San Diego International Open and San Diego Pro, with Hulk winning close matches both times. Gimenis was the 2016 world super-heavyweight champion at brown belt and will hold a considerable size advantage against the field as he is now competing up at ultra-heavyweight.
Kaynan Duarte. Photo: Michael Sears
Two young up-and-comers to keep an eye on in this tournament are Kaynan Duarte (Atos) and Mauricio Oliveira (GF Team). Both Duarte and Oliveira were 2017 world champions at purple belt, with Duarte since being promoted to brown. Just two weeks ago at ADCC in Espoo, Finland, Duarte submitted legend Pablo Popovitch by guillotine in the first round.
Just last weekend, Wardzinski won his weight and took second place in the open class at the Copenhagen International Open. He can jump to 19th with a win in his weight division and 17th if he takes home both gold medals in Berlin. Mathiesen is also coming off a gold medal performance in Copenhagen and is expected to also win gold in Berlin.
The featherweight division will include both the 50-year-old Megaton (pictured at the top) and 22-year-old Mantovani, who is coming off an impressive fourth-place finish at this year's ADCC, in which he upset Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes in the quarterfinals.
Dimitrius Souza (in white). Photo: @shotbywatts
Souza could potentially pass Joao Miyao for fourth with a gold in his weight and any medal in the openweight. Toledo could move into the top 10 if he can get past Souza's Alliance teammate Guilherme Augusto at super-heavyweight.
The 2016 brown belt lightweight world champion, Hugo Marques (Soul Fighters) is also registered to compete in the black belt middleweight division.
These events will see four of the current top 20 ranked black belts compete for titles and a few of the top up-and-coming competitors in the world.
Hulk & Canuto chase ranking points in Charlotte
The field for the IBJJF Charlotte International Open is highlighted by seventh-ranked Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa (Atos, pictured right) and 15th-ranked Jaime Canuto (GF Team). Both men have had incredible years so far in 2017 and are two of the most active competitors around. Hulk was the champion this year at both American Nationals and the Asian Open and finished second at this year's Pans. Along the way, he has won several International Opens and placed second at the San Diego Pro, which has seen him rise in the rankings rapidly. Most recently, Hulk won a stacked bracket at the UAEJJF Los Angeles Grand Slam.
Canuto was the 2017 Brazilian Nationals champ and a third-place place finisher at both the 2017 World and European Championships. Known for his deadly closed guard and also being dangerous from the feet with a flying armbar, Canuto is one of the most exciting competitors on the scene today. Canuto and Hulk just went head-to-head last weekend in the open class semifinal of the Dallas International Open after both won their weights. Hulk won that match by advantages and went on to take double gold.
The 67.5 ranking points possible with a double-gold performance in Charlotte would move either competitor up the rankings and closer to the end-of-season prize money awarded to the top three finishers. A win in the weight and open class at Charlotte could push Hulk past teammate Keenan Cornelius to the sixth spot at 637 points. If he won double gold, Canuto could jump all the way from 15th to ninth and would be just 4.5 points behind Bruno Malfacine at the eighth spot.
Two more contenders for the open class in Charlotte should be Horlando Monteiro (GD) and Max Gimenis (GF Team). Monteiro has fought Hulk twice recently, at the San Diego International Open and San Diego Pro, with Hulk winning close matches both times. Gimenis was the 2016 world super-heavyweight champion at brown belt and will hold a considerable size advantage against the field as he is now competing up at ultra-heavyweight.
Kaynan Duarte. Photo: Michael Sears
Two young up-and-comers to keep an eye on in this tournament are Kaynan Duarte (Atos) and Mauricio Oliveira (GF Team). Both Duarte and Oliveira were 2017 world champions at purple belt, with Duarte since being promoted to brown. Just two weeks ago at ADCC in Espoo, Finland, Duarte submitted legend Pablo Popovitch by guillotine in the first round.
Big-name black belts to descend on Berlin
The 2017 IBJJF German Nationals will take place Saturday in Berlin. Some of the talent showcased here includes 21st-ranked Adam Wardzinski (Checkmat), legend Wellington "Megaton" Diaz (Gracie Humaita), and rookie black belts Espen Mathiesen (Nova Unaio) and Pablo Mantovani (Atos).Just last weekend, Wardzinski won his weight and took second place in the open class at the Copenhagen International Open. He can jump to 19th with a win in his weight division and 17th if he takes home both gold medals in Berlin. Mathiesen is also coming off a gold medal performance in Copenhagen and is expected to also win gold in Berlin.
The featherweight division will include both the 50-year-old Megaton (pictured at the top) and 22-year-old Mantovani, who is coming off an impressive fourth-place finish at this year's ADCC, in which he upset Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes in the quarterfinals.
A tournament in Brazil with no Erberth? Incredible...
Fifth-ranked Dimitrius Souza (Alliance) and 12th-ranked Vitor Toledo (Atos) are both registered for the IBJJF Floripa Gi and No-Gi International Open and could move up with wins at the two-day tournament.
Dimitrius Souza (in white). Photo: @shotbywatts
Souza could potentially pass Joao Miyao for fourth with a gold in his weight and any medal in the openweight. Toledo could move into the top 10 if he can get past Souza's Alliance teammate Guilherme Augusto at super-heavyweight.
The 2016 brown belt lightweight world champion, Hugo Marques (Soul Fighters) is also registered to compete in the black belt middleweight division.