Weekend Recap: AJP promotes six powerful tournaments around the world

October 7, 2024

Another solid weekend of Jiu-Jitsu here at AJP, with the organization bringing the fires of competition to no less than six different countries worldwide. With Nationals in Canada and Mexico, Regionals in Qatar and Cyprus, and Internationals in South Korea and Colombia, athletes had no shortage of options to showcase their skills. With all tournaments held on Saturday, October 5th, let's check out the highlights from each championship.

AJP Tour Canada National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Black belts take the gold in Vaughan

Landing at the city of Vaughan, in Ontario, the Canada National welcomed colored and black belts of all ages to fight for gold and glory in the AJP. Between the two fight areas, there was no shortage of action going on at the competition, especially when it came to the duels of the Professional Black Belt category.

In the 77kg division, the local Ethan Major (Renzo Gracie Academy Ottawa) showed his prowess as he submitted the Brazilian Eduardo Dib Klayn (Jiu-Jitsu For Life Team) in the semis and then scored a whopping 18-0 over his compatriot Kelvin de Almeida (Jiu-Jitsu For Life Team). Meanwhile, Joshua Boodhoo (Melqui Galvão) went through a very challenging battle against the UK's Ravinder Basi (Renzo Gracie Academy Ottawa), taking the win and the title via decision.

On the women's side, the local Grace Laemmier faced two Canadian athletes before taking the gold, beating Fatima Eltassi (GFTeam) by 4-0 in the semifinal and then scoring 10-0 over Gursharn Gill (Jiu-Jitsu For Life Team) to climb the podium. Later on, the American Melinda Jih (Buffalo United Martial Arts) showed her skills without the gi, submitting the local Linden Clark (Pura BJJ) and getting the title with a 14-0 over the Canadian Cheryl Koval (Jiu-Jitsu For Life Team).

Check out the full results here!

AJP Tour Mexico National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Thiago Macedo and Todd Fox conquer the gold in Ciudad de México

Taking place on the Estudios Hernandez, the Mexico National welcomed competitors from all over the world, giving them the chance to become champions and earn the valuable 1000 ranking points reserved for those who reached the top of the podium. Among the many contenders, two American black belts rose to the challenge and got the gold in their respective weight divisions.

Starting in the Professional 77kg, the experienced Thiago Macedo (Rodrigo Pinheiro Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) had two fights before he got the gold. Opening the bracket, Thiago went up against the local heavy hitter Mario Navarrete (Wolfpack Jiu Jitsu Mexico), putting his game to work throughout the regulated time and advancing to the final with a 5-0 score. After his loss, Mario went on to dominate his compatriot Orlando Yeh (Math of Jiu-Jitsu) in the following match, scoring 12-0 before submitting to get his rematch against Thiago for the gold. The final played out like the first duel, with Thiago seizing the lead on the scoreboard and Mario struggling to keep up, but the American found his opportunity around the four-minute mark and ended the bout with a winning submission.

Meanwhile, Todd Fox (Team Vaghi) showed his prowess as he conquered the 85kg division in the Master 3 category. Facing the Mexican Roberto Hernandez (Casa Chimeyo Association) for the title, Todd didn't take long to take control of the match, scoring 11 points and giving his opponent little chance to earn any points of his own. In the final moments of the match, Todd saw his chance and ended matters with a well-placed submission.

Check out the results here!

AJP Tour Middle East Regional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Dayane Bazzoni and Enaile dos Anjos become champions in Qatar

With four fight areas spread across the Aspire Ladies Sports Hall, the Middle East Regional was the stage upon which talented rookies and battle-hardened veterans would put their skills to the test, seeking gold and glory close to the heart of the AJP.

Showing the strength of women's Jiu-Jitsu, two Brazilian black belts entered the Professional category and used their skills to rise to the top. Starting in the 62kg division, Dayane Bazzoni (M.O.D UAE) first went up against the Emirati Shouq Aldhanhani (Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club), scoring 6-0 before ultimately submitting around the three-minute mark. In the final, Dayane faced Maitha Sheraim, with the Brazilian going all-out from the start to quickly overwhelm and submit her opponent in under 20 seconds.

Meanwhile, Enaile dos Anjos (M.O.D UAE) went toe-to-toe against the local Marwa Alhosani (Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club) for the 70kg division gold. With no submissions from either side, the match took up the entirety of the regulated time and was mostly balanced. Marwa is a talented athlete who has earned more than a few wins in the AJP mats, but Enaile took the day this time around, scoring 4-0 against her opponent and rising to the top of the podium.

Check out the full results here!

AJP Tour Mediterranean Regional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Professionals show their skills and take the gold in Cyprus

Taking place at the Kition Athletic Center, in Cyprus, the Mediterranean Regional was another stellar event hosted this Saturday. With athletes of all ages and graduations stepping onto the mats, the black belts from the Professional category gave their fellow competitors and the attending crowd a glimpse of what it's like to compete at the highest level.

Starting in the 77kg division, the local Christos Skordis (Gracie Barra Cyprus) faced the Spaniard Alberto Guzman (Focus Jiu Jitsu) twice to reach the gold, taking the first win by scoring last in a 2-2 tie and then getting a narrow 1-0 in the final. Meanwhile, Moldova's Eldar Rafigaev (Jungle BJJ) got submissions over the Local Metin Huseyin Adil (Flavio Behring Association) in the semifinal and the Brazilian Iuri Fraga (M.O.D UAE) in the gold round to become the champion.

On the women's side, the Polish Magdalena Loska (Commando Group) quickly overwhelmed the Brazilian Tatiana Chaves (M.O.D UAE), scoring 7-0 before landing the winning submission with less than a minute on the clock. Last but not least, the Cypriot Berk Ekensoy (Alliance) went up against his compatriot Christos Skordis (Gracie Barra Cyprus) and showed his skills as he scored 5-1 and then submitted around the two-minute mark.

Check out the full results here!

AJP Tour Seoul International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: SangHun Lee keeps the double gold in South Korea

With 600 global ranking points on the line for the champions, the Seoul International landed at the Wa-Dong Gymnasium bringing hours of competition to the Asian country of South Korea. With colored and black belts sharing the mats in the tournament, one local athlete went the extra mile and became the event's highlight with a double gold.

Representing John Frankl BJJ, the local SangHun Lee started his campaign in the 77kg division, facing his compatriot Sung-Keun Park, from Korea BJJ, for the gold. The battle took up the entirety of the regulated time, with both athletes unleashing their Jiu-Jitsu throughout the five minutes of the match while avoiding any dangerous attempts at submission. When the clock ran out, a 5-2 score gave SangHun his first title.

SangHun made his way back to the mats later on, this time fighting without the gi and in the 94kg division. Up against Jiho Yang (Alliance), SangHun showed himself more comfortable with grappling, scoring 2-0 before quickly landing the winning submission around the one-minute mark. With this victory, SangHun climbed to the top of the podium once again, taking home two gold medals for his flawless performance.

Check out the full results here!

AJP Tour Cartagena International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2024: Jairo Ortizl, Ariel Delgado, and Alberto Orellano take the gold in Colombia

Bringing the AJP's signature action to the Coliseo de Combate, the Cartagena International welcomed colored and black belts of all ages to fight for the chance to become champions in the organization, putting their training to the test across three fight areas set up at the venue. Headlining the tournament with their technical prowess, three black belts joined the Professional category and conquered their weight classes to take the coveted gold medal.

Starting in the 62kg division, the local Jairo Ortizl (Team FCJJ Colombia) got the gold after beating his compatriot Jeison Mora (Goldreams) twice, first by 4-0 and then with a submission around the three-minute mark of the final round. Meanwhile, Ecuador's Ariel Delgado (Alliance) faced a crowded bracket in the 77kg division, outscoring the Colombian Mateo Vanegas (Satori Jiu Jitsu) and the Ecuadorian Ricardo Herrera (Nova União International) before taking the title with a 2-0 over the Brazilian Gefferson Londonha (Team FCJJ Colombia).

On the no-gi side, the local Alberto Orellano (10th Planet Barranquilla) showed just how effective his Jiu-Jitsu can be, going full-throttle from the start and locking a lightning-fast submission on his compatriot Rubian Henao (Team FCJJ Colombia) in less than 20 seconds.

Check out the full results here!