The Nashville Fall International Open took place on Saturday November 12th and Sunday November 13th. Gi divisions took place on Saturday and it was the AOJ team that stood out at black belt.

In the lightweight division, Pablo Lavaselli, who is currently ranked #1 in the lightweight division, defeated two opponents to take home the first black belt gold medal for AOJ. He won his first match by submitting his opponent from the back and his finals match on points.

A second AOJ black belt, Mateus Rodrigues, competed in the medium-heavy and absolute divisions. Mateus advanced to the final of the medium-heavy division, where he lost to Rafael dos Anjos of Alliance. He later jumped into the open class. Mateus won three matches there to become the Nashville Fall open class champion. He’ll compete this Friday in a super fight at the IBJJF Absolute GP against Andy Murasaki of Atos.

Just ahead of his open weight super fight in Costa Mesa, AOJ’s Johnatha Alves competed in the middleweight division at the Nashville Fall Open. Johnatha was victorious in both of his matches. He displayed great guard work, passing, and submissions, finishing his first opponent with a wrist lock and his second opponent with a choke from the back. This coming Friday, November 18th, he’ll take on ultra heavyweight Roosevelt Sousa, who also competed in Nashville, in an IBJJF Absolute GP super fight.

Roosevelt was the no-gi open class champion. He won four matches without the gi to take gold. As his open weight match with Johnatha Alves on Friday November 18th quickly approaches, Roosevelt is now more prepared than ever for the challenge.

2022 Nashville Fall International Open team results:

1. Alliance
2. Zenith BJJ
3. Pedigo Submission Fighting

2022 Nashville Fall International No-Gi Open team results:

1. Pedigo Submission Fighting
2. SAS Team
3. Alliance