Lucas Pinheiro adjusts the choke. bjjmentality
The first competition of the year was a golden one for Lucas Pinheiro. With two fights and two submissions, the Manaus native became a four-time champion of the IBJJF’s Austin International Open, whose 2019 edition was held last weekend at the Round Rock Sports Center in Texas.
For this tourney, the roosterweight needed to move up in weight division, as there were no opponents signed up in his. Now the Atos fighter plans to fight two more Opens before the Pan, which is slated to take place in March in California.
“I had to move up to featherweight and felt the weight difference a bit,” he said. “My opponents were much heavier and stronger, but I felt really good in the competition and everything worked out in the end.”
In the final, against Brandon Walker, Lucas worked until achieving control from the top while Brandon played half-guard. With lots of pressure, Lucas managed to get his leg out, pass the lapel and choke at the very end, securing the title.
Watch it here:
