Weekend Recap: AJP lands in Turkey, Mexico, South Korea, and Brazil with high-octane tournaments
October 9, 2023
In another busy weekend for the organization and its athletes, AJP has turned its gaze to four countries, each in a different continent, to promote another batch of stellar competitions. Between a Regional, Nationals, and even a Continental, the last couple of days have provided competitors with many opportunities to rack up some points ahead of the ADWPJJC 2023. Without further ado, check out the highlights of each championship!
AJP Tour Europe Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023: Professional black belts take the spotlight in Turkey
From October 6th to 8th, the Bağcılar Gençlik Ve Spor İlçe Müdürlüğü Olimpik Spor Salonu, in the city of Istanbul, opened its doors for athletes of all ages and graduations. While each competitor that rose to the stage was commendable for their courage, the stage shined brighter on the second day of the event, when the Professional black belt category gave fight fans a show to remember.
One of the highlights was Leonardo Mario (PSLPB Cícero Costha), who submitted both Shamil Gaziev (Gymnasium Team) and Jefferson Fagundes (PSLPB Cícero Costha) to climb the 69kg division podium. In the 77kg bracket, Thiago Macedo (Rodrigo Pinheiro Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) took the gold after outscoring Jhonatan Guimarães (A.F.N.T) with a 4-2 and then beating Thiago Marques (Commando Group) by 3-2. Meanwhile, Uanderson Ferreira (Commando Group) took the 94 kg title by beating Igor Sousa (A.F.N.T) in the semis and using an 8-5 score to defeat Marcos Carrozzino (GFTeam). As for the 120kg bracket, Rodrigo Ribeiro landed a 6-1 score against Alexandar Alexandrov (Bruno Bastos Jiu-Jitsu Association) to reach the final, where he submitted Stanislav Varshavskiy (Gracie Barra Knightsbridge) to become the division champion.
On the women’s side, Lara Castro (A.F.N.T) took the 55kg title by using the scoreboard to beat both Diana Teixeira (Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club) and Alexa Yanes (Rodrigo Pinheiro Brazilian Jiu Jitsu). Showing once again that she means business, Julia Alves (GFTeam) submitted Zafeiria Panagiotarakou (Checkmat International) and scored last against Gabriela Pereira (VisionBJJ) to add the 62kg division gold to her collection. Meanwhile, Magdalena Loska (Brasa Felipe Costa) made friends with the scoreboard, outscoring Yulia Enkova (Gracie Barra Hamburg) by 5-2 and Priscila Batista (Macaco Gold Team) by 12-1. Last but not least, Katiuscia Dias (Fight Nation International) submitted Eva Illievska (The Strongest) and scored 2-0 against Amanda Ribeiro (A.F.N.T) to take the top spot on the 95kg division podium.
Check out the full results here!
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix No-Gi 2022-2023 - Istanbul: Ramazan Shihshabekov and Liana Dzhodzhua submit to take the gold in Turkey
After the Youth athletes closed the Europe Continental, AJP invited colored and black belts to return to the mats set up in the city of Istanbul, this time to fight without the gi for the title. Among the great battles that took place, the 85kg division held one of the best turnarounds of the tournament. Despite starting the best-of-three bracket against Gadzhi Kharkharov (Universal Fighters) on the losing end of a submission, Ramazan Shihshabekov (EaglesBJJ) did not falter as he faced his opponent, landing two submissions in a row to take the gold.
Liana Dzhodzhua (Peacock Fight Club) was another of the event’s highlights, as she faced Edvina Bihorac (Kimura BJJ Turkey) twice in the 70kg division. But while both competitors were fierce, Liana left no room for discussion when it came to her technique, as she managed to submit her opponent twice to climb the podium.
Check out the full results here!
AJP Tour Mexico National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023: Athletes with different nationalities conquer the Professional black belt category in Ciudad de Mexico
On Friday, October 7th, the Anexo Juan de la Barrera was a battlefield between athletes from all over the world, with the Professional black belt category being a highlight of the event. In the 69kg bracket, the American Sebastian Serpa (Outer Heaven) submitted the Brazilian Alessandro Costa (Brazilian Warriors) and advanced to the final, where defeated the Colombian Carlos Quintero (Affinity Studios Colombia) with a second submission to take the gold. Meanwhile, the Peruvian Alfonso Estrada (Outer Heaven) dominated Mexico’s Mario Navarrete with a 10-1 score to become the 77kg division champion.
Fighting in his home country, Rene Flores (Brasa Felipe Costa) fought twice against fellow countryman Ivan Ramos (Alliance), taking the first win by 3-0 and the second via submission. Lastly, the Ecuadorian Adrian Almeida (Satori Alliance Academy) claimed his spot atop the 120kg division podium after landing a tight submission against the local Ricardo Rea (Alliance).
Check out the full results here!
AJP Tour South Korea National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023: Sanghun Lee takes the double gold in Ansan-si
Still on Saturday, the mats set up at the Wa-Dong Gymnasium were the battlegrounds where the local black belt Sanghun Lee (John Frankl BJJ) rose to prominence. In a Korean-only bracket, Sanghun Lee started off fighting in the gi and submitting Taeheum Jo (Checkmat International) in the semis to reach the final, where he scored last to defeat Kim Inkwang (Jiu Jitsu Lab) and seized the 77kg division gold.
However, that was not enough for Sanghun, who later returned to the mats, this time to fight for the no-gi title. Once again in the 77kg division, he once again landed a submission in Taeheum Jo and advanced to the gold round, where a third submission defeated Kim Inkwang and put Sanghun atop the division podium.
Check out the full results here!
AJP Tour Central West Brazil Regional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023: Lucas Silva and Hanna Ribeiro conquer the double gold in Goiânia
On Sunday, October 8th, two Brazilian athletes set themselves apart from the other competitors at the Sesi Canaãn by taking the gold in both their weight divisions and the absolute brackets. Such was the case of Lucas Silva (PSLPB Cícero Costha), who started his campaign by submitting Natanael Moreira (Hunters Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) in the 77kg division. He then made his way to the Open Lightweight bracket, where he submitted Natanael for the second time in the semis and then landed a third submission, this time against the 69kg division champion Marcelo Ribeiro (Juquinha), to climb the podium once again.
The other highlight goes to Hanna Ribeiro (Hunters Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu), who took control of the 55kg division by submitting Fernanda Oliveira (Gracie Barra). Later on, Hanna returned to the mats for the Open Lightweight title and found herself faced with Fernanda yet again. The battle that ensued was almost a deja vu of the 55kg final, as Hanna submitted her opponent to take the gold.