The IBJJF Houston Open 2023 took place on May 13th and 14th, 2023 and there were several big names competing, including a few ADCC veterans. Diego ‘Pato’ Oliveira was competing on the first day in the gi and he took home a gold medal from the featherweight division, while Matheus Gabriel and Jackson Nagai managed to do the same in the lightweight and middleweight divisions respectively. One of the most interesting matches of that day took place in the medium-heavyweight division though, where Francisco Lo met Manuel Ribamar in the final. Lo ended up winning, extending his run of golds on the local IBJJF circuit in impressive fashion.
Pedro Alex won the highest honours on the first day by emerging victorious in the absolute division, although he had to settle for a silver medal in the ultra-heavyweight division thanks to the success of Ricardo Evangelista. There were plenty of big names in the women’s divisions too, as Nathalie Ribeiro won the featherweight division and Thamires Monteiro defeated Margot Ciccarelli in the final of the lightweight division. Maria Ruffatto was the woman who left with the most medals of the weekend though as she won gold in the absolute division on both days after having to settle for a silver in the gi heavyweight division.
Roberto Jimenez actually earned medals on both days too, winning gold in the heavyweight division both in the gi and in no gi before winning a bronze medal in the no gi absolute division. The winner of that absolute division was none other than the reigning ADCC 88kg world champion, as Giancarlo Bodoni stormed to victory there. He also won a default gold medal at super-heavyweight as he was unfortunately left without any competition to oppose him. There was plenty of action on both days of the IBJJF Houston Open 2023 and the coloured belts competing at the event were treated to some fantastic matches that wouldn’t have looked out of place at major events.
