News & Blog

Gunnar won silver in Men's Brown Belt Middle Weight at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Mundials) today after losing the finals against Gabriel Goulart on close points. Gunnars first match today was against Alexander Vamos, a match were Gunnar secured his win with a choke. His next match was a rematch against last year World Champion Ryan Beauregard but yesterday Gunnar lost a match against Ryan in the Open Class division. And Gunnar was not going to lose against Ryan again and today Gunnar was winning the match on points when Ryan was DQ’ed for pushing Gunnar after the referee had momentarily stopped the fight. Gunnar continued on his way to the finals winning Vinicius Corrales and Bruno Allen in the semi finals. In the finals Gunnar met Gabriel Goulart in a great match. Gunnar was winning with 2 advantages but with only 30 seconds left of the match Gabriel was given 2 points to take the World Championship after Gunnar had tried an armbar from the top but ending up on bottom with Gabriel in his guard. Again we’ll let a commentary from the Renzo Gracie forum do the talking about Gunnar’s day at the Mundials:
"An unlucky draw saw two RGA team members face each other in the first round: Alex Vamos from Joe D'arce's school and our favorite Viking friend Gunnar Nelson.
Alex attacked hard Gunni's legs, but the good technique and flexibility of the Icelandic wonder nullified every submission attempt and cruised to win the match.
Gunni's good start turned out to be a good omen.
He proceeded to crush with cool temperament all his sequent opponents.
In a much anticipated rematch from the previous day's absolute, Gunni had the chance to face again high caliber US fighter Ryan Beauregard.
Just to refresh everyone's memory Gunni lost by a weak ref call the previous day when Ryan was awarded 2points from a drop seoi nage that we all felt was incomplete.
With Gunni this time up on points Ryan attempted a dbl leg take down towards the end of the tatame perimeter. Gunni's reflexes stuffed brilliantly the shot and the ref momentarily asked the competitors to stop fighting to bring back the action to the middle of the mat.
Ryan, unprovoked by an always stone faced Gunnar, pushed violently our teammate on the chest towards the bleachers.
The ref following IBJJF regulation DQed Ryan on the spot, and raised Gunnar's hand in victory.
The final match of the middle weight brown belt division saw Gunnar face Fabio's Gurgel's pupil and 2008 Middle Weight and Absolute Purple belt champ Gabriel Goulart. As the match started Gunni's strong passes were matched by a very technical spider guard by Gabriel. The crowd was going crazy; in one side all the Alliance SP guys with Gurgel in command on the other side the RGA/GB crowd with Master Renzo and old pal Vinicius Draculino yelling strategy to our fighter.
The match was decided by a last minute scramble. Over a strong sweep attempt by Gabriel, Gunnar latched on a tight inverted armbar.
Time stood still. The arm was almost extended, when Gabriel tried a last second pull to free the arm. Gunnar fell and the Alliance representative gained the two points that 30sec later will crown him the new 2009 Middle weight brown belt champ.
Great run by Gunnar, who was just one win short of winning a Triple Crown of Jiu-Jitsu if such a thing exists by medaling in every major BJJ competition in the US this year."

Gunnar Nelson (silver), Gabriel Goulart (gold), Diego Vivaldo Ferreira (bronz) and Bruno Allen (bronz).