ADCC 2011 Review

I want to start by saying that there aren't enough superlatives in the English language to describe how much I enjoyed the weekend; from the first morning that I was standing in the foyer and one of my heroes in the form of Andre Galvao casually strolled past me, followed shortly by a pack of Gracies; through all of the outstanding match ups; meeting the three fighters that I'd specifically brought pictures of to get signed (and they were all really nice, and down to earth); getting to try Acai for the first time; and finally running into one of the organisers at the airport per chance and getting to pose with an actual ADCC winners medal! (which has made me more determined to actually compete for one some day).

It's because of all these experiences, that writing a review would've been a mammoth task and so I've decided to do my review in the form of a mini awards ceremony (I'm sure the world's greatest grapplers would be pleased to find out that they've won a fictional award from little old me), but I personally felt like this would be the best way to do it. So here goes:

Best Match.

Possibly the hardest category to pick, as there wasn't a single 'bad' match - the winner probably took the award due to the atmosphere created by it, more than it being an actually 'better' match.

1st -Braulio vs Jacare aka 'Was that three seconds?'

I had never experienced a match like this before. An arena filled with thousands of people fell so silent that you could hear someone speaking on the other side. This was undoubtedly the most technical match of the tournament, but more than that, the tension was positively palpable. The match was free flowing and was an exhibition of some of the highest level techniques. I'm confident that the debate will rage on for some time about whether or not the those hooks were in for three seconds or not, but if you ask me Braulio was the aggressor throughout the entire match and ultimately deserved the victory.

Runner up - Alzuguir v Nicolini

I genuinely believe that if this match had been given the super fight treatment, and hadn't been just another tournament fight, it would have been the best match of the tournament. Every time the women exclusively took to the mats, it was hard to ignore the amount of spectators that filed out of the arena to go to the toilet, buy merchandise or buy snacks...how wrong they were. Some of the most outstanding fights were in the women's division; be it the finesse of Kyra Gracie or the technical brilliance and dogged determination of Penny Thomas - and none were more brilliant than this fight. An exhibition of absolutely excellent technique and astounding stamina, the only thing missing from this fight was a captive audience like the super fight commanded. This was one of those fights where you were genuinely disappointed to see a loser at the end of it.

Notable mentions -

Pablo Popovitch vs Galvao (weight). An epic battle between two gladiators of the sport with Galvao's brilliance ultimately shining through.

Rafa Mendes vs Bruno Frazatto. The Atos/Atos fight to open the weight class did not disappoint; they swapped leg locks the entire match and gave everything they had - if there was any reason to doubt the pedigree of Atos, there isn't now!

Best Competitor.

When I was picking the winner of this category, I wasn't just looking at how many matches they won, but more the way they competed.

1st - Andre Galvao

Was there ever any doubt? In the months leading up to the competition Galvao documented his preparation for the tournament on his Facebook page. Needless to say it was rigorous, and it showed at the competition. No-one was his equal technically, nor could brute strength and physicality derail his run to success. He escaped Palhares' dreaded heel hook and ultimately undid him with exceptional skill. He defeated the formidable Popovitch twice, including a systematic destruction in the absolute final. This man had no equal at the competition, and his awesome record should go from strength to strength.

Runner up - Vinny Magalhaes

I've never made any secret of my fandom for Vinny, but this isn't based on the fact that I like him (much more now since he was such a great guy to me at the competition, by the way), but due to the finesse and lion heart he showed throughout the competition. Early in the competition he was caught in a deep toe hold, but calmly sat out the submission until his opponent had burned his arms out, before catching him with a toe hold of his own. But he ultimately received this accolade because he proved to be as good as we expected, answered many of the critics who said the rubber guard can't work in competition and because he beat Werdum who repeatedly slapped and shoved him, and after he overcame THAT armbar (more on that later)...

Notable mention - Penny Thomas

I'm not going to lie, I didn't know much about Penny Thomas...after her fight with Gabi Garcia, I'm never likely to forget her. If I had to guess Penny is 65-70 kg, Gabi is listed as 107 kg on the bjj heroes website...that's not exactly a small difference. I firmly believe that Helio and Carlson themselves would have been proud to see Penny rolling around the mat in the way that she did; proving the very fundamentals of jiujitsu that technique is more important than size. Penny ultimately lost that fight, and my heart broke a little when she did - she nearly pulled off the win on a number of occasions, and if she had done it would've been a greater feat than Caio Terra winning the absolute. Her combination of skill, dogged determination and stamina is something to be marvelled. Her performance in that match alone is worthy of a medal in my opinion.

Most heart in mouth moment

1st - Vinny Armbar

Yes...THAT armbar. Picture it; the final of the heavyweight division, a tight affair that has been back and forth throughout, Werdum has gotten away with a shocking amount of heavy handed slaps. Vinny has generally been the aggressor, with Fabricio seemingly cautious about engaging. Vinny went for a flying move at one stage (armbar or triangle) but ended up dumped on his head as Werdum's now sweaty arm pulled free - I thought that could've been the end due to concussion or neck injury but thankfully he survived. The fight ends up on the ground with Vinny in a deep armbar. After several minutes Werdum turns up the heat by twisting the arm whilst armbarring it. By this stage many of the spectators had turned away or closed their eyes. This still isn't working so Werdum applies a wrist lock too! By this stage I realised Vinny wasn't going to tap - that arm might break, but he wasn't going to tap! When his arm slipped free of the wrist lock it looked like it had in fact broken and a gasp rang around the arena. He escaped the armbar eventually, calmly stood up and adjusted his now stretched and misshapen rash guard...absolutely spectacular!...

Runner up - Palhares/ Avellan restart

You get drawn against a 5'8" (if that) monster who's over 14 stone of solid muscle. Some people have questioned his grappling ability, questions answered by his previous victims and his highly regarded coach Murilo Bustamante. He is without doubt, the greatest executor of the heel hook known to man - a move that can change the way you'll walk for some time to come if you're too slow to tap. His first opponent was caught in a heel hook, and tapped before any proper pressure was applied...a very smart move. Tapping to a heel hook from said man, before complaining that the submission occurred off the mat, so the fight will be restarted in the middle of the mat IN THE HEEL HOOK POSITION...not a wise move. As they lay in the middle of the mat awaiting the restart there was a lot of nervous laughter and murmuring around the arena, common phrases included "why??!!" and "what is he thinking?!". Needless to say the inevitable happened... "Medics to mat 3 please, medics to mat 3".

Notable Mention - Braulio Estima and those hooks.

The "best match" winner had been going for some time, no submission ever looked like really coming off, no points had been scored then suddenly Braulio manoeuvres for Jacare's back...one hook (excitement mounts)...the second hook (some screaming and celebration)...Jacare scrambles frantically to dismount Braulio from his back...one second...two seconds...the place absolutely erupts just as Jacare flips Braulio off his back and looks heartbroken by the fact that the judges have already marked the fateful 3 points...What a moment!

Best Move

1st - Leo Vieira shoulder throw

Leo Vieira showed the doubters that traditional jujitsu has its place in BJJ competition with a perfectly executed shoulder throw. The celebration that rang around the arena was testament to the wonderful execution, but I won't try to describe it, I'll let the photo montage do the talking.

Runner up - Palhares' heel hook

Many people claimed that all Palhares could do was heel hook. I'd argue that they're wrong, but even if they're right, it's hard to argue with a move that carried him to the final and sent two of his opponents to the hospital (he seemed fairly apologetic about the injury to Lovato - staying with him and talking to him backstage as the medics bandaged him [I know this as I was being shamelessly nosey], but was quite unsympathetic to Avellan). Some would say he's fairly unsporting with the way he pulls off the move, and they're probably right; but no-one batted an eyelid when Werdum wrenched an armbar on Monson's heavily strapped arm...I guess that's the nature of the sport but I just believe everyone should be judged in the same way. Had he won the final with the move it would've won the "best move" award, but as fate would have it, Galvao's pure skill saw him roll free from said move and onto victory.

Notable mention - Cobrinha's triangle

In a competition that saw the majority of matches decided by points or judges decisions, and most of the submission victories coming by way of a leg/ foot lock of some description, it was nice to see a well executed triangle. None were better executed than Cobrinha's.

The "thanks for my body issues" award

Something that really struck me about all of the competitors was there physical prowess - something that you can't really grasp from a picture or video; seeing them in person really drives the point home. I believe that they deserve praise for it as they work unbelievably hard, and have a meticulously planned diet to maintain it. However, some of the competitors are another step above...

1st - Pablo Popovitch

At fear of sounding like I have the hots for him, what can I say about the physique of Popovitch? Wow! The guy looks like a statue of a Greek god, like he's been carved out of granite or something.

Runner up - Kyra Gracie

Not the biggest of competitors (ie Gabi Garcia), but if there's a pick of fat on her I didn't see it. A friend directed me to her workout videos including her pull up routine, and it becomes very apparent how she maintains her physique.

Notable Mentions

Rousimar Palhares - I mentioned on the Facebook page that there was a murmur that rang around the place when he took his shirt off; he's freakishly muscular for someone so short.

Andre Galvao - not the biggest, nor the most defined, but probably the best combination of the two. Galvao's famous workout and drilling routines are all too apparent when you see him in the flesh.

Nicest person (to me)

I feel it's important to point out that all of the competitors were fantastic with the fans; not a guard or minder in sight, they mingled freely with the fans and gave as many photos and autographs as were asked of them. I remember at one stage Braulio went for some Acai...it was 30 minutes before he even made it to the queue at the table as he stopped for every fan that asked.

1st - Vinny Magalhaes

I asked Vinny on his Facebook page if he'd sign the photoshop composition I made if I brought it with me and he agreed...at the event he was a man of his word. He signed the picture, and commented that he remembered me from Facebook, but more than that he stood talking to me for ten minutes about how he was getting on, how he felt about the competition, his opinions on the ultimate fighter and his preparations for his upcoming M1 fight; a true gentleman and all round nice guy.

Runner up - Lucio "Lagarto" Rodrigues

I had a lot of respect for Lagarto following the article I read about him in jiujitsu style magazine. I met him briefly on the Saturday (whilst talking to Vinny) and had to fight his case to the event staff that he was in fact a current fighter, and just hadn't been given a new blue wrist band. On Sunday I saw him again and asked for his autograph in my programme; he duely obliged and spent the next five minutes talking to me about how much he liked the layout and production of the programme, and about other BJJ stuff in general. Another really great guy!

Notable mention - Romulo Barral

As I took up a new seat with an improved view of mat 1, I looked at the person sitting one row in front of me. I felt like I knew his face from somewhere, but couldn't put my finger on it so just assumed he had 'one of those faces'. I spent the next while talking to him and discussing the match. It wasn't until that evening I realised it was Romulo Barral - acting like just another enthusiastic fan.

This was one of my favourite things about the whole event - the effort made by the competitors. If that had been footballers, they wouldn't have been anywhere near the fans.

And so concludes my review of ADCC. I know not everyone will agree with my choices, or even my categories, but that's how I saw the event. It truly was one of the greatest weekends I've ever experienced. I've tried to be conscious of not picking my own preferred athletes too often, and I think I've succeeded. I hope you got some enjoyment from reading, and please leave any comments, suggestions or anyone/ anything you think I've left out, here or on the Facebook page

Special thanks go out to Manto and Meerkatsu for the use of their photos.