Weekend grappling recap: ADCC Trials, Sapateiro Qualifier, IBJJF, and Finishers Sub-Only

View important results and highlights from this past weekend’s submission grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu events.

The second weekend in March was a relatively busy one in the world of BJJ and submission grappling. To keep fans up-to-date on the elite competitive scene, we take a look back at the key events.

2nd ADCC South American Trials

With this August’s ADCC World Championships rapidly approaching, the ADCC Trials schedule is heating up, and eight more athletes punched their tickets to the big show by winning gold at the second ADCC South American Trials in Sao Paulo.

Notably, multiple-time IBJJF World Champions Anna Rodrigues and Ana Carolina Vieira each shined to secure spots at their first-ever ADCC World Championships. Also, fan-favorite Fabricio Andrey, Who’s Number One champion Pedro Marinho, and Henrique Ceconi each earned a return trip to ADCC in Las Vegas.

View the full event results, recap, and video highlights here.

Sapateiro World Championship Qualifier

Earlier this year, the Sapateiro Invitational announced plans to hold a 160-pound World Championship tournament with up to $100,000 on the line. In order to fill that bracket, the promotion will hold a number of 16-man qualifying tournaments, the first of which was held on Saturday in Tampa, Florida.

Standard Jiu-Jitsu’s Deandre Corbe battled his way through a stacked field of competitors, including his own brother, to take home gold and punch his ticket to the Sapateiro World Championship this December.

IBJJF Dallas and Indianopolis Opens

The IBJJF held a pair of North American Opens – in Dallas and Indianapolis – each featuring gi and no-gi competitors.

In Dallas, current ADCC and ONE world champion Kade Ruotolo took home gold in a one-man medium-heavy division and third in the open class, earning points toward a run at the 2024 IBJJF Worlds. 

View the full results for the gi portion of the Dallas Open here, and no-gi here.

Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, European Champion Adam Wardzinski earned double gold in the gi. Check out the gi results here, and no-gi here.

Finishers Sub-Only March Madness

Finishers Sub-Only also held an event featuring a trio of title matches and an Emerald City Invitational qualifying tournament.

Tom DeBlass black belt Sean Yadimarco successfully defended his middleweight crown, talented brown belt competitor Nicole Matthew captured the bantamweight title, and Black Hole Jiu-Jitsu representative Marissa Pacelli the interim lightweight title.

Also, 10th Planet standout Kevin Beuhring and Renzo Gracie athlete Julian Espinosa each earned a spot in this summer’s Emerald City Invitational.

Ben Coate

Ben has been involved with grappling, whether through wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, essentially his entire life. After wrestling throughout his childhood, Ben found Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a young adult and quickly fell in love. He has been training for over ten years and holds the rank of black belt, and remains involved in both the MMA and BJJ scene. Ben has been writing about combat sports since 2017. He has interviewed and profiled some of MMA's biggest stars, including multiple UFC champions.

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