By Michael Sears

The action kicked off Saturday at the fifth and final Grand Slam event of the UAEJJF season. The Copper Box at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park was electric as the race towards the World Pro and the end of season prizes is coming to an end. More than $125,000 in cash prizes will be given out to athletes at this weekend’s Grand Slam by the UAEJJF. The brown belt divisions brought out some of the world’s top talent in search of the cash prizes and UAEJJF ranking points. Note that female brown belts compete in black belt divisions at this event. Here is a recap of the results:

62 kg

Champion: Carlos Oliveira (GFT)

Silver: Wellington Silva (Alliance)

Bronze: Lucas Goncalves (Gracie Barra)

Rio de Janeiro native Carlos “Bebeto” Oliveira continued the rampage he has been on as of late at the lowest weight category. Bebeto won his third Grand Slam of the 2017-18 season after previously winning in Los Angeles and Rio. The 2018 European champion needed three wins to get the gold, a choke from the back in the opening round followed by two points victories put him on the top of the podium.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

69 kg

Champion: Alexssandro Sodre (Clube Feijao)

Silver: Jonata Gomes (Checkmat)

Bronze: Marlus De Souza (SAS)

2017 World Champion Alex Sodre won five matches to battle his way through a stacked 69 kg division, two by submission. In the final Sodre was matched up against Checkmat’s Jonata Gomes in a matchup between two of the top 69 kg brown belts in the world. An intense and evenly matched showdown went off the mat on more than one occasion, the pair even crashed through and broke the scoreboard television. With the score tied, in the end the referees gave Sodre the decision and his second Grand Slam gold medal of the season. Sodre leaves London the fourth ranked brown belt in the UAEJJF with 1160 points.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

77 kg

Champion: Natan Freitas (Cantagalo Team)

Silver: Guilherme Rocha (ZR Team)

Bronze: Oliver Taza (Renzo Gracie)

Natan Freitas and ZR Team’s Guilherme Rocha both looked flawless on their way to the finals, with neither athlete conceding a point in their first three fights. Freitas came out on top in the final by one advantage in a 2-2 match.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

85 kg

Champion: Felipe Figueiredo (Icon)

Silver: Gabriel Almeida (Checkmat)

Bronze: Marcos Martins (Barbosa)

After outscoring his first three opponents by a score of 17-0, Felipe Figueiredo was matched up with 2017 brown belt World silver medalist Gabriel Almeida in the final. In a close 2-2 match in which Felipe scored a takedown with a drop seio nage, Figueiredo walked away the champion on advantages.

94 kg

Champion: Pedro Elias (NS Brotherhood)

Silver: River Dillon (Roger Gracie)

Bronze: Sean Coates (Gracie Barra)

Pedro Elias turned heads at the European Championships in two close matches with top prospect Kaynan Duarte, the second of which he had a triangle locked on for the last two minutes. Elias won four fights on Saturday, two submissions, including a triangle on River Dillon in the final.

110 kg

Champion: Matheus Felipe (Checkmat)

Silver: Sky Lovell (Gracie Barra)

Bronze: Leonardo Goncalves (Cicero Costha)

2017 World champion Matheus Felipe locked up the brown belts point race long ago, and after London he is sitting 800 points ahead of second place with an incredible 2300 points. Matheus won two matches to take home an 18th gold medal in just this UAEJJF season.