The 2026 Ontario Open International Jujitsu Championships saw a resilient showing from Bermuda’s Aries Sports Center, as four adult competitors took to the mats in a high-stakes weekend of grappling. While the podium remained elusive for some, the team secured a prestigious Gold Medal through a dominant performance in the Master’s Division.
The standout performer of the tournament was undoubtedly Roberto Carneiro, who delivered a clinical display of technical jiu-jitsu to claim the title in the Male Gi / Master 1 / Brown/Black / Middle Division.
Carneiro’s path to the gold was characterized by relentless scoring:
Quarter-Final: A crushing 19-1 victory over Maurice Gear (Orangeville BJJ).
Semi-Final: A repeat performance, dismantling Derek Woodruff (Pound4Pound) 19-1.
The Final: A much tighter tactical battle against Andrew Racine (Renzo Gracie Oama), where Carneiro showed his championship composure to edge a 2-1 victory and secure the gold.
It was a tougher day at the office for the rest of the adult contingent, who found themselves on the wrong side of narrow scorelines in highly competitive brackets.
In the Medium Heavy Division, Amani Wears showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately fell 5-2 to Devon Short of Gracie Humaita Bolton. Meanwhile, Trevor Smith pushed Jerome Yumul (NEO Martial Arts) to the limit in a high-scoring 11-8 encounter in the Super Heavyweight category.
Cyril Whitter III, competing in the Master 2 Light Division, faced a grueling double-header. Despite a spirited effort, he suffered a 9-4 defeat to Corey Mosenko before falling 11-4 to Ty Perrott of Big Country MMA.
The future of Aries Sports Center appears to be in safe hands, as the Youth Division saw the team’s younger athletes punch well above their weight.
Keely Carter was the star of the youth squad, capturing Gold with a performance described by coaches as both "composed and technical." She was joined on the podium by Alexis-Kennedy Higgins, who fought through a dense bracket to secure a hard-earned Bronze.
The tournament also provided a platform for rising talent:
Doniro Taylor produced one of the highlights of the weekend, securing an impressive submission victory in his opening match.
Zion Chapman made his competitive debut, gaining vital international experience as he began his journey on the circuit.
While the adult team returns with one gold, the collective performance in Ontario suggests Aries Sports Center is becoming a formidable force across both the veteran and youth levels of the sport.
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