TXMMA Awards – BJJ Edition People’s Choice Ballot 2015

By TXMMA Staff

Welcome to the voting portion of the TXMMA Awards – BJJ Edition 2015.

2015 has been another great year for BJJ competition in the state of Texas. This competition season has been full of exciting moments with top competitors from great teams performing at a very high level. From city to city and throughout the world, Texans are rising to the top at tournaments. Texas athletes have been involved in some amazing matches and great submissions this year. And as always, and a new crop of stars continues to emerge at every level. The goal of these awards, especially  with the people’s choice portion, is to give the community a space to highlight the performers that stood out this year.

Winning People’s Choice is indicative of massive community support. It’s a great honor, just like winning the Official Stats-Based Awards which is entirely decided based on 2015 competition stats.

Please join us is showing your support for who you think should win this year.

Before you go through the ballot below to vote via our Facebook Group Page, take quick note of these  directions:

1. You have to be logged in to Facebook to vote. This helps keep things accountable / 1 account = 1 vote.
2. Join the TXMMA Group Page so you can access the poll. Hit join, Wait patiently to be approved.
3. Go through the links below and vote.
   note: If your phone doesn’t show the poll, do it from a computer. Comments for anyone other than write-ins not on the ballot do not count. If voting OTHER (write-in), you MUST click the “other” button or your vote will not count.
4. Voting will end on Thursday, December 17th.

BJJ Edition Official Ballot 2015

ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR

• Gracie Barra Texas
• Soul Fighters Texas
• Bruno Bastos Association
• Brazilian Top Team
• Checkmat Texas
• Presa BJJ
• BQuick Jiujitsu Association
• Alliance
• Atos Jiu-Jitsu
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Association of the Year

ACADEMY OF THE YEAR

• Gracie Barra Westchase
• Bruno Bastos BJJ Midland
• Alvarez BJJ
• Team Tooke MMA
• Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ
• Gracie Barra Texas
• Next Generation Frisco
• North Texas MMA
• Pablo Silva BJJ
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Academy of the Year

BLACK BELT OF THE YEAR (ADULT)

• Inacio Neto (GB Westchase)
• Diego Gamonal Nogueira (Brazilian Top Team)
• Carlos Diego Ferreira (Team Ferreira)
• Samuel Seth Snow (Alliance / Snow MMA)
• Thiago Augusto Araujo Macedo (Club Pina / RPBJJ)
• Eduardo Ramos da Silva (Atos Jiu-Jitsu)
• Pablo da Silva Santos (PSBJJ)
• Robert Jon Yamashita (Elite Mixed Martial Arts)
• Ricardo Bastos Cruz (Bruno Bastos Association)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Black Belt of the Year (Adult)

BLACK BELT OF THE YEAR (MASTERS)

• Daniel V. Alvarez Jr. (Alvarez BJJ / Bruno Bastos)
• Alex Martins Do Nascimento (AMBJJ)
• Raul Francisco Jimenez (Alliance Team Gacho)
• Bruno Bastos Cruz (Bruno Bastos Association)
• Alejandro Siqueira Doudement (Gracie Barra Southlake)
• Chris Brennan (Next Generation)
• Marcus Antelante (Soul Fighters)
• Travis Tooke (Team Tooke)
• Eduardo Ricardo (Cobra BJJ / Checkmat)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Black Belt of the Year (Masters)

BROWN BELT OF THE YEAR (ADULT)

• Lucas Sette C. Valente Tobias (Gracie Barra Texas)
• Brandon Botello Walker (Caique Jiu-Jitsu)
• Matthew Romino Fox (Team Lloyd Irvin / Pinnacle)
• Jose M Portillo Jr (Paragon BJJ Austin)
• Kurt Pantle (PSBJJ)
• Reed Shelger (GFT / Paradigm)
• Fernando Isai Cabrera (Gracie Barra Texas)
• Fernando Henrique T. Halfeld (Brazilian Top Team)
• Cesar Rodriguez Jr (Zombie BJJ / Team Robson Moura)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Brown Belt of the Year (Adult)

BROWN BELT OF THE YEAR (MASTERS)

• Jerry R Musquiz (Dominion MMA)
• Jordan Shepler (Alvarez BJJ)
• Vin Abadie (AMBJJ)
• Jeffery Bynum Hammond (Caique Jiu-Jitsu)
• Clay Hantz (Bruno Bastos / Vagabond)
• Jose Ricardo Quinones (Team Ferreira BJJ)
• Loronz Ceicilio Marion (Octagon MMA)
• Emre Demirors (Brazil 021 International)
• Michael R Alexander (Travis Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Brown Belt of the Year (Masters)

PURPLE BELT OF THE YEAR (ADULT)

• Andrew Kimler (Texas Punishment Crew)
• Vincent Saenz (Lovato Jiu-Jitsu)
• Dinko Bektic (BJJ Revolution Team)
• Eunsoo Kim (BJJ Revolution Team)
• Emmanuel Martinez (Atos Jiu-Jitsu)
• Andy Brandon Cordova (Gracie Barra Texas)
• Diego Almeida Ferreira (Bruno Bastos Association)
• Cooper Cardinale (Alvarez BJJ / Bruno Bastos)
• Sebastian Black (Cobra BJJ / CheckMat)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Purple Belt of the Year (Adult)

PURPLE BELT OF THE YEAR (MASTER)

• Jordan Burton III (PSBJJ)
• Christopher L West (GFT / Pinnacle)
• Joel Heinen (Gracie Barra)
• Jason McGill (Peak Performance)
• DeNiro Kelly (GB Westchase)
• Tomas Moreno (Team Ferreira / Atos Jiu-Jitsu)
• Christopher Raines (Brazilian Top Team)
• Edward Anthony Wittern (Andrew Chappelle BJJ)
• Michael Sotelo (Genesis)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Purple Belt of the Year (Masters)

BLUE BELT OF THE YEAR (ADULT)

• Jorge Valladares (Team Mohler / Top Game)
• Miguel Dominguez (PSBJJ)
• Matthew Meyer (Soul Fighters)
• Andy Brandon Cordova (Gracie Barra)
• Damion Shaun Oranday (Atos)
• Justin Bryan Rebolloso (Alvarez BJJ / Bruno Bastos)
• Roberto Jimenez (Alliance Team Gacho)
• Ben Annunziato (Travis Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
• Trent Ebarb (Texas Punishment Crew)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Blue Belt of the Year (Adult)

BLUE BELT OF THE YEAR (MASTERS)

• David Johnson (Team Lloyd Irvin)
• David Alan Parker (Atos Guetho)
• Javier Orona (Genesis)
• Chad Rizzo (Alvarez BJJ / Bruno Bastos Association)
• Jacob Herrick (Zombie BJJ / CheckMat)
• Matthew Mccall (Rodrigo Pinheiro)
• Adam Chance (Texas Punishment Crew)
• Chad Lutu (Team Lloyd Irvin / Pinnacle)
• Daniel Shanks (BJJ Revolution Team)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Blue Belt of the Year (Masters)

WHITE BELTS OF THE YEAR (ADULT + MASTERS)

• Scott Akers (NTMMA)
• Seayn O’Donoghue (Alliance)
• Freeman Jaison (Lovato)
• Andre Currier (Atos)
• Edward Galan (Bruno Bastos)
• Matt Yost (NTMMA)
• Christopher Reyna (BJJ Revolution Team)
• Francisco Rivera (Rilion Gracie)
• Ronald Clary (Presa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – White Belt of the Year (Adult)

BLACK BELT OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

• Fabiana Alves Borges (Gracie Barra San Antonio)
• Monique Ricardo Carvalho (Cobra BJJ / Checkmat)
• Sue Ausman (Lutter BJJ)
• Tracy Dyan D’Arcy (Roberto Kaelin Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Black Belt of the Year (Female)

BROWN BELT OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

• Taissa Drummond (Soul Fighters Dallas / Siam Star MMA)
• Danielle Renee Alvarez (Alvarez BJJ)
• Veronica Mota-Messina (BJJ Revolution)
• Kristine Felts (Peak Performance)
• Tessa Simpson (Gracie Humaita Austin)
• Tara Arrington (Mohler Jiu-Jitsu)
• Lana Hunter (Ohana)
• Brandy Rene New (Octagon MMA)
• Gabriella Muller (Alliance Team Gacho)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Brown Belt of the Year (Female)

PURPLE BELT OF THE YEAR (FEMALE MASTERS)

• Laura Ann Heiman Martins (Brazilian Top Team)
• Karen Kovach (Genesis)
• Jackie Avelar (Ground Dwellers)
• Vanessa Reyes (Presa BJJ)
• Rebecca Ann Varady (Gracie Humaita)
• Marlana Camacho (Davis Martial Arts)
• Georgina Staley – Pablo Silva BJJ
• Jeane Ruiz (GF Team)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Purple Belt of the Year (Female)

PURPLE BELT OF THE YEAR (FEMALE)

• Patricia Magalhaes (Brazilian Top Team)
• Ketra Bartek (Gracie Humaita Austin)
• Victoria Maciel (Soul Fighters BJJ)
• Valerie Taylor (Genesis / Fight Sports)
• Danielle Renae Alvarez (Alvarez BJJ / Bastos)
• Petya Bastos (Bruno Bastos Association)
• Victoria Tome (Bruno Bastos Association)
• Chelsah’ Lyons – Alliance Marcelo Garcia)
• Natiely Karoline (RPBJJ)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Purple Belt of the Year (Female)

BLUE BELT OF THE YEAR (FEMALE ADULT)

• Leslie McLea (Elite MMA)
• Julia Ottolino (Andrew Chappelle BJJ)
• Maribel Ramirez (Team Tooke)
• Charity Combs (Davis Martial Arts)
• Mareesa Garcia (Bruno Bastos Association)
• Lene De Leon (Marcello C Monteiro)
• Verena Gasparin Arus (BTT)
• Jessica Khurana (Brazil 021)
• Michelle Monteverde (Octagon MMA)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Blue Belt of the Year (Female Adult)

BLUE BELT OF THE YEAR (FEMALE MASTERS)

• Miriam Villar (Alvarez BJJ / Bruno Bastos)
• Terri Reeve (Davis Martial Arts)
• Laura Escobedo (Texas Punishment Crew)
• Kristine Heines (Elite Mixed Martial Arts)
• Melissa Tanner (Presa Brazilian Jiu-Jits)
• Kendra Gray (Atos Jiu-Jitsu Nederland)
• Michele Billings (Travis Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
• Misty Verschoor (Brazilian Top Team)
• Brittany Anne Robertson (Gracie Humaita Austin)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – Blue Belt of the Year (Female Masters)

WHITE BELT OF THE YEAR (Adult + Masters)

• Hosanna Rull (Team Tooke)
• Katie Egan (AMBJJ)
• Vanessa Cornejo (Lovato BJJ)
• Leslie McLea (Elite MMA)
• Megan Molina – Bruno Bastos Association
• Gabriela Lem (Alliance Snow BJJ)
• Carrie Spellious Duckworth (Alliance / Advantage BJJ)
• Aubrey Bailey (Rodrigo Pinheiro)
• Amanda Jimenez (Travis Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – White Belt of the Year (Female)

TEEN COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (BOYS)

• Roberto Jimenez (Alliance Team Gacho)
• Darryl Lebus (Team Tooke)
• Tyler Brennan (Next Generation)
• Austin Oranday (Atos)
• Hector Reyes (Presa)
• Lee Crosley (Alvarez BJJ)
• Marcus Salinas (Presa)
• William Tackett (Team Rabadi BJJ)
• Lucas Brennan (Next Generation)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – TEEN COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (BOYS)

TEEN COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (GIRLS)

• Kayla DeLeon (BJJ Revolution)
• Madison Wolfe (Soul Fighters Dallas/Siam Star MMA)
• Jessie Crane (Alvarez BJJ)
• Mikayla Castillo (Bastos BJJ Association)
• Alexandria Terrier (Texas Punishment Crew)
• Zoe Jones (Elite MMA)
• Ariel Palmer (Team Rivas BJJ)
• Precious Rodriguez (Alex Martins BJJ)
• Princess Segura (Team BBJ)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – TEEN COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (GIRLS)

KIDS COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (BOYS)

• Dillinger Kovach (Team X)
• Cole Abate (RPBJJ)
• John Pershing Abney (BJJ Revolution)
• David Ray IV (Soul Fighters Dallas/Siam Star MMA)
• Seth Reaves (Team Tooke)
• Nate Suarez (FCFA / Presa)
• Freddy Marquez (True Jiu Jitsu)
• Mekhi Castillo (Warlord MMA)
• John Pineda (Gracie Barra)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – KIDS COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (BOYS)

KIDS COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (GIRLS)

• Cora Sek (Team Tooke)
• Emily Fernandez (Bastos BJJ)
• Tiffany Butler (Team Rabadi)
• Nina Smith (Guy Mezger / Checkmat)
• Jasmine Gallegos (Champions Factory)
• Zoe Farry (Brazilian Top Team)
• Emily Helton (Alvarez BJJ)
• Cheyann Davis (Genesis)
• Jazzmine Gwen (SFS)
• Other (Comment Write-In Votes)

2015 TXMMA Awards BJJ Edition Official Voting – KIDS COMPETITOR OF THE YEAR (GIRLS)

Additional awards to be presented along with our official stats-based winners:

• Match of the Year (Male, Female, Teen, Kids)
• Submission of the Year (Male, Female, Teen, Kids)
• Ironman / Ironwoman of the Year
• Brand of the Year
• Inspirational Community Member of the Year
• Community Service Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award / TXMMA Hall of Fame