This weekend, the premier grappling event in the world goes down.The Abu Dhabi Combat Club’s Submission Wrestling World Championships has been the proving ground for grapplers around the world since its inception in 1998. This year, the tournament takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil and will be available on pay-per-view at Budo Videos. Over the course of the next few days Bloody Elbow will be previewing each of the divisions. Here, we look at one of the more competitive divisions, the +99kg category.
In previous years, the +99kg division has proven as a breeding ground for future/current MMA stars. UFC great Mark Kerr was a three-time ADCC champion, Ricco Rodriguez brought home gold too and current UFC champion Fabricio Werdum was famously a two-time ADCC winner too. Here, we will talk you through who should be considered the favourite to take home gold, as well as who is capable of pulling off the shock.
The Favourites:
Bernardo Faria
Bernardo Faria has really come into his own over the last few years. Faria, a Ricardo Marques black belt, has always had an abundance of talent but he hadn’t quite been able to put it all together when it mattered most. This year, it seems however, that the stars have aligned for Faria looked amazing at the world championships, where he won both his division and the absolute division. Faria’s half guard is efficient and his has the ability to pull out the submission from anywhere. This could be Faria’s year – barring a major mishap expect him to reach the finals at the very least.
Vinny Magalhaes
Vinny Magalhaes is a former champion with a lot to prove. On his day Magalhaes is the best in the world but as of late his form hasn’t been up to his usual standard. Magalhaes will be looking to recapture the spectacular form he showed at ADCC 2011, where he defeated Fabricio Werdum to take home gold. Magalhaes is dangerous everywhere on the mat, his guard is as good as his top game and if he is on from he will be almost impossible to defeat. Expect Magalhaes to go far this year and perhaps capture his second title.
The Underdogs
Gabriel “Fedor” Lucas
Gabriel Lucas is an outsider to win gold at this years ADCC but the young up-and-comer has all the skills needed to pull off the upset. Lucas, who was given the name Fedor due to a striking resemblance to the former PRIDE FC champion, Fedor Emelianenko, has exploded on to the scene in devastating fashion. Lucas has picked up wins over legends Victor Estima and Comprido over the last 18 months and has a style that really suits ADCC’s scoring criteria. Lucas is my outside bet to take home a medal.
Dean Lister
Okay, Dean Lister’s best days may be behind him but he still has all the tools needed to pull off an upset. Long before Rousimar Palhares and Eddie Cummings were giving people nightmares, Dean Lister was pioneering the leg lock game. Lister has submitted the best in the business and is a former champion with great positional awareness and point scoring ability. If Lister comes in on form he has a great chance of making it through to the latter stages and who knows, he might well pull off one last upset.
The full list of competitors for the +99kg division can be seen below:
1. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen – Finland (2nd European Trials Winner)
2. Lee Hyoung Chul – Korea (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
3. Hideki Sekine – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
4. Jason Lees – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
5. Paul Ardila – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
6. Leonardo Nascimento Lucio – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
7. Gabriel Lyrio Lucas – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
8. Rodrigo Cavaca – Brazil (Invited)
9. Joao Gabriel Rocha – Brazil (Invited)
10. Dean Lister – USA (Invited)
11. Vinny Magalhaes – Brazil (Invited)
12. Orlando Sanchez – USA (Invited)
13. Rodrigo Artilheiro – Brazil (Invited)
14. Bernardo Faria – Brazil (Invited)
15. Jeff Monson – USA (Invited)
16. Jared Dopp – USA (Invited)