September 1, 2023
As we bid farewell to yet another month, let’s take a moment to look back on the best moments of August. Throughout the weekends, athletes and fight fans had plenty of opportunities to experience the very best competitive Jiu-Jitsu has to offer, regardless of where they live. As the gentle art breaks boundaries and gradually settles in new territories, so does AJP with its stellar championships and action-packed brackets.
Check out below the highlights of August!
Canada National: Janine Mutton and Justin Primrose show their skills and keep the Professional gold in Toronto
On August 12th, the Toronto Metropolitan Area opened its doors for the mats and duels of the AJP Tour Canada National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023. Fighters of all ages and graduations rose to the battlefield and put their training to the test, but two local black belts had flawless displays of technique as they climbed their respective bracket and took the Professional title.
First, Janine Mutton made a playground of the 62kg division. In a round-robin, Janine started by locking an armbar to defeat Amy Harris and move up in the bracket. The final saw Janine go up against Gursharn Gill in a brief but explosive duel. In the first few minutes, Janine managed to pass the guard and go straight to the north-south position, where she postured up and locked a second armbar to take the gold.
Then, on the Men’s side, Justin Primrose also fought twice to conquer the 120kg bracket. A campaign that started with Justin submitting Nathan Genehr from the back saw him reaching the finals, where Fawaz Haddadin was ready to fight for the title. Justin started the bout by pulling guard, going up, and then locking a cross-choke while still in a lateral position. From this position, his opponent was unable to stop Justin from mounting and applying even more pressure. The technique resulted in another submission and the top of the podium to Justin.
Colombia National: Adrian Sebastian, Julia Alves, and Adriana Meija shine in Bogotá
Located in the city of Bogotá, The Palacio De Los Deportes was the stage of the AJP Tour Colombia National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023. Showcasing how far Jiu-Jitsu has managed to spread its roots, three athletes from different countries took the competition by storm with undeniable talent and awe-inspiring displays of technique.
In the 120kg division, Ecuadorian Adrian Sebastian had two fights to overcome before taking the title. In his first match, Adrian submitted the Lebanese Carlos Osam and advanced to the finals. In the gold round, the local Alfonso Figueredo was ready to stop Adrian in his tracks, but the latter locked yet another submission and seized the gold medal.
On the women’s side, Brazilian Julia Alves has put on the show we’ve come to expect of her, submitting Samantha Saenz in the semifinal and then landing another submission against Madeline Choconta to place atop the 62kg division podium. In the 55kg bracket, Colombian Adriana Meija used her technical know-how to beat Lizeth Mondragon, ending the match and closing the division by an astounding 10-2.
Uruguay National: Local talent Santiago Acosta conquers the double gold in Maldonado
On August 19th, the Campus de Maldonado held the AJP Tour Uruguay National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023, following the organization’s tradition of providing local athletes with a chance to reach the spotlight. Such was the case of Santiago Acosta, a professional black belt who rose to prominence after taking the double gold at the event.
His first stop was the 69kg division, where he would face his fellow countryman Guillermo Freire for the gold. Both fighters gave their all on the mats, with Santiago having the upper hand over the opponent by a 6-2 score, but the duel came to an end through a well-placed submission, which landed Santiago his first title of the day.
Later on, he would return to the mats, this time gunning for the Open Lightweight division gold. As it turns out, his opponent would once again be Guillermo Freire, and the two athletes faced each other in a decisive match that could also be considered a deja vu. The result, however, was a little different this time, as Guillermo managed to avoid getting submitted. But that’s about where the differences end, as Santiago imposed his game throughout the match and saw the duel end with an 8-0 leading him to his second achievement of the day.
North Brazil Regional: Higor Lima and Wallace Costa conquer weight division and the open weight in Belém
The AJP Tour North Brazil Regional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 took place at the Ginasio da CESEP on August 6th, setting the stage for Brazilian athletes to show what they’re made of. While many athletes fought tooth and nail to conquer the podium, two fighters rose above all other competitors by winning the gold in both their weight divisions and the open weight brackets.
Starting in the lighter categories, Higor Lima debuted at the event in the 77kg bracket, where he submitted Matheus da Silva to reach the final. Up against Erick Chaves in the gold round, Higor unleashed his game and took the win by 6-3. But that wasn’t the end for the Brazilian black belt, as he returned to the mats later on to fight for the open lightweight title. His first bout saw the return of Erick Chaves, this time beaten in the semifinals by 9-6. Higor’s last match was fought against Bruno Teixeira, who stood his ground and made a very balanced match for the gold. At the end of it all, Higor took his final win with a 6-5 on the scoreboard.
The other highlight of the day was Wallace Costa, a heavier athlete who fought six times in his campaign through the event. In the 120kg division, a round-robin saw Wallace overcoming Eldeson Silva twice, first by decision and then by 6-1 in the finals. Then, in the open heavyweight bracket, Wallace beat Hemerson Leão by 4-1, submitted Renan Costa in the quarterfinals, and outscored Edgar Silva by 6-0 in the semis. The division’s final was once again fought against Eldeson Silva, this time defeated via submission to cap off Wallace’s flawless campaign.
Upcoming: ADGS Miami, Asia and Africa Continental, Nationals, and much more….
The wait is almost over! Taking place over September 16th and 17th, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Miami is almost upon us, giving fight fans and fighters another unique spectacle of competitive Jiu-Jitsu. Amateurs and masters will heat up the mats on the first day, while professional athletes take the stage on the second, closing the event in a blaze of glory. As with all AJP tournaments, the ADGS Miami will be live broadcast over at AJPTour.tv.
But the ADGS Miami is far from the only big tournament this month. The AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 takes over the UAE through September 8th, 9th, and 10th, welcoming both experienced athletes and newcomers to make a name for themselves at the event. The same is true for the AJP Tour Africa Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023, which takes place September 22nd and 23rd in the city of Cairo.
When it comes to Nationals, AJP does not disappoint. Throughout the month, the following countries will hold their local tournaments: Peru (September 2nd and 3rd), Latvia (September 9th), Finland (September 16th), Albania (September 16th), Andorra (September 24th), and Tajikistan (September 24th). And that’s not to mention all the other Internationals, Regionals, and Festivals that will also take place this month.
Keep your eyes peeled for the registration dates of each tournament by regularly checking our website at ajptour.com and don’t miss a second of the action!
