With the long summer over and with everyone back training, the Southern Open was the first major tournament of the Autumn in the UK. Competitors had been eager to show their stuff after the long layoff and it showed. The super fight between Claudio 'Mineiro' Henrique from Brasa and Gracie Invitational brown belt winner, Nicolas Gregoriades from Roger Gracie Academy was fought at such a pace, even the crowd fell silent for a while with what apparently felt like shock. Claudio who makes his MMA debut in November came out with all guns blazing, taking Nic down twice in a matter of minutes, then almost getting his back a few times, going to the mount and placing on an ‘Americana’ only to be reversed and having to escape a choke and then escaping an arm bar himself. He eventually finished Nic with a choke in the final few seconds of the fight.

In the other super fight MMA fighter and Ze Marcello (BTT) Brown belt Danny batten, beat Gracie Barra’s Paul Bridges on points in a hard fought and very technical fight.

Fresh off his win in the Juvenile division at the Mundials, Braulio Estimas student Stephen Martin from Gracie Barra decided to enter the Adult division at the Blue belt Feather weight division and showed why he is one to look out for in the future. Sweeping aside strong opposition in Oliver Geddes and Sam Rice-Edwards from Roger Gracie Academy to win his division.

Another stand out from the tournament was Medium Heavy weight competitor in the white belt division, Delroy Mcdowell from BTT Ze Marcello. With a commanding performance and a large variety of take-downs, he won his division in what one competitor said “……. in style”.

Croation born MMA fighter and Roger Gracie blue belt Goran Reljic again repeated his dominating performance by winning the blue belt Super Heavy weight and the blue belt absolute division. Roger then awarded him his Purple Belt at the end of the competition.

The aim however by The European Fight Network for this tournament was the growth and future of BJJ in the UK. For the second time this year EFN held a Kids, Teen and Juniors division. With over 40 kids from the southern area of the United Kingdom, it was a chance to encourage the kids to make sure after we are gone, our beloved sport survives and are in safe hands.

(picture: Steve Haydock, Jude Samuel, Rodrigo Cabral, Felipe Souza, Roger Gracie and Thiago "Monstro" Borges)

Gracie Barra Derby gained 7 golds, 5 silvers and 2 bronzes to win the overall in the junior division.

A big thanks for all those that supported the event and helped run a very successful day.
Felipe Souza, Jon Shotter, Andy Roberts, Rui Abrantes, Max Lima, Daniel Strauss, Dickie Martin, Nic Brooks, Rob Stevens, Neil Owen, Paul Bridges, Oliver Geddes, Pippa Granger, Mike Taylor, Greg Sulznan, Alex Ashby.

All the Coaches: Ze Marcelo, Roger Gracie, Felipe Souza, Pedro Bessa, Tiago Bordes, Steve Haydock, Rob Stevens, Luiz (Brasa), Eduardo Carriello, Dickie Martin, Dave Broughton, Eduardo Ferreira and anyone that we have forgot to mention.

All pictures taken by James Oluoch-Olunya from Tsavo Photographic.
www.tsavophotographic.com

Northern Open will be in November!
Date: Sunday November 25th 2007

Venue:
Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre
and Golf Course
Alcester Road South
Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 6ER

Registration begin will begin next week.


Junior Teams 1st 2nd 3rd Total


Gracie Barra Derby 7 5 2 80
Team Brasa Wales 2 2 4 28
Roger Gracie Academy 1 2 5 20
Applied Fighting Systems 1 1 10
Brasa 0 1 0 3


Adult Tam Results 1st 2nd 3rd Total


Roger Gracie Academy 5 7 4 70
BTT Ze Marcello 3 3 0 36
Gracie Barra Derby 3 1 2 32
Brasa Wales @ Akins academy 2 2 1 25
Carlson Gracie Bjj Revolution Team 2 2 1 25
Ricardo Da Silva jiu jitsu 2 0 1 19
Nova Forca 1 1 1 13
Brasa 1 1 0 12
Carlson Gracie London 1 1 0 12
Pedro Bessa Jiu Jitsu 1 1 0 12
Applied Fighting Systems 1 0 2 11
Nova Uniao 1 0 0 9
Gracie Barra Birmingham 1 0 0 9
Pedro Bessa Exeter 1 0 0 9
Torbay BJJ Team Pedro Bessa 0 2 0 6
Brixton MMA 0 1 1 4
Brazilian Top Team Slough 0 1 0 3
Gracie Barra Hastings 0 1 0 3
Reading Reapers 0 1 0 3
Shen-ti Academies 0 1 0 3
Gracie Barra Lagarto 0 0 2 2
Carriello Jiu-Jitsu 0 0 1 1
Lagarto Doncaster 0 0 1 1
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