IBJJFSep 14, 2017 by Michael Sears
IBJJF San Diego Pro Preview: Stacked Divisions And Cash On The Line
IBJJF San Diego Pro Preview: Stacked Divisions And Cash On The Line
Given the location and the cash prizes it is not surprising that this event is stacked with an enormous amount of talent, especially at the black belt level.
The IBJJF heads to San Diego on Saturday for the latest edition of their BJJ Pro League. Given the location and the cash prizes, it is not surprising that this event is stacked with an enormous amount of talent, especially at the black belt level.
Prizes range from $400 for winning a blue belt absolute to $4,000 for winning one of the four black belt male weight divisions. Here's a quick rundown of the big money divisions, the black belt male weights, and the black belt female absolute bracket.
The pair certainly have some history competing against each other, with Grippo winning six out of the nine matches between the two. Those wins include a referee decision victory by Grippo in this year's World Championships quarterfinals.
​Update 1:00 PM CST: We've just been informed that Queixinho has pulled out.
Black belt male middle
One thing you can bet on going in to a BJJ Pro League is that Otavio Sousa (Gracie Barra) will be there. The three-time world champ and eight-time world medalist has the most Pro League golds in history at five.
​Otavio Sousa. Chase Smith / FloGrappling
He will face stiff competition in a stacked middleweight bracket, especially from 2017 world bronze medalists Jaime Canuto (GF Team) and Yan "Pica Pau" Lucas (Ribeiro). Souza is 3-1 all-time against Canuto; however, Canuto took their last meeting 2-0 in the 2017 Brazilian Nationals final. Pica Pau met Canuto in the 2017 American Nationals final, with Canuto also getting the win there by triangle.
Michael Liera (Atos), Victor Silverio (Gracie Barra), John Combs (Easton), Manuel Ribamar (NS Brotherhood), and Johhny Tama (Alliance) make this an incredibly deep bracket.
Patrick Gaudio (GF Team) has taken second and third at the last two worlds, won the 2017 Pans and Brazilian Nationals, and has recent victories over legends Claudio Calasans and Romulo Barral. Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa, the 2017 American Nationals champ, has been incredibly active this year and lost a close match to Gaudio 2-0 in the Pans final.
​Keenan Cornelius on the attack. Photo: Michael Sears
Tarsis Humphreys (Alliance), who was the 2010 world champ and 2015 world silver medalist, looked impressive at the Five Super League, beating Leandro Lo before falling to Hulk in the semifinal. Also watch out for 2016 brown belt world champ Horlando Monteiro (Gustvao Dantas).
Dias defeated Lucas at this year's worlds quarterfinals before putting on a dominant 10-2 performance against Nalati in the semifinal. Lucas would go on to avenge his loss to Dias in the American Nationals final.
​Gutemberg Pereira. Photo: Michael Sears
Gutemberg Pereira and Max Gimenis (GF Team) are young black belts who won worlds at brown and could easily spoil any of these veterans' day. According to BJJ Pro rules, as teammates they will be placed on the same side of the bracket and meet no later than the semifinal.
It should feature three-time world champion Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaita) as well as three 2017 world champs. Mesquita was a runner-up at the 2017 Worlds, losing by disqualification in the final.
​Nathiely de Jesus. Photo: Michael Sears
She should be joined in this absolute division by 2017 medium-heavyweight champ Nathiely de Jesus (Cicero Costha), 2017 featherweight champ Maxine Thylin (Gracie Humaita), and 2017 heavyweight champ Claudia Do Val (De La Riva).
Prizes range from $400 for winning a blue belt absolute to $4,000 for winning one of the four black belt male weight divisions. Here's a quick rundown of the big money divisions, the black belt male weights, and the black belt female absolute bracket.
Black belt male feather
This eight-man featherweight division is headlined by two world bronze medalists, Gianni Grippo (Alliance) and Osvaldo "Queixinho" Moizinho (Ares). Grippo took home bronze at worlds this year, and Queixinho placed third at the 2016 Worlds.The pair certainly have some history competing against each other, with Grippo winning six out of the nine matches between the two. Those wins include a referee decision victory by Grippo in this year's World Championships quarterfinals.
​Update 1:00 PM CST: We've just been informed that Queixinho has pulled out.
Black belt male middle
One thing you can bet on going in to a BJJ Pro League is that Otavio Sousa (Gracie Barra) will be there. The three-time world champ and eight-time world medalist has the most Pro League golds in history at five. 
​Otavio Sousa. Chase Smith / FloGrappling
He will face stiff competition in a stacked middleweight bracket, especially from 2017 world bronze medalists Jaime Canuto (GF Team) and Yan "Pica Pau" Lucas (Ribeiro). Souza is 3-1 all-time against Canuto; however, Canuto took their last meeting 2-0 in the 2017 Brazilian Nationals final. Pica Pau met Canuto in the 2017 American Nationals final, with Canuto also getting the win there by triangle.
Michael Liera (Atos), Victor Silverio (Gracie Barra), John Combs (Easton), Manuel Ribamar (NS Brotherhood), and Johhny Tama (Alliance) make this an incredibly deep bracket.
Black belt male heavy
The heavyweight division may be smaller in number than middleweight, but it's arguably greater in talent at the top end. Keenan Cornelius (Atos) has been on a tear since returning from a knee injury. The past few months have seen him go 27-1 and rise to No. 6 in the IBJJF rankings. Cornelius took double gold at the Asian Open this month, American Nationals over the summer, and numerous International Opens in between.Patrick Gaudio (GF Team) has taken second and third at the last two worlds, won the 2017 Pans and Brazilian Nationals, and has recent victories over legends Claudio Calasans and Romulo Barral. Lucas "Hulk" Barbosa, the 2017 American Nationals champ, has been incredibly active this year and lost a close match to Gaudio 2-0 in the Pans final.
​Keenan Cornelius on the attack. Photo: Michael Sears
Tarsis Humphreys (Alliance), who was the 2010 world champ and 2015 world silver medalist, looked impressive at the Five Super League, beating Leandro Lo before falling to Hulk in the semifinal. Also watch out for 2016 brown belt world champ Horlando Monteiro (Gustvao Dantas).
Black belt male ultra-heavy
The ultra-heavyweight division in San Diego will contain three world medalists. Gabriel "Fedor" Lucas (Checkmat) took first in 2015. Gustavo Dias (Ribeiro) placed second in 2017, and Otavio Nalati (Lloyd Irvin) finished in third in 2017.Dias defeated Lucas at this year's worlds quarterfinals before putting on a dominant 10-2 performance against Nalati in the semifinal. Lucas would go on to avenge his loss to Dias in the American Nationals final.
​Gutemberg Pereira. Photo: Michael Sears
Gutemberg Pereira and Max Gimenis (GF Team) are young black belts who won worlds at brown and could easily spoil any of these veterans' day. According to BJJ Pro rules, as teammates they will be placed on the same side of the bracket and meet no later than the semifinal.
Black belt women's absolute
This absolute bracket could possibly be the most stacked division of the tournament.It should feature three-time world champion Beatriz Mesquita (Gracie Humaita) as well as three 2017 world champs. Mesquita was a runner-up at the 2017 Worlds, losing by disqualification in the final.
​Nathiely de Jesus. Photo: Michael Sears
She should be joined in this absolute division by 2017 medium-heavyweight champ Nathiely de Jesus (Cicero Costha), 2017 featherweight champ Maxine Thylin (Gracie Humaita), and 2017 heavyweight champ Claudia Do Val (De La Riva).