Weekend Recap: AJP brings action-packed tournaments to The Netherlands, Romania, Ireland, and Panama

October 15, 2024

Holding steady in its commitment to spreading Jiu-Jitsu and its benefits, the AJP has yet again brought its usual batch of tournaments and provided athletes with multiple opportunities to show their skills in an internationally recognized competitive setting. Between a Continental in The Netherlands, Nationals in Ireland and Panama, and a Regional in Romania, there was no shortage of action, so check out the highlights from each championship below.

AJP Tour Europe Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Professional black belts become champions in The Netherlands

Taking place on both days of the weekend, the Europe Continental was the place to be if you were looking to compete among the best. Welcoming colored and black belts alike to the Topsport Center Almere, the tournament offered a whopping 1400 global ranking points to each of its champions, keeping every competitor highly motivated to put on their best performance on the mats.

Fighting on the very first day of the event, the Professional black belts entered the battlefield and showed everyone what it takes to fight at the top of the competitive food chain. Starting with the men, the 62kg division saw the Spaniard Jonas Andrade (Humbling Jiu Jitsu Club) beat the Finnish Marko Oikarainen (Hilti Finland) twice for the title, scoring 8-0 in the first match and then submitting in the second. The Brazilian Jefferson Fagundes (PSLPB Cícero Costha) got the 69kg gold after submitting France’s Brice Hounza (NSM Team) and then scoring last in a 9-9 tie against the Belgian Florian Bayili (BBJJA Team), while the 77kg title was conquered after the Brazilian Jefferson Goteu (Commando Group) submitted Spain’s Hugo Le Metour (PSLPB Cícero Costha) twice in a row.

The Brazilian Lucas Protasio (Checkmat International) became the 85kg champ after outscoring both Germany’s Jan Knutter (Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu) and The UK’s Charlie Adorian (Gracie Barra Nottingham), Jackson Sousa (Cantagalo Jiu Jitsu London) got Brazil another win after he landed two consecutive submissions on Poland’s Robert Kurlowicz (Macaco Gold Team) for the 94kg title, and Belgium’s Paulo Silva (Gracie Barra Anderlecht) submitted his teammate Igor de Souza before getting a narrow 1-0 win over the Russian Vladimir Blium (Gojira Jiu-Jitsu) to get the 120kg gold. Closing the men’s bracket, Charlie Adorian made a name for himself in the Open Heavyweight division, scoring 12-0 over Denmark’s Kennet Christensen (Mascarenhas Team Klapeida) and then getting a 4-1 win over Vladimir Blium to climb the podium.

On the women’s side, the Spaniard Sonia Ariz (Hilti BJJ Berlin) submitted the UAE’s Maitha Sheraim (Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy) for the 55kg gold, Hungary’s Tamara Toros (Atos) became the 62kg champ after she submitted both the Finnish Laura Virtanen (School of Champs) and France’s Lina Grosset (School of Champs), and the 70kg title went to the Bulgarian Violeta Angelova (Bruno Bastos Jiu-Jitsu Association), who first submitted the Canadian Emily Eyles (Nine Nine) and then scored last in a 3-3 tie to beat Costa Rica’s Marcela Blanco (Fernando Moya Jiu Jitsu). Representing Guinea-Bissau, Yasmira Dias (Fight Nation International) got two consecutive wins over the local Elise Fellinger (Emerge BJJ Academy), and Sonia Ariz returned to the top of the podium after outscoring Emily Eyles and getting a decision win over Violeta Angelova at the Open Heavyweight bracket.

Check out the full results here!

AJP Tour Transylvania Regional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Roland Pauletti keeps the double gold in Romania

Held at the Sala Polivalenta on Saturday, October 12th, the Transylvania Regional was a treat for local athletes looking to compete without spending too much on travel. The tournament was open for competitors of all ages and graduations and offered 800 points for its gold medallists. With an overwhelming majority of colored belts taking over the venue, one black belt from the Master category managed to stand out as he conquered the double gold and gave his younger peers a lesson in high-level competition.

Representing Napoca Jiu Jitsu Academy, Roland Pauletti had to completely dominate the 77kg division to achieve his feat. Starting in the gi, Roland went up against Ionut Brostic (Brazilian Power Team International) throughout the five minutes of regulated time. Ionut was a good opponent and even managed to score a couple of points, but Roland’s game got him the lead on the scoreboard and he kept until the clock ran out, taking his first title with a 7-2 win.

Later on, Roland made his way back to the mats, this time fighting no-gi in the 77kg division to pursue his next gold. In his first match, Roland used his technical know-how to dominate Bobi Stredie (Matside BJJ Romania), scoring 9-0 and then submitting around the one-minute mark to advance to the final. The gold round, however, was another beast entirely as Salaru Marius (Evolution Werdum Romania) kept Roland on his toes throughout the regulated time of the match. At the end of it all, a narrow 2-1 gave Roland the win and his second trip to the top of the podium.

Check out the full results here!

AJP Tour Ireland National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Black belts take the gold in Dublin

Bringing the AJP action to the Dublin City University on Sunday, October 13th, the Ireland National was the stage upon which rookies and veterans would put their skills to the test while seeking the gold and glory of becoming champions in the organization. With 1000 global ranking points on the line, the black belts of the Professional category highlighted the competition as they fought tooth and nail to reach the gold.

On the men’s side, the Brazilian Gabriel Rodrigues (JSBJJ) entered the 77kg division and showed just how dangerous his Jiu-Jitsu can be as he advanced through the bracket. Facing an opponent with the same name, Gabriel Rodrigues managed to score 12-0 and then submit Gabriel Salles (Atos) to advance to the final. In the gold round, Gabriel went up against his teammate and compatriot Bruno Alencar, getting the winning submission around the one-minute mark to become the champion. Later, in the no-gi 120kg division, Brazil’s Erick Souza (JSBJJ) found himself locked in a pretty balanced match until the final seconds of the clock when he saw his chance and attacked his compatriot Webert Silva (Gracie Barra) with a winning submission.

On the women’s side, Guinea-Bissau’s Yasmira Dias (Fight Nation International) decided that her Europe Continental gold wasn’t enough for the weekend and made her way to Ireland on the following day, entering the 95kg division with her sights set on the gold. In her first match, Yasmira went up against the Brazilian Solange Faria (JSBJJ), imposing her game from beginning to end and scoring 12-0 before landing the winning submission around the three-minute mark. Moving up to the final, Yasmira faced Brazil’s Thauane Ferreira (JSBJJ) in a more balanced match, but still proved to be too much for her opponent and got another submission on her way to the top of the podium.

Check out the full results here!

AJP Tour Panama National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Professional black belts fight with and without the gi to climb the podium in Panama City

Landing at the Ginásio dos Guardiões SPI on Sunday, October 13th, the Panama National was a beacon that lured competitors from all over the world to gather and compete for gold and glory in the AJP. Whether you were a Youth, Amateur, Master, or Professional, the tournament had its doors open and its mats ready to give you a chance to shine among your peers as you showed the fruits of your training.

Coming as a highlight of the competition, the Professional black belt category provided the show fight fans have come to expect from them. In the 62kg division, the Ecuadorian Enrique Guerrero (Team Predador International) got the gold after outscoring Peru’s Eduardo Arias (M.O.D UAE) twice, and the 77kg title went to Ecuador’s Ariel Delgado (Alliance) after he used his technical know-how to beat both the Colombian Camilo Betancourt (Gracie Barra Colombia) and the Brazilian Felipe Oliveira (Vision BJJ) on points. Up in the 85kg division, the Chilean Pierpaolo Cotroneo (Cohab Chile) scored 8-0 over the local Eladio Aguilar (Legacy Jiu Jitsu Albrook) and then submitted Argentina’s Ramiro Galvan (GFTeam) to climb the podium. In the no-gi 77kg bracket, Felipe Oliveira brushed off his previous loss and submitted the local Carlos Milord (Mauro Sergio BJJ) to become the division champion.

Check out the full results here!