The 2024 ADCC World Championships will take place on August 17-18, live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ahead of the tournament, Grappling Insider will be previewing each division. Check out our preview of the 66kg division here, and the 88kg division here.
The -99 kg. division is highlighted by two of the sport’s premier athletes, Kaynan Duarte and Nicholas Meregali. Duarte is looking to win his third consecutive ADCC title while Meregali looks to claim his first gold medal.
The rest of the field is highlighted by multiple strong ADCC Trials winners. Most notably Luke Griffith, who recently submitted Duarte. Veterans such as Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu and Vinicius “Trator” Ferreira round out this bracket.
Below we look at the favorites, contenders, and dark horses of the 88 kg. division at the 2024 ADCC World Championships. View the full list of competitors from every division here.
Men’s 99kg
Kaynan Duarte (returning champion)
Luke Griffith (1st European Trials winner)
Marcin Maciulewicz (2nd European Trials winner)
Paul Ardila (East Coast Trials winner)
Declan Moody (1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Henrique Ceconi (2nd South American Trials winner)
Michael Pixley (West Coast Trials winner)
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (invite)
Eli Braz (invite)
Daniel Schuardt (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
Nicholas Meregali (invite)
Alex Grandy (invite)
Patrick Gaudio (invite)
Javier Zaruski (invite)
Daishi Goto (invite)
Vinicius “Trator” Ferreira (invite)
The favorites: Kaynan Duarte, Nicholas Meregali, Luke Griffith
Two-time defending champion Kaynan Duarte will look to add a third ADCC title to his extensive resume. Duarte is one of the most technically sound grapplers on the planet. Rock-solid wrestling and positional control make him a nightmare to deal with in this ruleset. Duarte can find submissions from a wide range of positions.
Nicholas Meregali made his ADCC debut in 2022 when he was just three matches into his competitive no-gi career. He went on to win a silver and bronze medal. Since then, he has been on an absolute tear becoming one of the top no-gi practitioners in the world. Meregali is known for pushing a blistering pace while hunting for submissions.
Luke Griffith is a physical presence when he steps on the mats. The New Wave product is a masterful tachtician and proven finisher. Griffith defeated Kaynan Duarte via RNC at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7. Look for Griffith to make a deep run in this tournament.
The Contenders: Declan Moody, Michael Pixley, Vinicius “Trator” Ferreira
B-Team representative Declan Moody could be poised for a deep run in this bracket. Moody is a relentless passer who excels at taking and finishing from the back. For a big man, Moody can move and scramble very well in wrestling situations.
Michael Pixley has a style tailor-made for the ADCC ruleset. This was on full display when he won the West Coast Trials. Pixley is the most accomplished wrestler in the field. Look out if Pixley gets ahold of your neck from the front head position.
Vinicius “Trator” doesn’t have a flashy style, but it is very effective in this ruleset. He made a deep run to the finals in 2019. “Trator” has a solid wrestling base with the ability to attack both the upper and lower body.
Dark Horses: Patrick Gaudio, Paul Ardila, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu
One of the most active competitors in the game, Patrick Gaudio will look to break through and hit the podium in his third ADCC appearance. Gaudio has a wealth of experience competing in this ruleset which should help him navigate a deep run.
Paul Ardila is one of the most experienced competitors in this ruleset. Ardila is a four-time ADCC Trials champion, and this will mark his fifth ADCC World Championship appearance. Ardilla is a dangerous leg-lock specialist.
It feels strange putting an ADCC Champion in a dark horse category, but that title was achieved quite some time ago. Still, “Cyborg” has a wealth of experience in this ruleset as well as a style built for it.
How to watch: The 2024 ADCC World Championships take place on August 17-18 and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required).
