ADCC East Coast Trials results, recap, and video highlights
View the results and recap from the 2023 ADCC East Coast Trials, which took place on October 14-15 in Atlantic City.
Five more grapplers have officially punched their ticket to the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
The ADCC East Coast Trials – the first of two North American qualifying events – took place on October 14-15 and featured a number of the world’s top competitors vying for their spot in the prestigious tournament.
Here’s how each division played out.
Men’s divisions at the ADCC East Coast Trials
66kg
- 1st: Dorian Olivares
- 2nd: Dominic Mejia
- 3rd: Ethan Crelinsten
Teenage phenom Dorian Olivares put on one of the most memorable Trials performances in recent memory, taking out several well-established top competitors on his way to gold. A Texas state high school wrestling champion, Olivares employed a relentless wrestling and guard passing game throughout the tournament while displaying a seemingly endless gas tank.
In the round of 16, Olivares picked up his first big-name victory, earning a hard-fought win over IBJJF no-gi world champion and ADCC veteran Gianni Grippo. The semifinals saw Olivares put a pace on his sometimes-teammate and former ADCC Trials winner Ethan Crelinsten. And in the final, he yet again leaned on his top-tier takedowns and guard passing to take out New Wave’s Dominic Mejia, who had enjoyed his own breakout performance on his way to the final.
77kg
- 1st: Elijah Dorsey
- 2nd: Nicky Ryan
- 3rd: Oliver Taza
All eyes were on top-seeded favorite Nicky Ryan, who looked unstoppable on his way to the final. But there he would run into Team Lloyd Irivn’s Elijah Dorsey.
Showcasing an incredibly high-paced yet technical guard passing game, Dorsey shined in the talent-laden division. In the semifinal, he largely dominated multiple-time ADCC Trials winner Oliver Taza. Against Ryan in the final, Dorsey employed a strong wrestling attack, nearly securing several takedowns on his B-Team opponent, on his way to securing a clear-cut decision victory and earning his spot at the ADCC World Championships.
88kg
- 1st: Jacob Couch
- 2nd: Elder Cruz
- 3rd: William Tackett
Fan favorite Jacob “The Hillbilly Hammer” Couch submitted all seven of his opponents in his unforgettable gold-medal run.
A feared leg-locker, the Daisy Fresh product played from his vaunted guard throughout the tournament. In the quarterfinals, Couch submitted former foe David Garmo, and in the semifinals, he took on last year’s West Coast Trials champion Jay Rodriguez, scoring an impressive ankle lock finish to hand Rodriguez his first submission loss in nearly two years.
In the final, Couch squared off with ADCC veteran Elder Cruz. After accepting a takedown early, Couch attacked from his closed guard before moving to K-guard and an entry to a leg entanglement and, ultimately, the heel hook finish.
Couch will represent the first home-grown Daisy Fresh athlete to compete at the ADCC World Championships.
99kg
- 1st: Paul Ardila
- 2nd: Alex Grandy
- 3rd: Devhonte Johnson
Veteran Paul Ardila added his fourth ADCC Trials gold medal over the weekend to earn yet another spot at the World Championships.
The 99kg division’s top seed, Ardila scored four submissions before reaching the finals where he faced 10th Planet’s Alex Grandy – who was enjoying a breakout performance in his own right, taking out no-gi world champion Devhonte Johnson in the semifinals. Ardila, though, wasted no time in attacking from his butterfly guard where he was able to dig himself into a leg entanglement and score the outside heel hook finish after about three and a half minutes of action.
Ardila will be competing in his fifth ADCC World Championship.
99kg+
- 1st: Dan Manasoiu
- 2nd: Damon Ramos
- 3rd: John Hansen
The heavyweight division saw recent ADCC European Trials silver medalist “Big” Dan Manasoiu of New Wave shine with a 100 percent submission rate as he punched his ticket to his second ADCC World Championship.
Showcasing a brutal top game throughout the tournament, Manasoiu submitted 10th Planet standout Amir Allam in the semifinal and, in the final, fellow ADCC veteran Damon Ramos.
Women’s divisions at the ADCC East Coast Trials
* Winners of the women’s divisions do not earn an invite to the ADCC World Championships; the sole North American qualifying event for women is the West Coast Trials.
55kg
- 1st: Alex Enriquez
- 2nd: Jasmine Rocha
- 3rd: Cindy Ung
In the 55kg division, Alex Enriquez employed her top-flight wrestling and precision guard passing on her way to the final where she squared off with perennial tough-out Jasmine Rocha. For her part, Rocha had looked unstoppable up to that point, submitting three of her four opponents.
But in the final, Enriquez forced Rocha largely on the defensive on her way to winning a decision after a high-paced match.
65kg
- 1st: Morgan “Mo” Black
- 2nd: Helena Crevar
- 3rd: Sofia Delgado
Tabula Rasa’s Mo Black enjoyed a breakout performance and announced herself as a real player at 65kg, as she scored an upset victory over teenage phenom Helena Crevar in the division’s final.
Black showcased an impeccable takedown game and aggressive top game against Crevar to secure a 2-0 points victory.
65kg+
- 1st: Amanda Leve
- 2nd: Bridget McEliese
- 3rd: Jason Foster
Last-minute addition Amanda Leve looked completely dominant in winning her second ADCC Trials gold, submitting all four of her opponents, each in under three minutes.
While Leve has recently put her focus on her MMA career, she looks to be a serious contender at heavyweight.
