More than 300 athletes from more than 30 countries competed in the event.

Marbella resident Babak Alimoradian took Gold in the Jiu Jitsu World Championships in Jiu Jitsu in Abu Dhabi – 2011

The World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup 2011 was the third annual installment of the largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event in the world, with a combined prize fund of one million US dollars.

Babak Alimoradian, who competed for Team Draculino of Marbella, in the blue belt, - 80kg division competed with 70 athletes from all over the world and had to win a total of 6 fights to win the title.

At 36, Babak was one of the veterans competing with much younger opponents in the open adult division, the majority of them between 20 and 25 years old.

Babak takes victory in the final!

The final was against Youssef Lamrani, an Olympic judo black belt from Morocco. In a  close contest Babak took the title 7 - 4. Babak had been accompanied by his two brothers, father and Brazilian coach from Marbella Thelmo Naranjo who gave him all the support he needed

Babak has been actively competing in wrestling for more than 20 years starting at age of 7. He started jiu jitsu just under two years ago  winning the Open European title in Lisbon in January.