Weekend Recap: Ulaanbaatar International 2023 showcases the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu in Mongolia

July 24, 2023

Ahead of the intense Portugal National, which took place on Sunday, the AJP Tour Ulaanbaatar International Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 arrived in Mongolia on Friday, July 21st. In the six fight areas set up at the Wrestling Palace, athletes from all over the world stepped up to the organization’s mats and put on their best performances, showcasing how far Jiu-Jitsu has come and how we are past the days in which one or two nations would have all the talent the sport has to offer.

Among the black belt disputes, Mongolian athletes shone the brightest. On the men’s side, black belt Ariuntsog Baasandorj (Elf Sport Academy) taught a lesson in perseverance. After taking the silver medal in the gi, Ariuntsog returned in high spirits to fight without the cloth in the 120kg division, starting the bracket with a submission over fellow countryman Batbayar Bayarsaikhan (Arte Suave BJJ Academy Mongolia). In the final round, Ariuntsog faced Kazakh Damir Sadyrov (Kazakhstan National Team) in a balanced duel and came out on top with a 2-1 score.

On the women’s side, brown belt Mongoljin Ganbaatar (Garuda) set herself apart with a stellar campaign through the 55kg division. First, she wasted no time in submitting Kazakh Nazgul Rakhayeva (Mascarenhas Team) to reach the finals. For the gold round, Mongoljin dominated South Korea’s Soojin Hong (Roger Gracie Academy), ending the match with a whooping 12-2 to reach the top of the podium.

Other highlights were Ali Monfaradi, who fought with and without the gi to take the coveted double gold for his country of Bahrain; Fawaz Haddadin, Jordanian black belt who took the 120kg title in the gi; and Soojin Hong, who brushed off her first loss and submitted Mongoljin Ganbaatar for the 55kg no-gi gold.

Check out the full results here!