Willian Hiroyuki Masuda suffered a reported cervical-spine injury during a no-gi match in Londrina, Brazil, and a Paraná prosecutor has reportedly requested a Civil Police inquiry into what happened on the mat.
BJJ Eastern Europe reported that the match took place at the Moringão gymnasium in Londrina, Paraná. Its report gives August 22 for the bout, while a separate embedded social-post description cited elsewhere gives August 23. The report said Masuda, known as Kabuto, was injured during an exchange with Juliano Di Pelli Machado and described a fracture-dislocation involving the C5 and C6 vertebrae after Masuda landed on his neck.
The same report said footage shows Masuda in an inverted position before impact. It also said Super Pro Jiu Jitsu provided event medical assistance and ambulance service before his transfer for further care. Those accounts do not establish the tournament’s governing ruleset, whether the action violated it, or whether either competitor, the referee or the organiser bears responsibility. They also do not support a conclusion about intent or criminal liability.
BJJ Eastern Europe further reported that Masuda underwent surgery after his transfer to hospital and remained hospitalised more than a week later. It described serious neurological consequences, but those medical updates remain attributed to that report.
Inquiry is not a charge or finding
BJJ Tribes reported on August 26 that a Paraná prosecutor had asked Civil Police to investigate the injury. That procedural step is significant, but it is not a charge, a finding of fault or a conviction. The report said nobody had been charged or found guilty at that point.
Ruleset, full video and medical evidence remain central
BJJ Tribes said the requested inquiry would examine the tournament ruleset, the complete video record, referee handling and medical findings. Those records would establish the sequence in context rather than through short clips or public reaction.
The IBJJF’s official rules portal publishes Rule Book v6.0, an update guide and a separate Technical Fouls & Illegal Moves document. Those materials show how a major federation separates its general rules from illegal-move guidance, but they do not establish that IBJJF rules governed this Londrina event.
BJJ Tap Editorial Team
BJJ Tap Editorial Team is the collective byline used for staff reporting and editing published by BJJ Tap. Questions, corrections and news tips can be sent through the publication's Contact page.
