Annie Ramirez scored the first takedown, following a scoreless encounter with three-time titlist Kazakh rival Galina Duvanova, allowing her to lead the Philippines to three golds and a bronze medal over the weekend in the 2023 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Thailand.
Ramirez, a former judoka, went on to rule the women’s -57 kg finals in a dramatic match and upset win over Duvanova.
Duvanova, who won the Asian crown in 2018 in the 52-kg category, went into a deciding third round with Ramirez.
The 23-year-old Duvanova, who has gone up in weight when she fought and settled for a silver in the 57-kg contest of the 2022 World Games, struggled in her exchanges with Ochoa in the regular first two rounds.
Neither side scored at least two points and ended up with no points earned, forcing them to a faceoff for an additional round.
Dylan Valmores was also victorious after she claimed the top honors in women’s +70-kg category and so was Meggie Ochoa in the -48 kg class.
Ochoa outscored Singapore’s May Yong, a 29-year-old blue belter, 15-0, in the finals.
Yong was coming out of an almost four-year layoff when she took on Ochoa after turning back Abdullah Abdo of the United Arab Emirates, 50-0, in the semifinals.
Ochoa arranged a finals showdown with Yong after she hurdled Korean Kim Na Hyun, 7-0, in the semifinals, and Vietnamese Le Thy Hien, 50-0, in the quarterfinals.
The 19-year-old Valmores dominated Chansonthi Pornthip of Thailand, 50-0, for the top honors in the +70kg.
She arranged a title match with Pornthip following her 50-0 triumph over Alia Al Nahawi of Palestine in the semifinals.
Valmores also dominated her matches with Pinki Sangwan of India, and Kabdygalymova Assel of Palestine with similar 50-0 scores.
Marc Lim settled for the silver in the men’s -69 kg matches, after bowing to Elbegsaikhan Chinzorig, 0-2, in the semifinals.
