The second of 11 international qualifiers for the Abu Dhabi Pro was held in Auckland city – AUT North Shore on Sunday 22th of November. For the first time, New Zealand could show-off its potential to the world in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Two champions will be travelling for free to compete in Abu Dhabi in April next year and another eighteen competitors qualified including the New Zealand Director Douglas Santos to represent NZ in The Abu Dhabi Pro, the world’s richest and most prestigious Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament offering over $200,000 in cash and prizes.

All this became possible thanks to the personal support of his Highness the Supreme Prince and Commander In Chief of the United Arab Emirates National Army, H. H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

100 competitors and a good several hundred spectators came to watch and compete for the first time in the NZWorld Cup level competition took place at AUT Recreation center, The competition start with the Opens divisions.

In the white/blue belt open division there was a show of technique and heart . The Pacific Islanders showed why they are called Warriors and after a war the semi-finals was defined.
Brandon Ropati and Vance Miller made a very exciting final with Brandon proving size does matter having 10kg more on Vance taking the big prize.

The most exciting division of the day was the purple,brown and black belts. Graham Wearea and Hemi Pou both Purple belts were ready for the final. Both were very strong and technical at the same time, Graham with a very dangerous arm lock from the guard passed by the black belt Murray Bellenden and with the same arm lock beat Hemi Pou to get his free ticket to Abu Dhabi , one more Maori going to The Emirates.

Since the two free tickets had been claimed the remaining competitors had the hopes to qualify for the overseas tournament, the big fights continued division by division, competitors still determined to get a place to represent NZ at the World Cup. Once again a fantastic show of talent, technique and passion from this side of the Pacific. Some of the competitors after the Opens still found the energy to fight for the weight division Brandon Ropati showed a good demonstration of this and won not only the Open division for white/blue but also his own weight division. The final results another 18th competitors very hungry to fight in Abu Dhabi and may be make the first Brazilian JiuJitsu with GI (Kimono) champion from NZ.

The final results end up like that:

Campeoesqualificados:

MEN >> White 68 kg -

1. ninowattrelot (DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

2. Luke Smith(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

MEN >> White 73 kg -

1.Andrew Husmann (will/machado)

2.Phillip Brown(graciebarra)

3.Renato Ribeiro Gomes( DOUGLASSANTOS BJJ

MEN >> White 78 kg-

1. RemoGuerri(Tukaha)

2.Christian Hoffmann(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

3.Jaroslav Botka(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

MEN >> White 83 kg-

1.Carlo Meister(Will Machado)

2.neroni mack(graciebarra west)

3.Bradley So(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

MEN >> White 88 kg-

1.Scott Sherer(Will Machado)

2.kelvin watson(Will Machado)

3.Nick Wong(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

MEN >> White 93 kg-

1.James Dobbs(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

2.Luke Ruha( DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ ACADE..

MEN >> White OVER 98 kg-

1.david russell(Gracie Barra)

2.Tyler Kratz(HB MMA)

MEN >> Blue 63 kg-

1.Raymond Massa(Combat Room)

2.Guo Wei Loh(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ ACADE..

MEN >> Blue 68 kg-

1.Nick Siu(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ ACADE…

2.Richard Barnett(Gracie Barra)

3.rhys izett( GRACIE BARRA)

MEN >> Blue 78 kg-

1.Patrick Te Tau(Will Machado)

2.Raymond Gamboa(VPF )

3.Damian Lee Smith(GRACIE BARRA)

MEN >> Blue 83 kg-

1.Vance miller(Gracie Barra)

2.Ash Taylor(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ ACADE…

3.Rhys Radovanovich(GRACIE BARRA)

MEN >> Blue 88 kg-

1.Joshua Sergeant(Gracie Barra)

2.Michael Dove(Gracie Barra)

3.Lee Warden(TUKAHA)

MEN >> Blue 93 kg-

1.BrandonRopati(Gracie Barra)

2.Des Briggs(COMBAT ROOM)

MEN >> Blue 98 kg-

1.Bobby Mules(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ ACADE…

2.Blair Bidois(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ ACADE..

MEN >> Blue OVER 98 kg-

1.Jason Walker(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

2.Reece Vesty( TUKAHA)

MEN >> Purple 75 kg-

1.benjamin aldridge(Gracie Barra)

2.Michael Hourigan(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

3.Alex Scott( COMBAT ROOM)

MEN >> Purple Over 85 kgs-

1.MikeSethna(Tukaha)

2.Andrew Craven(Will Machado)

3.Hemi Pou(WILL/MACHADO

MEN >> Black 85 kg-

1.MurrayBallenden(Will Machado)

2.Bruno Corvello(DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ

ACADEMYS champions-

1. GRACIE BARRA
2. DOUGLAS SANTOS BJJ ACADEMY
3.WILL/MACHADO

CAMPEAO ABSOLUTO , ROXA , MARROM , PRETA= Graham Waerea ( GRACIE BARRA )

CAMPEAO ABSOLUTO BRANCA, AZUL= Brandon Ropati (GRACIE BARRA)

The 2nd Abu Dhabi World Professional JiuJitsu Cup will be held on the 15th, 16th and 17th of April 2010.

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