The IBJJF Portland Open 2023 took place across July 1st and 2nd, 2023 and several top competitors decided to make the journey to compete at the event. There were a few veteran BJJ black belts stepping on the mats as well, as Wellington ‘Megaton’ Dias left the lightweight gi division with a silver medal and Samir Chantre took a default gold from the featherweight division. Harryson Pereira left with two gold medals on the first day and although he won the heavyweight division by default, he beat out some stiff opposition to win the absolute. Maria Ruffatto had the same experience in the women’s divisions as she too won heavyweight by default before beating the opposition in the absolute.
There weren’t all that many competitors at the highest levels of the gi divisions on the first day, but surprisingly around the same number entered the no gi divisions the following day. Curiously, the lower belt divisions went differently as there was definitely more white and blue belts competing in the gi at the IBJJF Portland Open 2023. Ruffatto was one of the few competitors who decided to step on the mats on both days, and the effort paid off in a huge way as she brought her total gold medal tally from the weekend to 4. The heavyweight division resulted in another default gold, but again she had to fight hard to win the absolute division.
Chantre also returned on the second day to compete in the Master 1 age bracket instead, although he couldn’t get a match once again and had to settle for a default medal. There was plenty of high-level grappling on display even further down into the colored belt divisions despite the lower than normal turnout, and those watching saw plenty of action regardless. Some of those stepping on the mats over the weekend will end up returning for IBJJF majors later in the year, using IBJJF Opens like this as a way to gain more experience.