Men's Finals

Finals have started in Barcelona.

The first one is Fabricio Werdum against Roberto Cyborg. Cyborg started off better, took Werdum’s back and almost mounted. Roberto then went for a triangle and Werdum escaped, getting top position. It is a 20-minute battle and Cyborg spent lots of energy right off the bat.

Werdum controlled in half guard for pretty much most of the time before the scoring started, and passed twice to open a 6-0 lead. 9-0. Same recipe, back to the half and passed again. “Cavalo” (“Horse”) is getting close to his second victory. And there you have it. Fabricio Werdum is the over 99kg champion.

Werdum, who now lives in the US but resided in Madrid for years, then goes for a speech in Spanish, thanking all “catalonians”.

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Xande Ribeiro and Gerard Rinaldi are now battling for the -99kg gold. Xande is in an under hook half guard. Rinaldi seems stable. Now Xande goes for a deep half guard, and Rinardi looks for a kneebar attempt. Xande defends and gets top position. Rinaldi amazingly goes for an omoplata and is able to stand.

Half guard again, now Rinaldi tries a kimura, Xande almost ends on top. Back in Xande’s 1/2 guard. Xande finally gets a sweep (2-0) but Rinaldi scrambles and is back on top. Rinaldi attacks Xande’s back, but the current champion defends well and almost goes on top. Rinaldi is now trying a kimura, Xande defends and almost sweeps. It’s a chess game, not really active but very technical. Xande is capitalizing on Rinaldi’s attacks and he’s the champion.

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Andre Galvao and Braulio Estima engage. Romulo Barral is commentating on the webcast. Galvao pulls guard. Braulio goes for the footlock, but Galvao defends well. Now it’s Galvao’s turn for the foot attack, but Braulio is able to defend as well and he’s still on top. Another sweep attempt connecting to a leg attack by Andre, but Braulio handles it.

Nice attempts by both sides. Galvao sweeps, Braulio goes for an armbar and they are back on their feet. Galvao is playing guard again. They stand, and Braulio takes Galvao down, but they are not counting points yet. Galvao sweeps back. Galvao tries to pass, but Braulio countered with a nasty inverted triangle and TAPS Galvao!

Braulio is the <88kg champion.

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Pablo Popovitch starts taking Marcelo Garcia down immediately but Garcia quickly goes for an armbar and sweeps. Expect lots of action in this one. Pablo is back on top, Garcia heel hooks and sweeps again. The champion goes for a crucifix, a back attempt and he’s back in Pablo’s guard. Popovitch sweeps beautifully. Fight calms down, Marcelo kind of got stuck on bottom, 0-0 so far.

Garcia opens the scoring with an omoplata sweep (2-0). They both stand. Garcia pulls guard right away. Popovitch stops the match for the second time claiming a poke to his left eye. Action resumes with Pablo frustrated inside’s Garcia’s open guard, not heading anywhere. Popovitch PASSES in the last second, scores three points and he is the new <77kg champion!

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Here we go, another bout between Rubens Cobrinha and Rafael Mendes. Mendes is a black belt for a year and has fought Cobrinha five times already, the fourth, before this one, with a gi. Cobrinha starts with a takedown, but no points are being counted in the first 10 minutes and Rafa comes with the first submission attempts. First he gives Cobrinha trouble with a d’arce choke. Cobrinha escapes somehow. Mendes then heel hooks him. Cobrinha defends and he is still in the game. They are standing, Cobrinha goes for a beatiful sweep but Mendes counters with another tight d’arce choke. It takes a while, but Cobrinha frees his head again.

In their previous matches, Cobrinha always complained that Rafael was trying just to hold him down but I don’t think he could say the same for this one. So far, all submission attempts were from Mendes. They are now standing. 0-0. They exchange sweeps, Mendes ends on top. Cobrinha now goes for the heel hook and they roll across the entire area once. The referee stops it and gets them back to the same position and the same thing happens. They get back to rolling again and Cobrinha switches for a sweep attempt. And gets it. Mendes keeps his attacks, now a weird kimura with Cobrinha’s leg locked, which Cobrinha escapes. Mendes sweeps and goes for another choke but Cobrinha escapes and sweeps back, scoring the points also (4-4). They go for the overtime.

Overtime is all both guys standing so far. Nothing happens and they go for the second overtime. Pretty boring, with Mendes playing guard, until he gets the sweep, and takes Cobrinha’s back standing! 3-0 but he doesn’t stop, locks in the body triangle and keeps trying for the choke on the ground. Time ends and Rafael Mendes is the <66kg champion. Remarkable victory for the young kid, who went after victory from the start.

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