The Turris Invitational hasn’t even debuted and it already has an international stage. The event, set for November 14 at Upper Arena in Rio de Janeiro, will be streamed live on FloGrappling, one of the biggest Jiu-Jitsu streaming platforms on the planet. Landing that partnership for the very first edition shows how big the competition has become in Rio’s scene before a single match has taken place.
FloGrappling is the go-to broadcaster for the sport’s biggest events worldwide, bringing fans the season’s top tournaments, like the IBJJF’s The Crown, set for November in California. Having the platform on board for a debut edition signals the project’s ambition: it promises up-and-coming athletes the same exposure usually reserved for elite championships.
A STAGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION: TURRIS INVITATIONAL BETS ON COLORED BELTS WITH R$ 100,000 ON THE LINE
The Turris Invitational’s goal is to put the spotlight on athletes who almost never get one: colored belts. Created by lawyer and businessman Eduardo Turris, one of Jiu-Jitsu’s biggest supporters, the event will put R$ 100,000 on the line in a night designed as a show, bringing together business owners, sponsors and officials around the sport. The program features two competitions on the same night, each with its own prizes and bonuses.
The first is the GP Prix, whose card is already set. The winner takes home R$ 3,000, the runner-up R$ 1,500, and third and fourth place get R$ 500 each, for a total of R$ 5,500 in placement prizes alone. The second is a set of superfights, gi and no-gi, held on a single mat so every match gets the full attention of the crowd and the cameras.
FINISH FAST, EARN MORE: BONUSES REWARD THOSE WHO END THE MATCH EARLY
The Turris Invitational’s prize structure rewards offense. In the GP, a submission is worth a R$ 300 bonus if it comes within one minute, R$ 200 within two minutes and R$ 150 after that. In the superfights, the amounts are higher: R$ 500, R$ 400 and R$ 150 for the same time windows. On top of that, 15 different athletes will receive special R$ 500 awards, one per athlete, in either the GP or the superfights.
For young athletes, who often pay for entry fees and travel out of their own pockets, prize money is a rare incentive on the colored-belt circuit. Among the names already announced is Isaque Lima, just 15 years old, considered one of the breakout talents of the new generation. The card also features a no-gi rematch between Júlio César Suzigan and Mateus Alexandrino, two rising prospects.
TICKET TO THE U.S.: TWO ATHLETES CAN EARN A TRAINING STINT AT GRACIE SPORTS
The prize that could change careers goes beyond money. Carla Gracie and Deborah Gracie will attend the event, and two athletes may be selected to train at Gracie Sports in Connecticut, in the United States. The package includes sponsorship, round-trip airfare, lodging for 15 days to a month and support to compete on U.S. soil, at events such as the Pans, the gi and no-gi Worlds, IBJJF Opens and ADCC tournaments.
Rio de Janeiro is in the middle of a busy Jiu-Jitsu season. In October, the city hosted the Rio Spring, where Filipinho Assis and Livia Barasine swept their divisions and won double gold at black belt. First-batch tickets for the Turris Invitational cost R$ 100 for half-price, R$ 200 for full price and R$ 1,000 for the VIP area, on sale through the link on the event’s official profile. With the broadcast confirmed, every athlete on the card will have the chance to show their game to fans, coaches and organizers around the world, and a strong performance in front of the cameras could open doors to invitations and sponsorships.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
