The IBJJF San Jose and New Orleans Winter Opens 2025 both took place on the same weekend across January 18th and 19th, 2025. Both tournaments attracted some excellent competitors, with a handful managing to emerge as double champions. Alexandre Manara stood out in the gi in New Orleans, as he won the absolute division after getting a default gold at ultra-heavyweight. Jon Satava took gold at middleweight in both gi and no gi, while Emilio Hernandez won the featherweight no gi division after leaving with a bronze medal in the gi. The final big name competing in New Orleans was Gabriel Cardoso, who won the gi lightweight division despite some tough opposition.
Although there were a handful of top competitors stepping on the mats at the IBJJF New Orleans Winter Open 2025, there was even more in San Jose. Matheus Luna took silver in the absolute shortly after he won a silver in the middleweight division; and just before he won silver in the no gi absolute and a gold medal in the no gi middleweight division. Mateus Rodrigues was the man who best him in the gi absolute, although that was the only medal he left with on the weekend. Gutemberg Pereira and Wallisson Oliveira took the bronze medals in the gi absolute, after winning the super-heavyweight and medium-heavyweight divisions respectively.
Bryce Sexton won double gold in no gi, standing on top of the podium at ultra-heavyweight and in the absolute as well. Joao Nicolite left with a big haul of medals too, winning the gi and no gi heavyweight division along with a bronze medal in the no gi absolute. Thaynara Victoria stood out in the women’s divisions, beating Karen Terra to win the featherweight division before going on to win the absolute too. Default middleweight champion Mayara Melo took silver in the absolute, while Andreza Morais made an appearance to win a gold medal in the lightweight division.
