Jozef Chen beats Taza, Langaker and Szczeciński to win U77kg ADCC European trials

Jozef Chen defeated three ADCC veterans to win the European Trials, earning him one of the five coveted invites to compete at ADCC 2024.

At just 18-years-old B-Team’s Jozef Chen had one of the most impressive and arguably difficult runs at the ADCC Europe, Middle East & African Trials, in Poland, beating three of the world’s best grapplers in his U77kg division.

The brown belt submitted both of his opponents in the preliminary rounds, going into the quarterfinals, before defeating Mateusz Szczeciński via decision. In the semi-final Chen then defeated Tommy Langaker via nine points; eventually winning his match in the final against Oliver Taza by overtime via back control.

Alongside winning the trials against three ADCC veterans, Chen also avenged his straight ankle lock loss from Szczecinski at the ADCC Second European Trials 2022.

Last year, at just 17-years-old, Chen took bronze at the ADCC Oceana and Asian Trials 2022; and he made sure when he came back for the next year’s ADCC Trials he would snatch the gold – and he did.

Chen appears to be similar to the likes of Mica Galvao and the Ruotolo Brothers, who smashed their way through some of the world’s best at a super young age, eventually becoming some of the most well-known grapplers of our current generation.

If you didn’t know who Jozef Chen was before, you know who he is now, and expect to see a lot more of him on the professional grappling scene.

The ADCC 2024 World Championship is set to take place next August.

Watch Chen’s match against Lanagaker at the ADCC 2023 Trials in Poland, for free, below. Log on to FloGrappling to see the rest of the matches that took place at the event.