For the third time this year, the IBJJF returned to Rio for the Rio International Open. The two day event was held at the Arena Cel. Wenceslau Malta and had gi and no-gi divisions. As one of the first tournaments after the 2023 World Championships, there were some brand new black belts who competed at the event.

Dream Art, who are coming off incredible first place finishes at the World Championships, had two black belt gold medalists in Rio, both of whom were promoted at the Worlds. Guilherme Fernandes of Dream Art was promoted to black belt on the podium at the 2023 World Championships, where he made the final of the brown belt featherweight division. Guilherme has had an amazing 2023, there he took gold at the 2023 Pans and Brasileiros. He won two fights in Rio to win his first black belt gold medal.

“It was great to debut in an IBJJF competition. I have been a black belt for two weeks, so winning this tournament without any points being scored on me felt good. I remember when I was a blue belt in 2019 I used to watch the black belt matches and think ‘one day it will be me out there.’ That day came. I can’t wait to fight the major IBJJF tournaments at this level.”

Pedro Silva, another Dream Art athlete, won brown belt double gold at the Brasileiros and took third at the Pans. His run at Brasileiros included five submissions out of eight fights, and was the best performance of his brown belt career. Pedro commented on his matches in Rio.

“Fighting for the first time as a black belt was an indescribable feeling. Getting to compete against guys who already have a big name in competitions is always good and it was good to prove to myself that I can get there even though I don’t have the same experience they have as a black belt. I felt that in my fights I couldn’t fight the way I expected, especially in the final where it was a tighter fight on my part. I hope for the next championships I can show my aggressive and forward jiu-jitsu.”

A third new black belt who took gold in Rio was Jaine Fragoso. Jaine was promoted in late January 2023 and has already won gold medals at the Sul Brasileiro De Jiu-Jitsu, Rio Fall, and Floripa Fall Opens.

“Yesterday was my first double gold at black belt with only four months after graduation. I had only one fight in the lightweight division so I felt really willing to fight. I threw myself into the absolute and was focused on just winning one fight at a time and it seemed to work! It was an incredible feeling to go through each fight. I felt like yesterday I went into a state of flow because I got into positions that I don’t even train. I’m very happy and I’m counting the days to the next challenge.”

Victor Honorio was the male absolute champion in the gi. The no-gi absolute champions were Eduardo Andrade of Templo JJ and Suelen Desterro of Double Five.

2023 Rio Open team results:

1. GF Team

2. Nova Uniao

3. Gracie Barra

2023 Rio No-Gi Open team results:

1. Nova Uniao

2. Gracie Barra

3. GF Team