Nathalie Ribeiro wins battle against nemesis Ffion Davies

jiujiteiramagazine April 11, 2022 2 min read

With their hearts on the mats, the high level Jiujiteiras put on a show of skills, determination and endurance in an intense battle for the title of World Champion at IBJJF PAN 2022

Story and Photos by Evelyn Sutton

The most anticipated final of the women’s black belt division at IBJJF PAN 2022 this past weekend was, without a doubt, the battle between Nathalie Ribeiro and Ffion Davies. Both athletes are very popular in our community and enjoy a loyal following that cheers them on and supports them at every tournament.

Surrounded by such a passionate crowd of fans and press, the champions did not disappoint those who were eager to watch their performance.

Emotions ran high the entire match. The expressions in their faces made it clear just how significant this match was for both women.

In the past, the ladies have battled each other in multiple occasions with Ffion proving herself the superior grappler at every one of those matches. It’s not surprising that Nathalie was hesitant to go against the champion in the final at PAN this year.

Having finally defeated her nemesis, Nathalie, who is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was overwhelmed with emotion and a profound sense of accomplishment, she couldn’t stop smiling at the podium.

Ffion on the other hand, was obviously disappointed with second place. Regardless of the result, the Welsh grappler continues to be considered as one of the most inspiring and talented competitors of her generation, having won many major titles in her career, including gold at the IBJJF European Open and CBJJ Brazilian Nationals.

Affectionately known as Tata Ribeiro, this is the Brazilian athlete’s second gold win at PAN as a black belt, having won both Gi and NoGi PAN last year.

A high stakes duel, at any moment, circumstances could quickly change making it impossible for the spectators to take their eyes off the mats. Everyone in the audience was holding their breath. The ladies put on a display of high level attacks and defense techniques that clearly showcased the evolution women’s Jiu-Jitsu is currently experiencing.

In the end, Nathalie won the Gold by 2 points advantage with a sweep that gave her the edge.

Watch the match on FloGrappling

For all results visit IBJJF