Memory Lane: Leandro Lo Secures IBJJF Pans Double Gold In 2017
Memory Lane: Leandro Lo Secures IBJJF Pans Double Gold In 2017
Let's take a trip down memory lane to the day that Leandro Lo secured double gold at the 2017 IBJJF Pan Championship!
With the 2026 IBJJF Pan Championship nearing closer, I believe it is only fitting to take a stroll down memory lane from notable moments from IBJJF Pans history.
It would be amiss to not start this out by talking about Leandro Lo. Leandro was not only one of the most electric, captivating jiu-jitsu athletes in history, but he was also one of the most decorated. Throughout his legendary black belt career, Lo was able to secure eight IBJJF Pans titles, winning double gold in both the 2017 and 2018 editions of the event.
In this trip down memory lane we are going to take a look at the two matches from Leandro that secured him double gold in 2017, although the entire run is worth going back and watching.
Leandro found himself in both the heavyweight and absolute final, where he would be taking on Tanner Rice and Joao Gabriel Rocha.
Leandro Lo vs Tanner Rice | 2017 IBJJF Pans Heavyweight Final
In the heavyweight final we saw Lo and Rice tie up early and it was Rice who opted to pull guard first. Rice immediately put his De La Riva guard to use and was able to find pant and collar grips. He then used these grips to pummel his De La Riva hook inside Lo's legs to stand up and put Lo down, securing top position and two points. Roughly forty seconds into the match and we see Rice go up 2-0 against Lo.
Within twenty seconds Lo is able use a crafty lapel grip and wrestle up to a single leg and secure a sweep of his own, securing top position and two points of his own. Lo used the sweep to immediately get into his knee cut passing that anyone who has watched Leandro compete knows and loves, but Rice was able to retain his guard and stop the attempt.
After spending some time in a shallow lasso guard, Rice opts to work back up to his feet and both guys are now tied up in a standing position. Lo eventually seizes the opportunity and puts rice down with a single leg to secure the takedown and two more points. This puts him up 4-2 on the scoreboard.
The match remains 4-2 until the final whistle and Leandro Lo secures his first gold of the tournament.
Leandro Lo vs Joao Gabriel Rocha | 2017 IBJJF Pans Absolute Final
In the absolute final we saw Leandro Lo standing across from a formidable opponent in Joao Gabriel Rocha.
The match starts and we see Rocha pull into a butterfly guard. He was able to elevate Leando, but Lo shows off his impressive athleticism and is able to post his outside arm, switch his hips, and stay heavy to maintain top position without conceding the sweep.
After a reset, Rocha is able to get back into the butterfly sweep and this time he finds success. He sweeps Leandro and secures the two points. Lo uses a half guard variation to wrestle up and both competitors find themselves in a standing position.
Rocha attempts a drop seoi nage but Lo showcases his athleticism yet again and thwarts off the attack. Eventually Leandro pulls into a closed guard, works his way into a reverse De La Riva with a spider grip, and inverts underneath of Rocha to get a sweep of his own.
Skipping forward in the action a bit, eventually Rocha and Lo find their way to 50/50 and Lo is able to snatch a toe hold and secure the tap.
With that tap Leandro Lo was able to win his first black belt double gold performance at the IBJJF Pan Championship - a moment that will live in jiu-jitsu history forever.
The 2026 IBJJF Pan Championship Is Almost Here
The IBJJF Pan Championship is a catalyst for historic moments in the sport and there are certainly many more incredible moments on the horizon as the 2026 IBJJF Pan Championship quickly approaches. The event is set to kick off on Wednseday, March 25th and will run through Sunday, March 29th. Make sure you are tuning in to FloGrappling so you don't miss a second of the action!
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