Weekend Recap: AJP closes July with tournaments in Jordan, Angola, and Kazakhstan
July 31, 2023
In the closing weekend of July, three countries rose to the spotlight and showcased their batch of athletes in AJP mats. Not only that, but the range of each tournament ensured that each fighter would have a chance to shine, regardless of age or experience. Check out below the highlights of each championship!
Sami Bin Hariz takes the professional gold at the Amman International
On Friday, July 28th, the AJP Tour Amman International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 reached the desertic landscapes of Jordan, bringing with it competitors from all over the world. With four fight areas set up in the International Community School, colored and black belts fought for the gold and for a better position in the organization’s ranking.
Representing Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Club, the Yemeni black belt Sami Bin Hariz was the highlight as he rose to prominence at the event. In a two-man bracket, Sami went toe-to-toe against the local Mohamed Murad (Knights Martial Arts) for the 85 kg division gold. Backed by a 5-1 score, a confident Sami found his flow mid-match and landed a submission to defeat his opponent and reach the top spot of the podium.
Check out the full results here!
Mario Araujo takes the win and the no-gi title in Angola
On the following Saturday, July 29th, the AJP Tour Angola National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 showcased the strength and technique of its local athletes. In the well-known Clube Ferroviário de Luanda, three fight areas organized the action as warriors from all ages and graduations clashed against each other for glory and the chance to show the results of their training.
One such fighter was Mario Araujo (GFTeam). After taking the 94kg silver in the gi, the Angolan athlete returned to fight without the cloth in the 120kg division. In a round-robin, Mario went up against Master champion Walter Coelho (Brazilian Power Team International), taking the first victory by 3-2. In the second and final match, Mario displayed his prowess as he used the scoreboard to once again defeat Walter and add the coveted no-gi title to his grappling record.
Check out the full results here!
Alibek Zhakibaliev and Aslan Saifullayev take the highlights with outstanding performances in Kazakhstan
Finally, on Sunday, July 30th, Kazakh colored belts had a big day ahead of them, as the AJP Aktobe Jiu-Jitsu Festival 2023 landed in the Med Akademy Zhastar. With two fight areas and no black belts taking the stage, the tournament was centered around the less experienced athletes, providing them with a stage to show their talent as they progress in the martial art.
Among the many fighters that stepped up to the AJP mats, two Amateur blue belts from the Kazakhstan National Team stole the spotlight with amazing displays of technique. First, in the 85kg division, Alibek Zhakibaliev submitted Sayan Nurtayev to take his place in the final round, which saw him going up against Kuanysh Kairat and landing yet another submission to reach the top spot of the podium.
Later, the 77kg bracket trembled as Aslan Saifullayev made his way through it. Starting at the semis, Aslan outscored Ontalap Bolegen with a shocking 31-1. In the final, Aslan once again scored big, landing an 11-1 against Aleksandr Rybalkin before ultimately submitting for the gold.