2009 IBJJF Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Mundial

International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Championship 2009

© Jeff Chan

Jun 7, 2009

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s World Championship, also known as the Mundial, has been attracting BJJ’s elite fighters for the past 13 years. Since the first event in 1996, the Mundial has been the place to watch BJJ at its highest levels.

The Mundials: A Historical Proving Ground for Elite BJJ and MMA Competitors

A list of past competitors at the IBJJF World Championships reads like a historical who’s who of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts (MMA) worlds. Just to name a few:

• Royler Gracie
• Rodrigo Medeiros
• Amauri Bitetti
• Mario Sperry
• Murilo Bustamante
• Ricco Rodriguez
• Robson Moura
• Saulo Ribeiro
• BJ Penn
• Eduardo Telles
• Travis Lutter
• Demian Maia
• Marcelo Garcia

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Continues its Worldwide Growth

The Mundial has come a long way since 1996, when the first event was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the Tijuca Tenis Clube gymnasium. 2007 was the first year that the IBJJF held the World Championship outside Brazil. Held in the USA, that event hosted an all-time high of 1800 athletes. This year’s event took place at California State University, Long Beach, California, and countries all over the world were represented - Canada, Brazil, USA, Europe, and beyond.

2008 Absolute Champion Xande Ribeiro Sidelined by Knee Injury

One notable absence from the mats was Gracie Humaita superstar Xande Ribeiro, who sustained a knee injury shortly before the Mundial and was unable to compete. In 2008, Xande beat Alexandre “Jacare” Souza (Gracie Florianopolis) to take the gold medal in the heavyweight division and then defeated Roger Gracie (Gracie Barra) to win the absolute division title.

2009 Open Results Reminiscent of 2007

Just as in 2007, Romulo Barral and Roger Gracie, both representing Gracie Barra, met in the Absolute final. And once again, Roger was the winner. Last year, Roger had fought in an MMA match close to one month before the Mundial, which led to the suggestion that he might not have been in top gi-fighting condition when he lost to Xande Ribeiro in the 2008 Absolute. 2009 could have been a rematch under the opposite conditions, as this year it was Xande who fought just last month in an MMA match under the Sengoku promotion.

2009 BJJ World Championship Results

Teams

Adult:

1. Alliance
2. Gracie Barra
3. Checkmat BJJ

Female:

1. Gracie Humaita
2. Renzo Gracie
3. Gracie Barra

Novice:

1. Gracie Barra
2. Gracie Humaita
3. Gigante BJJ

Juvenile:

1. Alliance
2. Lloyd Irvin
3. Gracie Humaita

Black Belt Adult

Middle:

1. Marcelo Garcia (Alliance)
2. Sergio Moraes (Alliance)

Medium Heavy:

1. Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra)
2. Tarsis Humphreys (Alliance)

Heavy:

1. Braulio Estima (Gracie Barra)
2. Alexandre de Souza (Gracie Florianopolis)

Super Heavy:

1. Roger Gracie (Gracie Barra)
2. Ricardo Gonzalez (Nova Unaio)

Ultra Heavy:

1. Gabriel Vella (Alliance)
2. Rodrigo Cavaca (Checkmat BJJ)

Open:

1. Roger Gracie (Gracie Barra)
2. Romulo Barral (Gracie Barra)

Brown/Black Belt Adult Female

Light:

1. Luanna Alzuguir (Alliance)
2. Kyra Gracie (Renzo Gracie)

Middle:

1. Hanette Staack (Andre Negao)
2. Monica Vanessa Silva (Sandro Bala e Julio Pudim)

Medium Heavy:

1. Penny Thomas (Gracie Humaita)
2. Valerie Worthington (Carlson Gracie Team)

Heavy:

1. Lana Stefanac (Trinity BJJ)
2. Luciana Dias (Gracie Humaita)

Open:

1. Lana Stefanac (Trinity BJJ)
2. Kyra Gracie (Renzo Gracie)

See the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) website for full results.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition floor

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