LONDON, Canada – Colby Covington (Corvallis, Ore./American Top Team) won a gold medal at 77 kg/169.5 lbs., one of six U.S. medalists in No-Gi Grappling on the final day of the FILA World Championships in Non-Olympic Styles on Saturday.

Covington, a Div. I NCAA All-American at Oregon State, won the gold medal competing in his first FILA Grappling World event.

Claiming silver medals for the United States were Brandon Ruiz (West Jordan, Utah/Team EDGE) at  +100 kg/Over 220 lbs. in the men’s division and Bahar Shahidi (Denver, Colo./Team EDGE) at 53 kg/116.75 lbs. Both are past World medalists in No-Gi Grappling. Ruiz has won four FILA World medals in No-Gi, including a World title in 2011 and three other silver medalist. Shahidi won her second World silver medal.

Claiming bronze medals for the USA were Matt Holt (Portland, Ore./Brazilian Top Team Portland) at 62 kg/136.5 lbs., John Albert (Puyallup, Wash./Victory Athletics) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and  Jayson Patino (Orlando, Fla./American Top Team) at  71 kg/156.25 lbs. 

It was Patino’s second medal of the week, after also winning a bronze medal in Gi Grappling on Friday.

Placing fifth for Team USA were Shane Cross (Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE) at 84 kg/185 lbs., Eric Brennan (Aurora, Colo., (Team EDGE) at 92 kg/202.5 lbs. and Henry Todd (Chandler, Ariz., (American Pankration) at 100 kg/220 lbs.

For the third straight year, the United States placed third in the No-Gi team standings, placing behind champion Sweden and runner-up Canada.

This was an exceptional performance, considering the USA had only one woman on the team, and scored no points in four of the women’s weight classes.

Team USA was led by head coach Sheldon Marr and assistant coach Nick Marr.

FILA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At London, Canada, June 15

U.S. Men’s No-Gi results

 62 kg/136.5 lbs. – Matt Holt, Portland, Ore., (Brazilian Top Team Portland), 3rd

 66 kg/145.5 lbs. – John Albert, Puyallup, Wash., (Victory Athletics), 3rd

 71 kg/156.25 lbs. – Jayson Patino, Orlando, Fla., (American Top Team), 3rd

 77 kg/169.5 lbs. – Colby Covington, Corvallis, Ore. (American Top Team), 1st

 84 kg/185 lbs. – Shane Cross, Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE), 5th

 92 kg/202.5 lbs. – Eric Brennan, Aurora, Colo., (Team EDGE), 5th

 100 kg/220 lbs. – Henry Todd, Chandler, Ariz., (American Pankration), 5th

 +100 kg/Over 220 lbs. – Brandon Ruiz, West Jordan, Utah, (Team EDGE), 2nd
 
U.S. Women’s No-Gi results

 53 kg/116.75 lbs. – Bahar Shahidi, Denver, Colo., (Team EDGE), 2nd