Fellipe Andrew wins with two subs on 32nd birthday
The two-time world champion took heavyweight gold at the IBJJF Orange County Fall Open two weeks before The Crown in Long Beach
Fellipe Andrew spent his 32nd birthday on the mats and left with another gold medal. On Saturday (Oct. 24), the two-time world champion won the heavyweight division at the IBJJF Orange County Fall Open in Costa Mesa, California, submitting both opponents he faced.
The win came two weeks before The Crown, the invitation-only event where he became the first heavyweight champion in 2023.
Two matches, ten minutes apart
The heavyweight bracket had three athletes, and Fellipe was the top seed. Samir Abdol Kader of Carlson Gracie Team beat Dory Raymond Aoun of Lucas Leite/Hustle BJJ Santa Ana in the opening match and moved on to the final. Dory got a second chance against Fellipe, who submitted him to reach the final.
Against Samir, it was the same story. Fellipe won gold by submission, and both of his matches were scheduled on the same mat, just ten minutes apart.
Competing for Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club, Fellipe did not enter the open class.
A birthday with a medal
IBJJF shared his matches throughout the day and later posted an interview with the champion about his wins and his preparation for Long Beach. In the caption, the federation wrote: “No better way to celebrate a birthday than with all submission wins!”
Fellipe celebrated in the comments too, posting his new age next to a cake and a gold medal. On the title post, he wrote: “Time to celebrate.”
Back after surgery
The gold in California adds to a strong comeback. In September, Fellipe won the Master 1 heavyweight title at the IBJJF Master Worlds in Las Vegas, just months after two lower back surgeries. At the time, he told VF Comunica his weight had dropped to about 85 kg (187 lbs) after the operations, and that two or three months before the title, he couldn’t get out of bed.
What’s next in Long Beach
On November 8, at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Fellipe returns to The Crown looking for his second heavyweight crown. The eight-man bracket includes defending champion Nolan Stuart and Leo Ferreira, who picked Fellipe as his opponent for the final in an exclusive interview with VF Comunica. Leo beat Fellipe 2-0 at BJJ Stars in 2025.
Each division champion at The Crown takes home $20,000.
On the same Saturday in Costa Mesa, another Crown athlete went the submission route: Andy Murasaki won the medium-heavy division and heads to Long Beach chasing a third straight middleweight title.
Is Fellipe Andrew the favorite at heavyweight? Let us know in the comments.
Read also
- Fellipe Andrew wins Master Worlds after two back surgeries
- Leo Ferreira picks Fellipe Andrew for the Crown final: “Our match at BJJ Stars left some doubts”
- Andy Murasaki submits both opponents, rolls into The Crown
