Elite wrestler Pat Downey has just been notified that he is now banned from IBJJF competition for a period of 5 years. Although Downey undoubtedly did fall foul of the promotion’s rules during his one and only appearance on their mats, the length of suspension that he’s been hit with is surprising. Downey intended to make his promotional debut at the IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2024 and it was also going to be his first event competing as a blue belt. Although he’s faced a much higher level of competition before, Downey was still excited to challenge himself in a new format prior to the event.
Things couldn’t have started better for him, as he beat every single opponent put in front of him on the way to the final. That was when he met Shamil Murtazaliev and although the Checkmat representative is a skilled grappler, Downey caught him in a head and arm choke and put him to sleep. That should’ve been the end of it and Downey should have had his hand raised before walking off to collect his gold medal at the top of the podium. Instead, Murtazaliev’s corner shouted at Downey and Downey responded with gestures mocking the fact that he had just choked their teammate out.
Murtazaliev launched at Downey and the pair began to fight, with multiple members of staff intervening to separate them. This meant that Downey was disqualified alongside Murtazaliev and he did not receive the blue belt world title that he won on the mats. He was still promoted to purple belt by his coach in honor of his achievement and Downey later revealed that he would not be competing at any more IBJJF events again due to the experience. Now it seems as though the promotion has taken a firm stance against him and by handing him such a lengthy suspension, effectively ruled him out of IBJJF competition for the rest of his athletic prime.
Pat Downey announced the news that the IBJJF had banned him from competition for 5 years in a recent post to his official Instagram account:
