Reflections on the ADCC 2017

I've bagged hard on the ADCC's utter lack of production value and basics like mats that stay in place in the past. Dunno if flograppling is the boost it needed or what, but this event looked like what it was: a high caliber elite level event.

Music selection: Rush began playing as the Nicky Ryan/Agazarm match began. You couldn't have asked for a better 80's style soundtrack to a lot of the matches. I was jamming out to the matches and my teammates showcasing what's going on at RGA. 

Wrestling still matters: no amount of leg locks can completely cancel out the tactics needed to advance round by round, and a last minute/late match takedown (or backtake for that matter) can still be the deciding factor. I was glad to see less 30-40 min finals decided by stalling and non-engagement. There's always going to be the consideration of tweaking a rule set following an event or particularly tight/uneventful finals, but overall, many of the matches were eventful. Perhaps it was the competitors list just lined up the right way this year, or perhaps it was bracketing, but overall I found way more of the matches compelling than I have years previous.

The sport is indeed changing with less and less overlap of Gi centric guys winning (perhaps at times). Bracketing is a big deal and guys who lost first round might not lose first round depending who they face up first. Craig Jones is a guy who turned that notion on its ear. 

Gordon Ryan's performance at 22 years old speaks for itself. I'm not sure for how much longer big name guys can discredit him or say he's not worth facing. He has the target on his back for any nogi grappler out there now that he had that ADCC accolade on his resume. The con drntional excuses to face him just won't hold water anymore.