Weekend grappling recap: Subversiv, Sapateiro, and IBJJF results
We look back at key results and events from around the grappling world, including Subversiv, Sapateiro, and the IBJJF.
Submission grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have no off-season. To that end, plenty of high-level competitions took place over the weekend, featuring a number of elite grapplers.
These are significant results from the world of grappling for April 12-14.
Keith Krikorian wins title at Subversiv
Subversiv X took place on Saturday, April 14 in Anaheim, California. In addition to a number of no-gi and combat jiu-jitsu (CJJ) superfights, the event also held a three-on-three CJJ team tournament. That tournament saw Team Phaze – consisting of current IBJJF no-gi world champion Alex Enriquez, recent ADCC Trials silver medalist Alex Grandy, and veteran black belt Stephen Martinez – take home the team title.
Before the team finals, ADCC veterans Keith Krikorian and Alexandre Vieira squared off for the organization’s welterweight title. Vieira started that match aggressively, looking for an early entry to a front headlock, but Krikorian maintained composure, secured top position, and fell back on a match-ending heel hook after about 30 seconds of action.
Julian Espinosa qualifies for Sapateiro World Championship
Also on Saturday, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sapateiro Invitational held its second 16-man, 160-pound tournament to determine the next qualifier for the organization’s $100,000 World Championship.
Renzo Gracie black belt Julian Espinosa submitted four opponents in a row to punch his ticket to this December’s big-money event. He will join Deandre Corbe as the second Sapateiro World Championship competitor.
The next Sapateiro qualifier will take place May 25 in Chicago, Illinois.
IBJJF Nashville and Houston
The IBJJF held a pair of gi and no-gi events.
In Nashville, recent ADCC South American Trials winner Jose Inacio was nothing short of dominant, taking home double-gold in both gi and no-gi competition. Also, young black belt Jessica Crane shined in the gi, winning both the feather and open class divisions.
View gi results from Nashville here, and no-gi results here.
Meanwhile, in Houston, 2020 no-gi world champion Nathalie “Tata” Ribeiro performed well in the gi as she won gold in the open class.
