Nicholas Meregali Outscores Victor Hugo To Win $40k At IBJJF Absolute GP

Nicholas Meregali scored a late sweep over Victor Hugo in Friday night's IBJJF Absolute Grand Prix final, defeating the 2023 IBJJF double gold world champion via points to win $40,000.

Meregali and jiu-jitsu fans alike had been clamoring for the matchup, as Meregali claimed he would prove that, despite skipping the World Championships in June, he was the best grappler in the World. 

Both Meregali and Hugo had sensational runs on their way to the final, winning each of their two matches via submssion. Meregali hit a smother choke on Francisco Lo, then a collar choke from the back on Gutemberg Pereira. Hugo secured an ezekiel choke victory over Horlando Montiero, then a triangle armbar over heavyweight world champ Felipe Andrew, clocking a total of 2 minutes, 28 seconds of mat time across the two matches.

Meregali, who won the 2022 IBJJF absolute world title, returned to gi competition at Pans this year where he took double gold with five submissions in six matches. But that was his only major tournament on the year.

Meanwhile, Victor Hugo became the first athlete to earn double gold at Brasileiros and Worlds in the same year, securing submission in both. That also made him the first athlete since Roger Gracie in 2009 to win the Worlds absolute final via submission.

Meregali stands to reclaim the No.1 pound-for-pound spot in the rankings from Hugo after the head to head victory.