After profitable gold on the gi Worlds and double gold on the no-gi Worlds, Ffion Davies is the 2023 Feminine Grappler of the 12 months.
Ffion Davies got here into 2023 broadly thought to be the highest pound-for-pound feminine jiu-jitsu competitor on the earth, and she or he’ll begin 2024 with that very same distinction.
Following her first gi world title and ADCC gold medal in 2022, expectations have been excessive for the Welsh grappler this 12 months. Regardless of only a few pace bumps alongside the best way, she largely lived as much as – and even surpassed these expectations as she turned in one other banner 12 months to cement her standing as an all-time nice.
Along with her elite takedowns, relentless pacing, and seemingly unstoppable high recreation, the 28-year-old seems to have all the abilities and correct mindset to stay on the high of the game for a while.
Ffion Davies in 2023
Davies’s first competitors of the 12 months was the talent-stacked 66kg grand prix at Polaris 24. After taking out Giovanna Jara by factors within the first spherical, she suffered a submission loss to the always-dangerous Elisabeth Clay. That might mark her first of simply three losses in 2023.
The remaining two defeats of Davies’s 12 months would come subsequent, on the IBJJF Pans. She was submitted by multiple-time world champion Ana Carolina Vieira within the absolute division, and, within the closing of the light-weight division, fell towards Luiza Monteiro.
Davies would go on a tear for the rest of the 12 months.
On the IBJJF Worlds, she submitted two of 4 opponents to say her second gi world title in as a few years.
After that, she returned to no-gi and the Who’s Quantity One (WNO) stage to defend her flyweight title towards Jasmine Rocha. Though tensions ran excessive earlier than that match, Davies placed on a cool, collected, and medical efficiency over the course of 15 dominant minutes to retain her WNO belt.
Davies closed out her 12 months with maybe the perfect single-tournament efficiency of her profession – and one of many best performances of any grappler in latest reminiscence.
In December, on the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, she dominated the light-weight division and gained 4 matches within the absolute division to mark an unforgettable double-gold outing. Notably, within the closing of absolutely the division, Davies submitted middleweight champion Gabi McComb in one of many 12 months’s most thrilling matches.
In the end, it was Davies’ success throughout each gi and no-gi competitors, in addition to her sturdy showings towards bigger opponents, that earned her the Grappler of the 12 months honors.
Feminine Grappler of the 12 months honorable mentions
Elisabeth Clay: The Ares BJJ consultant submitted Davies and defeated +60kg ADCC world champion Amy Campo to win the Polaris 66kg grand prix, gained gold on the IBJJF Pans, and picked up spectacular no-gi victories over Brianna Ste-Marie and Luiza Monteiro.
Mayssa Bastos: Bastos went undefeated in 2023 to additional solidify her dominance on the lighter weight lessons. Now coaching beneath the Mendes brothers at Artwork of Jiu-Jitsu, she gained gold on the IBJJF Euros, Pans, Brasileiros, Worlds, and No-Gi Worlds.
Tammi Musumeci: The New Jersey native competed sometimes in 2023, however at all times towards elite opponents. In ONE Championship, she earned determination wins over 2019 ADCC champion Bianca Basilio and 2016 no-gi world champion Amanda Alequin earlier than profitable gold on the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds.
Andressa Cintra: Cintra regarded dominant in each gi and no-gi competitors, taking residence gold on the IBJJF Worlds, Brasileiros, and no-gi Worlds.
Gabi Pessanha: The Brazilian heavyweight prolonged her unprecedented run of dominance in 2023, going undefeated to win each main gi competitors whereas submitting the overwhelming majority of her opponents.
