It’s time for the girls. GRACIEMAG at the Worlds blog puts the female brown/black division under the microscope. Weight group by weight group, Ivan Trindade offers his predictions on who will make it to the final to win the gold.
Gabrielle wants to be the big name of the female division in 2010
Beyond that, Ivan analyses how each athlete will show up at Long Beach. As with the men’s division, the female competitors are divided into three categories.
“The Champion” addresses 2009’s winner.
“The Challengers” analyses those athletes with the greatest chances of making it to the top of the winners’ podium.
“The Underdogs” rounds out the analysis describing who could surprise the favorites.
As with the article on the men, before launching an outcry against the editor, keep in mind that the forecast is not cheering, just predicting.
Here we go!
Light featherweight
The champion: four-time champion Leticia Ribeiro (GH) announced over Twitter that she is training hard with the academy’s female team, which happens to be the current three-time female team champion. Leticia has nothing more to prove, but wants her fourth world title in what will be her 13th World Championship.
Letícia celebrates in 2009
The Challengers: Michelle Nicolini (CheckMat) is the main threat to Leticia’s legacy. 2007’s champion and current Pan-American champion has the game and CV to keep the champion’s hands full.
The Underdogs: The hairless Nyjah Easton (Lloyd Irvin), silver at the 2010 Pan and bronze at the 2009 Worlds could be the dark horse. Claudia Martinez-Kvembo (C-Quence JJ) and Japan’s Takako Abe (Paraestra), who are signed up and won medals at the Pan, are also world mentioning.
Prediction for final: Leticia Ribeiro vs Michelle Nicolini
Champion: Michelle Nicolini
Featherweight
The Champion: Bianca Barreto Andrade (GB) wants her sixth world title to equal Hannette Staack’s record. Her winning the Brazilian Nationals three weeks before the Worlds shows how her game is up to speed. There’s no free meal in the division, though.
Bianca, 2009's champion
The Underdogs: France’s Laurence Cousin (Behring) has been somewhat out of the spotlight, but she’s a name that commands respect.
Prediction for final: Bianca Andrade vs Ana Michelle Dantas
Champion: Bianca Andrade
Lightweight
The champion: Luanna Alzuguir (Alliance) wants her second world title. As she disputed the Brazilian Nationals at middleweight – a division still an unknown for the Worlds –, she is signed up as a lightweight. Her well-known technique and recently-acquired strength make her a firm favorite in both divisions.
There may be a sequel of 2009's final in the lightweight division
The Challengers: Kyra Gracie (GB) is back and has what it takes to make it to the final with Luanna again. Adding to the trio of favorites, girl-sensation Beatriz Mesquita (GH), who also could compete at middleweight, shows up in Long Beach with one more year of experience and the right tools to win her first Worlds in the upper division. Lightweight is the toughest female division, without a doubt.
The Underdogs: Juliana Borges (ATT) and Sophia McDermott (Drysdale JJ) may still be a ways from the gold, but they will cause the favorites some problems.
Prediction for final: Luanna Alzuguir vs Kyra Gracie
Champion: Luanna Alzuguir
Middleweight
The Champion: Hannette Staack (Brazil 021) is out. The six-time champion’s absence leaves the category wide open.
Hillary is a favorite at middleweight
The Challengers: Should she fight as a middleweight, Luanna Alzuguir is the favorite. Should the beast from Alliance go in as a lightweight, the USA’s Hillary Williams (West Side MMA) will have a clear path to her first World Championship.
The Underdogs: Mônica Vanessa (Sandro Bala) and CheckMat teammates Ida Hanson and Luiza Monteiro also show up with a good chance at winning medals. Emily Kwok-Hurtado (Marcelo Garcia) is also worth mentioning.
Prediction for final: Hillary Williams vs Luiza Monteiro
Champion: Hillary Williams
Medium Heavyweight
The Champion: Penny Thomas (GH) disappeared lately. Since last September’s ADCC 2009, when she was runner-up to Hannette, the South African hasn’t entered any major gi competitions. But living in San Diego and training with Leticia and Co., she is indubitably ready to defend her title.
Penny, onValerie's back, wants to return full blast
The Challengers: Valerie Worthington (Carlson Gracie) shows up with her Pan 2010 title and Worlds 2009 second place as credentials. The unknown in the division, however, answers to the name Ana Laura Cordeiro (GB). The sensation from the Brazilian capital of Brasilia and champion in 2008 has been away from competition for two years. Could she make her return this year?
The Underdogs: Fernanda Mazzelli (Striker JJ / Goes) and Carolina de Lazzer (Sul JJ) are two solid names in the female medium heavyweight division.
Prediction for final: Penny Thomas vs Valerie Worthington
Champion: Penny Thomas
Heavyweight
The Champion: The USA’s Lana Stefanac (Trinity BJJ) returns to Long Beach targeting her second world title and wants revenge for her loss to Gabrielle Garcia (Alliance) at the Abu Dhabi World Pro. It should be a great battle.
Lana to pressure for her second world title
The Challengers: 2008’s winner, Gabrielle wants her second against Lana to show who runs the division. Her wins in Abu Dhabi and at the Pan 2010 make her a co-favorite. Luzia Fernandes (GB) should also be in the gold-medal mix.
The Underdogs: The tough Luciana Dias (GH) and the USA’s Katrina Weilbacher (Paragon) are signed up and could throw a wrench in the two favorites’ campaigns.
Prediction for final: Gabrielle Garcia vs Lana Stefanac
Champion: Gabrielle Garcia
Absolute
Champion: Lana Stefanac should face someone of her size this year and won’t have it easy. But she’s a favorite in the open weight division as well.
2009's absolute final was exciting and curious
The Challengers: Gabrielle is a serious challenger to Lana’s post. But we can’t overlook the talent of Luzia, Luanna, Kyra and Hillary, all with the potential to have a solid showing in the absolute.
The Underdogs: Luciana Dias and Katrina Weilbacher should enter the open weight division to further spice up the show. And who knows? Maybe Ana Laura Cordeiro will show up to show her mettle.
Prediction for final: Lana Stefanac vs Gabrielle Garcia
Champion: Gabrielle Garcia
There you have GRACIEMAG at the Worlds Blog editor Ivan Trindade’s predictions. Agree, disagree, remind of us someone left out and, mainly, offer your predictions in the comments section.
We’ll see you in Long Beach!
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