The IBJJF Waco Open 2023 took place on December 2nd and 3rd, 2023 and the results featured a number of superb grapplers. There was some great matches even in the gi divisions that weren’t too busy, most notably at medium-heavyweight where Yan Paiva beat Austin Oranday in the only match. Paiva returned later on in the day to try his hand at the absolute division and although he made it to the final, it was actually one of his teammates that took home the gold medal. The absolute division was won by the lightweight champion from earlier in the day, recently-promoted black belt Gabriel Cardoso.
Italo Lima Costa also signed up to compete in the gi, but there was nobody else at super-heavyweight so he was given a default gold medal. There was just as much action in the no gi divisions on the second day too, with medium-heavyweight producing another superb highlight in it’s only match. This time it was Oliver Taza who took home the gold medal, as he beat Clay Mayfield. The featherweight division featured another big name too, with Emilio Hernandez beating out some tough opposition to stand on top of the podium.
Austin Oranday returned on the second day, but he entered a higher weight class this time around and was given a default gold medal at super-heavyweight. He did get a hard-earned gold medal at the end of the day by winning the absolute division though, and he had to beat Clay Mayfield in the final to get it. There weren’t many female competitors at the IBJJF Waco Open 2023 unfortunately, and there wasn’t a single match in the adult black belt no gi divisions. The gi divisions weren’t much busier and Emily Ferreira won the only match of the day, winning the absolute division after taking home a default gold medal at middleweight.
