One of the greatest misconceptions about BJ Penn's jiu-jitsu is that, due to his exceptional lower body flexibility and control, Penn's bottom game is more advanced than his top game.
If anything, Penn's top control - guard passing and finishes from dominant positions - better characterize his jiu-jitsu than submissions from the guard.
Here's a sample of the former. A great insight into guard passing fundamentals.
Here I'm sampling some of the more interesting contests. I'm especially highlighting some of the top competitors that DIDN'T make the podium, let alone the finals. This is all the more unfortunate insofar as the division suffered one of the event's infamous first place close-outs with Alexssandro Pinto Sodre of Nova Uniao and Raimundo Diego Pinto Sodre of Nova Uniao taking first and second respectively without contest.
Richard Emiliano Nogueira and teammate Thiago Augusto Araujo Macedo closed out third place
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Kennedy Leonardo Maciel v Richard Emiliano Nogueira
Richard Emiliano Nogueira v. Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor
Isaac Doederlein v. Alexsssandro Pinto Sodre
Raimundo Diego Pinto Sodre v. Richard Emiliano Nogueira
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| Photo Credit: RVCA |
Tainan Dalpra (Art of Jiu-Jitsu) was one of the biggest sensations at the Pan American championships this year. He won the World championship last year, and did not disappoint with his performance this year at the Pan.
Here's a look at his gold medal winning campaign this spring as he won the Middleweight division at the IBJJF Pan. (FloGrappling subscription required).
Finals
TAINAN DALPRA VS JEFERSON GUARESI
Semifinals
TAINAN DALPRA COSTA vs RONALDO PEREIRA DE SOUZA JÚNIOR
Quaterfinals
TAINAN DALPRA COSTA vs EDUARDO AVELAR DE CARVALHO
Elimination
ROBERTO FRANCISCO JIMENEZ vs TAINAN DALPRA COSTA
First up is "my" division: Black Belt Featherweight | Master 5. I always want to see what competitors my size and rank are up to first.
Black Belt Feather | Master 5
Finals