Then & Now: Keenan Cornelius

From unmentioned by Graciemag leading up to the worlds, to gracing the cover most recently, Keenan Cornelius has experienced a meteoric rise to stardom in the sport BJJ/grappling world.

Despite the TLI scandal, Keenan has emerged as a part of Atos and has begun his much anticipated ascent to the black belt ranks as he wraps up his first year competing as a brown belt (winning his weight but losing the absolute to Paulo Miyao - who became the lightest competitor ever to win the brown belt absolute at worlds). Keenan will join the likes of Cobrinha, Rafa, Otavio Souza, Claudio Calasans, and dozens of others of the world's best grapplers at the upcoming ADCC in China.

At any rate, I've been following Keenan since he began his purple belt campaign:

The Next World Champion:



IBJJF March 2013 Boston Open - Keenan Cornelius vs Gianni Grippo:




Copa Podio (competing against a cadre of top notch black belts):



2013 Mundials Brown Belt finals/Absolute against Paulo Miyao:

Kid Peligro Unofficial -99kg ADCC competitor list

From over at Kid Peligro's corner of the blogosphere:

1- Dean Lister
2- Rodrigo Cavaca - Brazil Trials winner Over 99KG (will compete in this division)
3- Jon Olav Einemo
4- Joao Assis 2011 runner-up
5- Alan Drueco - Asia – Pacific World Qualifying Trials
6- James Puopolo North American Trials East
7- Joao Gabriel Brazil trials
8- Adam Sachnoff - North American trials West
9- Yukiyasu Ozawa - Asian trials
10- Kamil Uminski - European trials

Kid Peligro's Unofficial ADCC 2013 List(s)

That much hallowed every other year event is coming up: ADCC.

Kid Peligro has compiled some unofficial lists of those listed as competing thus far -

Under 77kg is wide open with the confirmation that Marcelo Garcia will not be competing:

"
1- Octavio de Souza (Invited)
2- Leo Vieira (Invited)
3- Lucas Lepri (Invited)
4- Youngnam Noh (Asia – Pacific World Trials)
5-AJ Agazarm1- Rafael Mendes - 2011 Champion
6- Gary Tonnes(North American Trials Ohio)
7- Leo Nogueira (Brazil Trals)
8- Kamil Mitosek (European trials winner)
9- Sotaro Yamada (Asian Trials)"

Under 88kg - expect some more add'l grotesque knee injuries with Toquinho returning. I'm interested to see the likes of Lovato and Langhi as well as Calasans and Keenan Cornelius all in one division together. This year sees Miyao, Keenan, and Agazarm appearing as the next wave of up and comers debuting in the grappling world's (one of  the most) prestigious event(s):
"1- Rousimar Palhares (2nd place in 2011)
2- Rafael Lovato Jr
3- Michael Langhi
4- Oskar Piechota
5- Keenan Cornelius - North American West Trials
6- Doorwang Jeon Asia – Pacific World Trials
7- Claudio Calasans - Brazil Trials
8- Josh Hayden- North American Trials Ohio
9- Shinsho Anzai - Asian Trials"

Under 66kg - Tanquinho winning his bracket at the Worlds which included both Rafa and Cobrinha is truly awe-inspiring. The addition of Miyao makes for some genuine interest earlier on in the brackets in one of the most competitive divisions in the world:
"1- Rafael Mendes - 2011 Champion
2-  Rubens Charles "Cobrinha" - 2011 runner up
3- Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes - announced by the committtee
4- Justin Rader - announced by the committtee
5- Robert Sabaruddin - Asia-Pacific Championship
6- Timo Juhani Hirvikangas - European Championship
7- Mark Ramos - North American Championship East
8 - Darson Hemmings - North American Championship West
9- Nicholas Renier European Poland Trials
10- Joao Miyao - Brazil Championship
11- Uruka Sasaki - Asian Championship (North American trials San Diego)

Judo - Miami Grand Prix 2013

Day 1 -





Day 2 -

Monday's MMA Multimedia Deluge: UFC 163 Edition

Jose Aldo Finishes an injured Korean Zombie:



Machida's "elusive" style bites the dragon once again:

Helvecio Penna: Still Proving Your Excuses are Invalid

2 Great 2013 Worlds Highlights:

I never get tired of watching these:

 

And: