At the highest level of jiu-jitsu, some matchups are destined to repeat as athletes reach the peak of their divisions. The lightweight super fight between Johnatha Alves and Jackson Nagai at the IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix is one of those matches. As part of the largest gathering of jiu-jitsu practitioners on the planet, Jiu-Jitsu CON 2023, this rematch at the Absolute GP is expected to be an epic clash of styles.

Johnatha Alves of AOJ entered 2023 as a highly accomplished three-time Pan Champion, leaving no doubt about his skill and ability to achieve results at major tournaments. He would win his fourth Pan title in March. However, there was one gap in his impressive resume - the elusive World Championship title. Fueled by his desire to be the best lightweight in the world, Johnatha set his sights on conquering the World Championship in 2023. He delivered, defeating four elite opponents to become the 2023 lightweight black belt World Champion.

Johnatha’s GP opponent is CheckMats Jackson Nagai, a black belt whose game is built around dynamic movement and an open style. Always one to take a risk and go for a submission from anywhere, Jackson has garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting and aggressive competitors on today’s competition scene. His aggressive approach to matches has earned him not only titles in competition but also a great deal of admiration from the jiu-jitsu community. He’s been much more active in 2023 than in years past, and his consistency has resulted in his best performances to date.

Jackson and Johnatha’s last match was in June of this year in the semifinal of the World Championships. In that match, Johnatha was able to nearly get the back and racked up four advantages throughout the match. Though there were no points scored, Johnatha got the win on advantages. Since that match, Jackson has been eager to seek redemption and avenge the loss.

The jiu-jitsu community is eagerly anticipating this lightweight showdown. Mark your calendars for Friday, September 1st, as the stage will be set for the IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix, which will feature not only the Absolute GP bracket but also many highly anticipated super fights. You can attend the event live or watch online exclusively on flograppling.com.