Emmanuela Oliveira 
Matheus Gabriel and Francisco Lo were the big stars of the adult black-belt division at the IBJJF Waco Open, a Jiu-Jitsu competition, with Gi and No Gi matches, that took place this weekend in Texas.
The IBJJF world champion Matheus Gabriel returned to the competitive scene this season after a year away due to a knee injury. Now recovered, Matheus was the champ in the weight class and in the absolute at the Lisbon Open, in Portugal, winning all of his fights by submission. Now, at the competition in Texas, Matheus took first place in the open class. A podium that he shared with two other Checkmat training partners, Francisco Lo and Matheus Rodrigues, both bronze medalists.
In the lightweight division, Checkmat athletes once again topped the podium, with Matheus Gabriel taking first place on the division results. Matheus Rodrigues came in next with silver. Francisco Lo, competing in the Gi, in the ultra-heavyweight division, was crowned champion after defeating Jonathan Taylor, from Nemesis Jiu-Jitsu.
In the No Gi matches of the Waco Open, the winner of the gold medal in open class was Francisco Lo, who closed out the final with Matheus Gabriel. In the ultra-heavyweight, with Lo, and in the middleweight, with Gabriel, Checkmat scored more first place points.
