This weekend I competed at a local Jiu-Jitsu tournament (and won the blue belt adult absolute), helped set up early in the morning, then worked at my other job after a long day of competing until the wee hours of the morning....thus yours truly didn't get to watch the ADCC (either day) nor the UFC heavyweight trilogy championship of the world.
From what I've gathered from the reliable self-reporting of viewers via facebook, instragram, and some early meme'ing, the disorganization of the ADCC for lack of a better phrase, "took it to a whole 'nother level" with mats coming apart, no semblance of a schedule adhered to and the general malaise of Abu Dhabi promotions we resign ourselves to as we become excited for what should be one of the highest level competitions in the grappling world once every two years. Having competed at the World Pro Trials several years ago, I can attest to the uncertainty of where/when/weigh-in/venue/time/schedule et cetera.
I doubt they'll give up control, but *cough cough* Budo Videos does great production quality for events. *cough cough* US Grappling for whom I worked/competed on Saturday has mats that y'know, like, stay together during competition.
There was not a shortage of controversy as Caio Terra claimed that perhaps Cyborg vs Buchecha in the absolute was a fix. There is also no steroid/PED testing in ADCC.
As there is always, there was new guard vs old guard and that speaks in the results. Cobrinha finally bested Rafa in a premier competition after losing some high profile Gi matches over the past couple years. Rader medaled, as did Miyao and Keenan (2x) all against the highest level competitors in the sport. Rafael Lovato came close but took 2nd even as his competition career slowly begins to wane (according to him in interviews). Kron Gracie is now an ADCC champion which takes the sting off of not having a black belt world championship on his resume. Cyborg joins the pantheon of all-time greats in submission grappling, and Buchecha showed versatility in becoming an ADCC champ and black belt world champion in the Gi.
At any rate, the results are as follows:
-66kg
1st Cobrinha
2nd Rafa Mendes
3rd Justin Rader
4th Joao Miyao
-77kg
1st Kron Gracie
2nd Otavio Sousa
3rd - no one seems to know if Leo Vieira & JT Torres fought for third. Gold Star indeed ADCC.
-88kg
1st Romulo Barral
2nd Rafael Lovato Jr.
3rd Keenan Cornelius
4th Pablo Popovitch
-99kg
1st Joao Assis
2nd Dean Lister
3rd Leo Noguiera
4th Cristiano Lazzarini
+99kg
1st Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida
2nd Joao Gabriel Rocha
3rd Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu
4th Jared Dopp
Absolute
1st Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu
2nd Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida
3rd Keenan Cornelius
4th Dean Lister
Superfights:
Andre Galvao RNC'd Braulio Estima
Mario Sperry won via points over Fabio Gurgel
