The IBJJF Virginia Open 2024 took place on July 20th and 21st, 2024 and there was several great matches across both days. The gi divisions were arranged for the first day but most of the biggest names returned to compete in the no gi divisions on the second day too. Team Lloyd Irvin made the biggest impact in the men’s black belt divisions on both days, although most of that was actually down to just one man. Angelo Claiborne led the charge for his team and he left with more silverware than anyone else as he won four divisions across the weekend.
Claiborne won both the medium-heavyweight and absolute divisions in both gi and no gi, marking a perfect weekend full of wins and no losses. He actually shared the final of the gi absolute division with one of his teammates, as Elijah Dorsey took home the silver medal there. Dorsey is an ADCC Trials winner so it should come as no surprise that he put on some impressive performances in his weight class too, and he won gold in the gi and no gi middleweight divisions. Malachi Edmond was the other big name representing TLI and he also won a gold medal, with his coming at featherweight in the gi.
There were plenty of other elite competitors representing other teams at the IBJJF Virginia Open 2024 of course, including Ademir Barreto; who won the gi lightweight division on behalf of GF Team. Top R1NG BJJ black belt competitor Larissa Dias was probably the biggest name competing in the women’s divisions, and she left with the biggest haul of the first day by winning the super-heavyweight and absolute divisions. Brenda Wunner also made an appearance in the gi and she was able to stand on top of the podium at featherweight despite facing a talented opponent in Samantha Schnell
