Cemil Karahan is the returning European purple belt medium-heavy champion, but he was far from considered a front-runner in a stacked absolute division at the 2018 IBJJF European Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, on Thursday. 

The open class featured Conner Deangelis – who bested Karakahn in the heavyweight final — plus young gun Andy Murasaki from CTA, French sensation Reda Mebtouche, and four more gold medalists from the weight categories.

Stiff competition, however, didn't phase Karahan: He went on to put on the performance of the day and finished both of his opponents in the semifinal and final.

Opening round: Cemil Karahan vs. Aleksandar Aleksandrov

Quarterfinal: Cemil Karahn vs. Andy Murasaki

Semifinal:  Cemil Karahan vs. Reda Mebtouche 

Final: Cemil Karahan vs. Igor Tanabe