The IBJJF Miami Open 2023 took place on April 29th and 30th, 2023 and the tournament managed to generate plenty of action in practically every single division. Roberto Jimenez left with the most impressive medal haul of the weekend, even if one of them was a default gold. He received that in the no gi heavyweight division but won gold in the no gi absolute, just a day after he won gold at heavyweight in the gi. Top Brazilian competitor Roosevelt Sousa wasn’t far behind him though as he too won a default gold in his no gi weightclass, but won the absolute division in the gi and took home a bronze medal in the no gi absolute division.
Mathias Luna also got some good results from the tournament, although only on the first day in the gi. Luna won gold at medium-heavyweight before having to settle for a bronze medal in the absolute division. Brianna Ste-Marie put in a great display in the gi as well, as she won a pair of gold medals in the middleweight division and in the absolute. Jasmine Rocha managed the same feat on the second day in no gi, although the gold from her weightclass was one by default, she won a hard-fought match in the absolute division to take gold there.
The only other person competing in an absolute division in no gi was the legendary Gesias Cavalcante, although he had to settle for a silver medal thanks to Roosevelt Sousa. Cavalcante did win another silver medal though, in his weightclass at middleweight. Rene Sousa put in some good work in the no gi medium-heavyweight division, winning gold and securing what might just be the very first buggy choke in an adult black belt IBJJF match. Luccas Lira stood out from the coloured belt divisions at the IBJJF Miami Open 2023, winning both the gi and no gi brown belt absolute divisions against some tough up-and-coming competitors.
