The biggest Grand Prix event of the year is now less than a week away. With eight of the best black belt competitors in the world and five super fights, the IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix promises to deliver some of the best jiu-jitsu action of 2022. Competing for the Absolute Grand Prix title and $40,000 are Kaynan Duarte, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, Gutemberg Pereira, Gabriel Oliveira, Henrique Ceconi, Francisco Lo, Rider Zuchi, and Elder Cruz. You can watch this event on Friday November 18th, only on FloGrappling. It is brought to you exclusively by Black Armor Kimonos.

2X World Champion Kaynan Duarte Is Ready To Add Another Title To 2022 Collection

As one of the most accomplished competitors from the world renowned Atos Jiu-Jitsu team, Kaynan Duarte will look to add the title of IBJJF Absolute GP Champion to his already impressive collection. Kaynan won back to back World titles in 2021 and 2022 and did so in impressive fashion. He began training under Andre Galvao at Atos HQ as a purple belt and has had incredible results under the IBJJF Hall of Fame member. He’s known as one of the most technical athletes in the sport and holds wins over GP competitors Gabriel Oliveira, Rider Zuchi, and Henrique Ceconi in IBJJF competition. Kaynan is extremely well rounded, with great sweeps, guard passing, and back attacks. As the only black belt World title holder in the bracket, Kaynan is expected to go far in the GP.

Brazilian National Absolute Champion Gutemberg Pereira Looks To Bring Absolute Title Back To Brazil

GF Team’s Gutemberg Pereira has stayed busy in 2022. The ultra heavyweight black belt competed at the Sul Brasileiro, Pans, Brazilian Nationals, Worlds, and Sul Americano this year. Gutemberg has won three gold and two silver medals thus far using a balanced jiu-jitsu game based around always attacking the submission from top or bottom. In his most impressive performance of 2022, Gutemberg won the Brazilian National absolute division, defeating Anderson Munis, Harrysson Pereira, and Marcus “Scooby” Ribeiro on his way to gold. Gutemberg’s results in the major events have been a career high and prove that he’s in the mix when discussing the best heavyweight athletes in the sport. After relocating back to Brazil, Gutemberg’s competition results have gotten better and better as he’s settled into a full-time athlete routine.

2022 Pan Champion Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu Wants Another GP Title

At the 2019 IBJJF Heavyweight No-Gi Grand Prix, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu joined a star-studded lineup of elite competitors. In a highly competitive division where every competitor had the skills to come out on top, it was Cyborg who reigned supreme. His three victories on the day were over two World Champions in Victor Hugo and Lucas Barbosa, and a Pan Champion in Joao Gabriel Rocha. Now Cyborg will return to the IBJJF GP, this time in an absolute division in the gi. 2022 saw Cyborg earn the biggest gi title of his career to date. He entered a loaded ultra heavy bracket and won matches against Wildermar Souza, Wallace Costa, Davi Cabral, and fellow Absolute GP competitor Gutemberg Pereira to win his second Pan title. He’ll look to carry this momentum into the IBJJF Absolute GP in Costa Mesa, California.

Brazilian National Heavyweight Champion Rider Zuchi Expects Tough Bracket

Coming into 2022, Rider Zuchi was in search of his first major title at black belt. He came close in 2021, taking second in the final of the open class at the Brazilian Nationals to Erich Munis. After winning gold medals at the Rio Summer Open, the Curitiba Open, and the Rio Fall Open, Rider entered the Brazilian Nationals in the heavyweight division. He submitted two of his three opponents and won the division in impressive fashion. Shortly after winning his first major title at the Brazilian Nationals, Rider traveled to Long Beach, California to compete at the World Championships. He won his first two matches by points against tough opponents and then faced eventual champion Kaynan Duarte in the semifinal. It was a very close match that Rider lost via one advantage, but also showed he is one of the very best heavyweight competitors in the world. Rider will look to bring his excellent guard passing and back attack game to the GP in an effort to become the Absolute GP champion.

#2 Ranked No-Gi Athlete Henrique “Ceconi” Pursues His Biggest Gi Title

Henrique Ceconi has had quite a remarkable 2022 thus far. After winning the Brazilian National No-Gi open class in August, he entered the Pan No-Gi in October with another open class gold medal in his sights. His performance at the 2022 Pan No-Gi was electric, notching big submission wins over Elder Cruz and Clay Mayfield. His success in no-gi competitions have earned him the #2 overall ranking without the gi. He has some of the best takedowns in his division, and has used them both gi and no-gi competitions to achieve great results. Now, he’ll look to add what would be his biggest gi title to his collection at the IBJJF Absolute GP. Henrique is now training in Texas under his uncle and hopes that being with his long time coach will help him achieve the Absolute GP title.

Gabriel Oliveira Looks To Build On Momentum Of 2022 Season

After winning World and Pan titles at the brown belt in 2019, Alliance’s Gabriel Oliveira was promoted to black belt by Mario Reis. His first big achievement at black belt was his bronze medal finish at the 2021 World Championships. In the semifinal, Gabriel faced Kaynan Duarte and would lose a referee’s decision in a very even match. Since his third place finish at the Worlds, Gabriel has found his rhythm on the competition scene in Brazil. He won the Floripa Winter Open, the Rio Winter Open, the Vitoria Open, and the Sao Leopoldo Open, among others. Gabriel has a solid guard and great submission skills, tools that he’ll be ready to use in Costa Mesa on November 18th.

Brown Belt World Champion Elder Cruz Makes Black Belt Debut In The Gi

CheckMat’s Elder Cruz established himself as an elite competitor in the colored belt divisions. The pinnacle of his colored belt achievements came at the 2022 World Championships, where he won gold in the brown belt heavyweight division. Shortly after the title, Elder was promoted to black belt by his coach Lucas Leite. Now Elder will make his black belt debut in the gi. As a competitor who frequently competes both with and without the gi, Elder has developed a game based around takedowns, top control, and constant pressure. Although Elder grew up watching many of these competitors throughout his years in the colored belts, he’s ready to prove that he belongs among the elite at black belt.

Submission Machine Francisco Lo Enters Absolute GP As Lightest Competitor

Francisco Lo is another new black belt competitor looking to make his mark on the division. The medium-heavyweight athlete will be the lightest competitor in the Absolute bracket, but will look to use his extremely dynamic submission attacks to throw his opponents off of their games. Francisco was promoted to black belt this year after winning the Brazilian Nationals at brown belt. In the past few months, he’s relocated to Texas to train with Matheus Gabriel. Since making the move, Francisco has competed at the Pan No-Gi and Houston Fall Open, taking third at the Pan and first at the Houston Fall. Look for Francisco to use his elite submission skills to put his opponent’s defenses to the test at the GP.

Johnatha Alves Takes On Roosevelt Sousa In Absolute Match

AOJ’s Johnatha Alves and Fight Sport’s Roosevelt Sousa are back for more after their GP super fights in October. Johnatha won a decision over Mathias Luna while Roosevelt lost a back and forth match by submission to Fellipe Andrew. Both athletes have stated that they were not happy with their performances in their last super fights and are eager to get back out on the GP stage. In preparation for the super fight, Johnatha and Roosevelt both competed at the Nashville Fall Open. Johnatha won gold in the middleweight division and Roosevelt won gold in the no-gi open class. With great performances just a week before the event, this is a super fight you will not want to miss.

Andy Murasaki and Mateus Rodrigues Run It Back At Black Belt

World and Pan silver medalist Andy Murasaki will take on brown belt World Champion Mateus Rodrigues in a medium-heavy super fight at the IBJJF Absolute GP. The two have faced each other at blue and purple belt, and they each hold victories over one another.  It’s been a while since they’ve last fought, however, and both have evolved their jiu-jitsu tremendously in recent years. Andy has one of the best guard passing games in the world, often using a knee cut pass to either score the three points or set up other passes. Mateus also has great passing but generally plays a bit more off of his back. However the match plays out, it’s guaranteed to be a technical battle between the Atos and AOJ athletes.

Jessa Khan and Kaori Hernandez Meet In Light-Feather Match

Jessa Khan and Kaori Hernandez have also competed against one another multiple times in the colored belt ranks. As black belts, both competitors have come into their own, displaying high level jiu-jitsu every time they compete. Jessa won her first major black belt title in 2022, winning the Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships alongside her teammates Johnatha Alves and Tainan Dalpra. Kaori also had a great showing at the 2022 Pans, taking third in the rooster weight division. Their last match took place at purple belt, so this matchup will likely be much different from their previous encounters.

European Champion Jonnatas Gracie Takes On Submission Specialist Sergio Rios

In a sure to be exciting medium-heavy match, European Champion Jonnatas Gracie will take on Master World Champion Sergio Rios. Jonnatas competes under the Atos banner and has had plenty of success competing in the black belt division after his promotion in 2019. In addition to his 2020 European title, Jonnatas has also won the Pan No-Gi and placed third at the Worlds and Pans. Sergio Rios represents the Nine Nine JJ - International team and has one of the most aggressive, submission oriented games in jiu-jitsu. He won the 2022 World Master and has also competed in many adult divisions, finding success there as well. Jonnatas and Sergio have never faced each other at black belt, making this match all the more intriguing.

Featherweights Eduardo Lima And Zach Kaina Square Off In Brown Belt Match

As two of the most technical brown belts in the world, Eduardo “Dudu” Lima of CheckMat will face Zach Kaina of AOJ in a featherweight match. The pair have had three matches already in 2022, with Eduardo winning by a slight margin in all three of them. Though Eduardo has come out victorious so far, all three matches were very close and evenly matched. Both these athletes come from very successful teams in CheckMat and AOJ and have plenty of world class coaches and training partners at their disposals.

Don’t miss a moment of the IBJJF Absolute GP on Friday November 18th. You can watch the event on FloGrappling. It is brought to you exclusively by Black Armor Kimonos.