BJJ Stars 16 results and highlights: Pedro Marinho wins absolute grand prix
View results and highlights from BJJ Stars 16, which took place on July 26, 2025.
BJJ Stars returned to action on Saturday with a star-studded card featuring a mixture of gi and no-gi matches.
Gracie Barra’s Pedro Marinho impressed in the 8-man absolute grand prix, submitting his final opponent in dramatic fashion to claim the R$100,000 grand prize. Before that, in gi superfights, Thalyta Silva defeated Helena Crevar to retain her middleweight crown, and Julia Alves scored a contentious victory over Anna Rodrigues to win the featherweight title.
Marinho conquers absolute grand prix
Marinho turned in perhaps the best one-day performance of his career, defeating IBJJF world champions Fabricio Andrey, Devhonte Johnson, and, in the final, ultra-heavyweight star Yatan Bueno.
Marinho’s top-flight wrestling and the ever-present threat of his trademark guillotine choke were on full display all night. In the first round, he kept Johnson on the defensive en route to a clear-cut decision win. Next, in the semifinals against Andrey, he showcased his speed and takedown abilities, even scoring a clean duck-under into a big slam en route to a decision victory.
In the tournament final, Marinho squared off with the massive Bueno, giving up approximately 70 pounds in weight to the 2024 IBJJF world champion. Again, Marinho’s wrestling was on point, and he looked to be well on his way to securing a decision victory thanks to his solid work on the feet. With less than a minute remaining, Bueno shot in on a takedown, and Marinho countered with his trademark guillotine choke.
The victories solidified Marinho among the sport’s top pound-for-pound competitors.
Silva, Alves win title matches
In the gi, 2025 IBJJF world champion Thalyta Silva picked up a hard-fought points win over rookie black belt Helena Crevar. Silva came out aggressively on the feet and was able to score a clean single-leg takedown in the bout’s opening minute.
From there, the Brazilian applied steady pressure and showed little fear in engaging in Crevar’s dangerous guard. And while Silva never secured a clean pass, she did plenty to avoid passivity penalties and, ultimately, rode out the 2-0 points victory, handing the young phenom the first defeat in the gi of her still-young black belt career.
After that, IBJJF Euros champion Julia Alves earned a narrow win over decorated veteran Anna Rodrigues. The pair engaged in some tense action on the feet before Alves pulled guard. From there, Rodrigues moved forward with a steady stream of pressure passes, seemingly forcing Alves on defense for the vast majority of the contest.
As the clock ticked down, though, it was Rodrigues who was hit with a passivity penalty as she failed to solidify a pass from the over-under position. Despite complaints from Rodrigues and her corner, officials refused to reverse the call, awarding the win and featherweight title to Alves.
Check out the full results from BJJ Stars 16 below.
BJJ Stars 16 results
No-gi absolute grand prix
Quarterfinals
- Yatan Bueno def. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu via decision
- Haisam Rida def. Eli Braz via submission (rear-naked choke)
- Fabricio Andrey def. Javier Zaruski via points (8-2)
- Pedro Marinho def. Devhonte Johnson via decision
Semifinals
- Yatan Bueno def. Haisam Rida via points (2-0)
- Pedro Marinho def. Fabricio Andrey via decision
Final
- Pedro Marinho def. Yatan Bueno via submission (guillotine choke)
Superfights
- Julia Alves def. Anna Rodrigues via advantage
- Thalyta Silva def. Helena Crevar via points (2-0)
- Meyram Maquine def. Leo Souza via points (2-0)
- Sergio Rios def. Luiz Marquesa via submission (collar choke)
- Pablo Oliveira def. Mateo Ruiz via points (2-0)
- Livia Barasine def. Eduardo Munis via submission (armbar)
