Gracie Mag Grapple Arts
Gabbi Garcia won the gold in the 72kg final by points against a much lighter weight purple belts. Although her win was expected she showed a considerable amount of disrespect, immaturity, lack of humility, and poor sportmanship. Maria Malyjasiak is to be congratulated for her efforts.
Well I have been searching for the competitors’ brackets today and no such luck. It’s Thursday, April 12th. The website is counting down the time. What an awesome tournament. It promises to deliver some high energy grappling and amazing submissions. This is it. Win one of the ADCC qualifying tournaments and you get an all expense paid trip to Abu Dhabi and the honor of grappling in one of the most famous tournaments on the planet.
From what I can tell there are only three divisions for the women, white, blue and purple/brown/black. I 
imagine that this is more a reflection of the low number of women competitors compared to the men. Although it’s a multicultural, multinational, multiethnic event the absence of any true dominate American is a little bit shocking. This won’t last long. There is one to watch. Valerie Worthington. I don’t know much about her but she’s one to watch. I am still sticking with my prediction that Gabbi is hands down the one to beat.
The Brazilians are out in full force. As Brazilian jiu jitsu grows in popularity we should see more women competing in such a prestigious tournament as Abu Dhabi. When that happens it’s my belief that the tournament organizers will add more belt divisions.
See the previous post about the competitors list. I didn’t see Kyra Gracies’ name but according to an article in Gracie Mag, Kyra intends to compete. There are some other names missing from the list such as Emily Kwok, Leticia Ribeiro, Hannette Staacks and Ida Hansson. This is only the third year that women have been competing in the WPJJ. No doubt they’re here to stay.
It’s Tuesday morning in Abu Dhabi. One of the most prestigious jiu jitsu tournaments is about to begin. The tournament was created by Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Here’s the list of competitors for the women. I count fifty competitors with the blue belt division hosting the largest number of women. I have starred my picks. Things get interesting in the open divisions where it looks pretty much like a free for all. Gabbi Garcia looks to take the open division in the black belts. She definitely looks like the one to beat given her size, athleticism and natural talent. The great thing is that the number of women participating continues to be on the rise. I have every reason to believe that we will continue to see the an increase in the number of women competitors for years to come.
FEMALE WHITE BELT
60KG
Xinning Xu Alavanca CHI
Thanise Casarin Alliance POA BRA
Eun Ji Kim Daegu MMA KOR
Oxana Bench Wingchun RUS
66KG
Anastasiya Sudareva Kristian Cestaro RUS
Sara Haj – Hassan The Source MMA JOR
Ruba Alsayegh The Source MMA JOR
72KG
Kerry Anne Mathieson Rio Grappling Club RSA
Rana Qubbaj The Source MMA JOR
Open Weight
Kerry Anne Mathieson Rio Grappling Club, RSA
Sara Haj- Hassan The Source MMA JOR
Xinning Xu Alavanca CHI
Ruba Alsayegh The Source MMA JOR
Eun Ji Kim Daegu MMA KOR
Thanise Casarin Alliance POA BRA
Anastasiya Sudareva Kristian Cestaro RUS
Rana Qubbaj The Source MMA JOR
FEMALE BLUE BELT
60KG
Enare Medeiros Alain Club BRA
Jaqueline Amorium Asle BRA
LIra Aguilar Checkmat PAR
Mayra Mello Alliance BRA
Daniell Alvarez Alvarez BJJ SPA
66KG
Maria eliza Damaceno
Jess Fraser Maromba AUS
Katrien Verheeke Icon JJ BEL
Eveliiina Karelehto Hilti Bjj FIN
Jie Miao Alvanca CHI
Meagen Green Cia Paulista AUS
72KG
Mille Pedersen Checkmat DEN
Tereza Cordeiro de Souza Gracie Barra Hungary BRA
Michella Almeida Gracie Humaita, BRA *
OVER 72KG
Hana Fisher Marcelo Garcia Gym, USA
Iris Batista Nova Uniao BRA
Elena Zenkevich Alliance GJJ Russsia RSS
Luana Azero Muniz Gracie Floripa BRA
Stricia Knake Cia Paulista CAN
OPEN WEIGHT
Maria eliz Damaceno Alain Club BRA
Hana Fsher Marcelo Garcia Gym USA
Iris Batista Nova Uniao BRA
Jess Fraser Maromba AUS
Eveliina Karelehot Hilti Bjj FIN
Elena Zenkevich Alliance BJJ Russia RSS
Mille Pedersen Checkmat DEN
Jaqueline Amorim Asle BRA
Tereza Cordeiro do Souza Gracie Barra Hungary BRA
Lira Aguilar Checkmat PAR
Luana Azero Muniz Gracie Floripa BRA
Jie Miao Alavanca CHI
Stricia Knake Cia Paulista CAN
Michella Almedia Gracie Humaita BRA *
Meagan Green Cia Paulista AUS
Magdalene Tan Leverage MAL
Mayra Mello Alliance BRA
Anna Bartkowiak Gracie Barra POL
Daniell Alvarez Alvarez BJJ SPA
BLACK BELT FEMALE
54KG
Mackenzie Dern Gracie Humaita USA
60KG
Sunny Munn Peter de benn JJ AUS
Yasmine Wilson Roger Gracie Gym UK
Angelica Galvao Atos BRA *
Jessica Cristina dos SantosGracie Miquinho BRA
Beatriz Mesquita Gracie Humaita, BRA **
Marina Medeiros Checkmat BRA
Michelle Nicolini Checkmat BRA *
66KG
Kristin Doeblin Mathias Ribeiro team USA
Luanna Alzuguir Moraes Alliance BRA
Luiza Monteiro PSLPB BRA
72KG
Polyana Barbosa Alain Club BRA
Leyla Okyay Will Machado Bjj GER
Shanti Abelha Checkmat DEN
Penny Thomas Gracie Humaita, RSA *
Valerie Worthington 50150 USA *
Fernanda Mazzelli Striker JJ BRA
Roberta da costa Frazao DDRJJ BRA
Janni Larsson Checkmat SWE
Jessica Oliveira CT Asle BRA
OVER 72KG
VenlaLuukkonen Hilti BJJ FIN
Maren Frerichs Combat Room GER
Sijara Eubanks Lloyd Irvin USA
Alison Tremblay Brazilian Top Team CAN
Gabrielle Garcia Alliance BRA *
Maria Malyjasiak Drysdale JJ POL
OPEN WEIGHT
Polyana Barbosa Alain Club BRA
Venla Luukkonen Hilti Bjj FIN
Mackenzie Dern Gracie Humaita USA *
Sunny Munn Petere de benn JJ, AUS
Maren Frerichs Combat Room, GER
Yasmine Wilson Roger Gracie, UK
Angelica Galvao Atos BRA *
Kristin Doeblin Mathias Riberio team, USA
Shanti Abelha Checkmat, DEN
Sijara Eubanks Lloyd Irvin, USA
Luanna Alzuguir Moraes Alliance, BRA
Penny Thomas Gracie Humaita, RSA *
Valerie Worthington 50150, USA
Michelle Nicolini Checkmat, BRA *
Jessica Cristina dos Santos Gracie Miquihno BRA
Leyla Okyay Will Machado BJJ, GER
Fernanda Mazzelli Striker JJ, BRA
Maria Malyjasiak Drysdale JJ POL
Janni Larsson Checkmat, SWE
Beatriz Mesquita Gracie Humaita BRA *
Alison Tremblay Brazilian Top Team, CAN
Luiza Monteiro PSLPB BRA
Roberta da costa Frazao DDRJJ BRA
Jessica Oliveira CT Asle BRA
Gabrielle Garcia Alliance BRA **
women’s international jiu jitsu federation
