The upcoming IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix has been scheduled for September 1st, 2023 and the promotion has announced a fantastic lineup featuring 8 of the best grapplers on the planet. While each of the IBJJF Grand Prix events produce some exciting moments, the absolute division always tends to go above and beyond the regular weight classes. The promotion first announced the event earlier in the year and fans were immediately eager to find out who would be competing for the $40,000 grand prize that is available.
The promotion first announced a series of superfights for the event, with five matchups taking place either before or during the absolute tournament. These matches are going to highlight some of the best grapplers from all around the world, including several of the best Art of Jiu-Jitsu competitors. Naturally though, most of the attention is going to be on the stacked absolute tournament. Nicholas Meregali has been confirmed and although he’s one of the biggest names in the sport, the bracket won’t be easy for him at all.
His old foe Kaynan Duarte has also entered the tournament, as has Victor Hugo. Duarte has plenty of history with Meregali and has beaten him twice before, while Hugo is the reigning IBJJF ultra-heavyweight and absolute world champion. He isn’t the only world champion competing either, as Fellipe Andrew took gold at heavyweight earlier in the year too. There will also be a pair of top prospects in Gutemberg Pereira and Francisco Lo, alongside veteran BJJ competitors Horlando Monteiro and Joao Gabriel Rocha.
IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix 2023 Full Lineup
Nicholas Meregali
Kaynan Duarte
Victor Hugo
Francisco Lo
Horlando Monteiro
Fellipe Andrew
Gutemberg Pereira
Joao Gabriel Rocha
Superfights
Tainan Dalpra v Yan Pica-Pau
Ronaldo Junior v Sebastian Rodriguez
Janaina Lebre v Emily Fernandez
Johnatha Alves v Jackson Nagai
Cole Abate v Eduardo Granzotto
The IBJJF announced the full lineup for the IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix 2023 and the accompanying superfights in a series of posts to their official Instagram account:
