Estima Subs Galvao to Claim Title

One of grappling's most underrated and overlooked competitors, Braulio Estima has finally earned himself an Abu Dhabi title with a sensational inverted triangle submission over Andre Galvao in the 88-kilogram final.

Estima, the category's runner-up to Saulo Ribeiro in 2007, was aggressive from the beginning of the final, attacking Galvao constantly on top. When Galvao was able to sweep and get back to the feet, Estima quickly put him back on the mat with a slick single-leg takedown, and continued to push the pace despite not even being in the points period yet.

The end came swiftly and brilliantly, as Estima, playing bottom, was able to get his hips up from inverted guard and lock up an inverted triangle on Galvao. He threatened with a toe hold simultaneously, but it was the iron-clad upside-down triangle that forced the tap, and allowed Estima to avenge his loss to Galvao at the 2008 BJJ World Championships.

In the third place match-up, Rafael Lovato Jr. gamely opted to compete despite suffering a foot injury in his semi-final bout with Estima. However, David Avellan was competitively cutthroat, as he attacked Lovato Jr.'s injured foot with an achilles lock that forced a expeditious tap.