With Kyra Gracie out of the picture, Luanna Alzuguir took the opportunity to take home another title, knocking off Sayaka Shioda to win the under-60-kilo women's category.

Alzuguir, who beat the aforementioned Gracie at this year's Mundials, was consummate offensively and defensively against the well-rounded Shioda, but failed to to score any points as she couldn't pass the guard cleanly to achieve dominant position. She also appeared to be fatiguing, as Shioda fell into a guillotine -- a weapon of choice for Alzuguir -- but the BJJ world champion simply looked to hold on rather than extend her hips and pursue the submission.

With time waning in the final, Alzuguir got active from the bottom and was able to smoothly sweep and take the back from full guard, scoring the necessary three points to take the title over 2007's under-55-kilo champ from Japan.

In the third place bout, Hillary Williams utilized some nasty guard passing late against Laurence Cousins to get dominant position, and take a 9-0 victory to reach the podium.

Make it two titles in a row for Hannette Staack Quadros.

After taking the over-67-kilogram title as well as the women's absolute in 2007, Staack closed down shop in 2009 brilliantly against Penny Thomas, threatening the submission from the opening moments of their bout.

Staack instantly took the back of her South African adversary and diligently worked for the rear-naked choke over the bout's opening minutes. After Thomas slipped out the back and escaped, Staack dove for Thomas' leg and worked for a kneebar with the same tactical precision over the following minutes.

Despite all her best attempts to escape, Thomas eventually slipped down to the mat on her backside, allowing Staack to extend her hips and force the tap to win the division.

In the battle for third place, Cristiane Santos won on negative points against Rosangela Conceicao. In a bout that was virtually entirely standing, neither woman was able to get any clean takedowns, by Santos' willingness to engage and push the action -- or rather Conceicao's lack thereof -- made the difference.