Wanting to improve the level of the sport in America 15 years ago through

competition, Carlos Gracie Jr. brought a ragtag team of 100 or so competitors from

Brazil to participate in the first ever Pan BJJ Championships. The event was held

at the Bren Center at UC Irvine in California and it was so small that several

competitors had to fight in different categories just to have a match. The event

was a success, however, and 15 years later the Pan is the world's largest BJJ

competition with over 2800 athletes competing. It was fitting that the event would

return to the beautiful Bren Center after being away for so many years.

A NEW GENERATION

While 15 years ago the top names were Marcio Feitosa, Helio "Sonequinha" Moreira

and Bob Bass, the current crop of competitors are taking the sport to new heights.

It was quite impressive to see the new kids rising to the top. While many of them

have been competing and serving notice along the years in the lower belts it is

important to note their arrival on the black belt scene. Bernardo Farias is one of

the names, of course, but Michael Langhi, Lucas Lepri, Abmar Barbosa, Kayron

Gracie, Luana Alzuguir, and Hillary Williams are also counted among the best of the

best.

BERNARDO FARIA AND GABRIELLE GARCIA SHINE

By winning their weight and Absolute titles newcomers Bernardo Farias and Gabrielle

Garcia cemented their spots as the top competitors of the event. Bernardo had a

tough road with matches against top echelon opponents and then in the Absolute

finals faced former Absolute champion Braga Neto. Neto had an advantage for the

majority of the match until literally at the last minute Farias was able to secure

an omoplata reversal on Neto to take the title by points. Braga Neto defended

valiantly and just as time was about to expire Bernardo released the hold and went

to Neto’s back scoring the points needed for the reversal and the win.

MEN’S LOWER WEIGHT DIVISION BLACK BELT RESULTS

In the weight divisions, Bruno Malfacine continued his domination of the rooster

weight by submitting an in-form Felipe Costa in the finals with a choke. In the

light feather, Carlos Hollanda won a hotly contested match over arch-rival Caio

Terra. Rubens "Cobrinha" Maciel maintained his lock on the feather division by

defeating Marcelino Freitas by points, while Alliance teammates Lucas Lepri and

Michel Langhi shared the light weight podium.

MEN’S UPPER WEIGHT DIVISION BLACK BELT RESULTS

One of the toughest and most exciting divisions of the event was the middle weight

with former world champion Sergio Moraes entered along with top contenders Abmar

Barbosa, Kron Gracie and Bill Cooper along with black-belt newcomer Kayron Gracie.

In his first competition as a black belt, Kayron not only took the title but

defeated former world champion Sergio Moraes in the process. In the finals, Kayron

faced an in-form Abmar Barbosa in an exciting back-and-forth match with Kayron

coming out on top by points. Kayron is a veteran of competition in the lower belts

but in his first foray as a black belt displayed a poise and maturity well beyond

his years.

"I am very happy with my win,” said Kayron modestly. “They were tough matches and I

am glad I came out on top.”

Carlos Gracie Jr. (Kayron's father) commented: “He has been competing for quite

some time and all that experience and dedication helped today. I am very proud of

him.”

In the medium heavy, Otavio Souza defeated Andre Freitas, Bernardo Farias bested

Rafael Lovato Jr. in the heavy, while Antonio Braga Neto split the super heavy with

teammate Marcel Fortune, and Gabriel Vella defeated the challenging and competitive

Luis Felipe Theodoro "Big Mac" in the ultra heavy.

WOMEN’S COMPETITION

The ladies competition hardly existed in the initial Pan BJJ but is now one of the

strongest and most competitive divisions. With a solid roster of top competitors

the ladies are a solid part of BJJ and the 2010 Pan BJJ was an exclamation mark for

them.

Leading the way was Michelle Nicolini defeating Nyjah Easton in the light feather,

followed by Fabiana Borges besting Tove Sderten in the feather. Luana Alzuguir

defeated Cristiane Souza in the online casino reviews light, while top American lady Hillary Williams

bested Luiza Monteiro in the middle and Valerie Worthington defeated Karen Miller

in the medium heavy. Gabrielle Garcia beat Tammy Grieco in the heavy and closed the

Absolute bracket with teammate Luana Alzuguir.

Luana showed that she is in a great place as the current world champion as she won

all her fights in both her weight and the Absolute before splitting the Absolute

podium with teammate Gabrielle.

“I am very happy,” said Luana, “and now it's on to the World Pro BJJ." Luana left

for Abu Dhabi right after the event and won the World BJJ Pro title as well.

BROWN BELT COMPETITION

In the brown belt division, Zack Maxwell took his weight class and the Absolute in

fully dominating the belt titles. Zack is a great competitor who will be a huge

force once he reaches black belt. He has ice in his veins and the technique to back

it up. Maxwell never gets flustered on the mat and celebrates his wins very

conservatively and with great composure, never showing up his opponents.

TEAM COMPETITION

Making sure they left no stone unturned, the Alliance team opened with a bang as

they took the novice title with Gracie Humaita and Carlson Gracie following. In the

adult competition, Alliance had a large margin of victory with four champions from

their Atlanta-based team.

An enthused Romero "Jacare" Cavalcanti was all smiles: “In the adult purple Pedro

won the feather, Jordon the light and Alec the medium, while in the rooster John

Liu took gold while two ladies in the white did the same. Our team started hot and

we collected the rewards of their efforts. We had opened an advantage of almost 40

points and our elite troops hadn't even competed yet. With Ian, Jamanta, Guilhe,

Helinho, Darren, and Gabi in the brown and with blacks Malfa, Luana, Cobrinha,

Langi, Lepre, Serginho, Bernardo and others we were hard to beat. I am very happy

to be here at this wonderful party and for God to have given me another chance to

continue doing what I love, which is teach jiu-jitsu and coach my team in

competition.”

Alliance Team won the competition going away, leading the second place finisher by

a whopping 100 points. Both Jacare and co-team leader Fabio Gurgel were ecstatic.

"We are sending a message in announcing our intentions for the Worlds,” said

Jacare. “We will be here with an even stronger team with the addition of Marcelo

Garcia and some other names that couldn't make it to the Pan.”

"Once again we've shown that our team's hard work pays off,” Gurgel added. “They

all are to be congratulated for their efforts."

“I will be competing in the Worlds,” said Marcelo Garcia when asked, “and I am

training hard and preparing for it now.”

While not winning a title, Gracie Humaita leader Royler Gracie was also very

pleased with the progress he saw in his team as well: "Overall our team did very

well, we missed the masters and seniors title by very few points. I am happy with

our team competitors.”

CONCLUSION

Although the event did run a little long due to so many competitors it went off

smoothly and with great organization. As the event continues to grow along with the

Brazilian jiu-jitsu itself, who knows where it will be in another 15 years!

Carlos Gracie Jr. was quick to give credit to others for the growth and continued

success of the Pan BJJ: "This is the result of a lot of hard work by many people

and it shows that jiu-jitsu is more than just a sport, but rather a passion for me

and thousands of others all over the world.”

TEAM RESULTS
Novice
1) Alliance
2) Gracie Humaitá
3) Carlson Gracie
Juvenile
1) Nova União
2) Gracie Barra
3) Godoi JJ Club
Adult
1) Alliance
2) Gracie Barra
3) Gracie Humaitá
Female
1) Lloyd Irvin
2) Alliance
3) American Top Team
Master and Senior
1) Gracie Barra
2) Gracie Humaitá
3) Alliance

MEN’S BLACK BELT RESULTS
Rooster
1) Bruno Malfacine, Alliance
2) Felipe Costa, Brasa
3) Joseph Capizzi, Renzo Gracie
3) Makoto Sawada, Paraestra
Light Feather
1) Holanda Vieira, Checkmat BJJ
2) Caio Terra, Gracie Fighter
3) Pablo Silva, Gracie Barra
3) Rafael Freitas, Gracie Barra
Feather
1) Rubens Charles Maciel, Alliance
2) Marcelino Freitas, Nova União
3) Renan Borges, Brazilian Top Team
3) Theodoro Canal, GF Team
Light
1) Michael Langhi, Alliance
2) Lucas Lepri, Alliance
3) Jonatas Sampaio Gurgel, American Top Team
3) William Cooper, Alliance Atlanta
Middle
1) Kayron Gracie, Gracie Barra
2) Abmar Barbosa, Drysdale JJ
3) Lucas Leite, Checkmat BJJ
3) Sergio Moraes, Alliance
Medium Heavy
1) Otavio Sousa, Gracie Barra
2) Andre de Freitas, Gracie Fighter
3) Jason Ebarb, Texas Punishment Crew
3) Diego Herzog, Gracie Florianópolis
Heavy
1) Bernardo Faria, Alliance
2) Rafael Lovato Jr., Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu
3) Leonardo Iturralde, Alliance Atlanta
3) Joao Assis, Checkmat BJJ
Super Heavy
1) Antonio Braga Neto, Ralph Gracie
2) Marcel Fortuna, Ralph Gracie
3) Rodrigo Cavaca, Checkmat BJJ
3) Roberto Alencar, Gracie Barra
Ultra Heavy
1) Gabriel Vella de Freitas, Ryan Gracie
2) Luiz Felipe Theodoro, Godoi JJ Club
3) Antonio Carlos Peinado, Alliance
3) Alexandre Pereira, Ataque Duplo
Open Class
1) Bernardo Faria, Alliance
2) Antonio Braga Neto, Ralph Gracie
3) Antonio Peinado, Alliance
3) Rodrigo Cavaca, Checkmat BJJ

BROWN/BLACK FEMALE
Light Feather
1) Michelle Nicolini, Checkmat BJJ
2) Nyjah Easton, Lloyd Irvin
3) Claudia Martinez-Kvenbo, CQuence JJ
3) Takako Abe, Paraestra
Feather
1) Fabiana Borges, Gracie Barra
2) Tove Sderten, Prana JJ
3) Kelley Weatherford, Charles Gracie
3) Cristina Zakka, Cia Paulista
Light
1) Luanna Alzuguir, Alliance
2) Cristiane Souza, Bonsai
3) Sophia McDermott, Drysdale JJ
Middle
1) Hillary Williams, Westside MMA
2) Luiza Monteiro, Checkmat BJJ
3) Gisele Braga, BJJ Revolution
3) Jacqueline Andrade, Team Mica
Medium Heavy
1) Valerie Worthington, BJJ Revolution
2) Karen Miller, Roberto Traven
3) Glaucia Marton, Godoi JJ Club
Heavy
1) Gabrielle Garcia, Alliance
2) Tammy Griego, Gracie Barra
3) Luciana Dias, Gracie Humaita
3) Emily Wetzel, BJJ Revolution
Open Class
1) Gabrielle Garcia, Alliance
2) Luanna Alzuguir, Alliance
3) Hillary Williams, Westside MMA
3) Emily Wetzel, BJJ Revolution