No-Gi Worlds Absolutes Recap: The Purple And Brown Belts
No-Gi Worlds Absolutes Recap: The Purple And Brown Belts
The IBJJF rounded out a weekend of fantastic no-gi action with the adult purple and brown belt absolute divisions. Here's what went down.
By Michael Sears
The IBJJF rounded out a weekend of fantastic action at the 2017 No-Gi Worlds with the adult purple and brown belt absolute divisions on Sunday in Anaheim, CA. Here's what went down.
Brown Belt Absolute
The theme of this tournament has been complete domination by the Atos team, and that was accentuated by the performances of Kaynan Duarte and Jonnatas Gracie in the brown belt open division.
Andre Galvao’s prodigal students picked up where they left off at purple belt, clearing out both sides of the bracket to close out in the final.
Both Atos athletes went against ADCC vets from the Danaher Death Squad in the first round. Gracie was victorious over Ethan Crelinstein 7-0, and Duarte defeated Oliver Taza 6-2.
Kynan Duarte vs. Eric Newton
In the semifinal, Gracie faced off with ultra-heavyweight champ Devhonte Johnson. A Unity BJJ athlete, Johnson went up 2-0 to start the match when a tight D'Arce choke brought the athletes out of bounds. Gracie would equalize with a sweep and win the tie break based off an earlier penalty on Johnson.
After Duarte defeated Eric Newton (Gracie Barra) in the other semifinal, the stage was set for an Atos closeout. This was the second male adult open class gold medal claimed by Atos, after Lucas Barbosa won at black belt earlier in the day.
Andre Galvao with Jonnatas Gracie and Kaynan Durate. Photo: Michael Sears
Brown Belt Female
ADCC vet Elvira Karppinen (10th Planet) bounced back from an earlier defeat in her weight category final to claim the open class title. Already famous for defeating Mackenzie Dern at the ADCC earlier this year in her native Finland, Karppinen can now add IBJJF No-Gi Worlds open class champ to her resume.
Purple Belt Male
Mason Fowler (Dethrone BJJ) put a stop to Atos perfect day in the open divisions, defeating Atos athletes Conor Deangelis and Adam Bradley in the last two rounds. Deangelis had earlier defeated medium-heavyweight champ Andrew Wiltse (Pedigo) in the semifinal.
Mason Fowler momements after defeating Conor Deangelis. Photo: Chase Smith