Day one of the 2015 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was a heady mix of action and drama.

Heavy favorites Romulo Barral, Felipe Preguica Pena and Cobrinha Carlhes steamrolled through the opposition. Barral submitted both his opponents, including Renzo Gracie team member Nieman Gracie, without conceding a single point or bad position. Preguica , fighting up a weight class in the 99kg division, beat teammate Roberto Tussa 3-0 before submitting ATOS rep Jimmy Friedrich. Barral meets Yuri Simoes in the semis, while Pena will go up against Checkmat s Joao Assis.

Xande Ribero will face off against Rodolfo Vieira in the 99kg semi-finals, while the winner of Keenan Cornelius vs Rustam Chsiev will advance to the final of the 88kg division to face the winner of Romulo and Simoes.

At 77kg Lucas Lepri out-pointed Gamrot Mateusz and Garry Tonon and will face Otavio Sousa, while UFC fighter Gilbert Durinho Burns meets Davi Ramos on the other side of the bracket.

In the semis of the 66kg division Rubens Cobrinha Charles will meet Augusto Tanquinho Mendes, who defeated much-heralded Eddie Cummings in the quarter finals, while Bruno Frazatto faces Eddie Bravo black belt Geo Martinez for a spot in the final.

Mackenzie Dern and Beatriz Mesquita made quick work of their opponents in the -60 female division, with defending champion Michelle Nicolini will contend for a spot in the finals with Tammy Musumeci.

The final match of the day was the legends superfight between former teammates Ricardo Liborio and Mario Sperry, which went to a decision after a double overtime. A joyous Liborio was given the nod and was met with a rapturous reaction from the crowd.

All photos credit: Hywel Teague




Highlights of the day including a dramatic and emotional match between friends and training partners Joao Gabriel Rocha and Abraham Marte in the +99kg division, with Rocha winning 3-0.



Best takedown of the day was a toss-up between Claudio Calasans s osoto-gari from a front headlock on Keenan Cornelius, and Rustam Chsiev s slam of Matt Aroyo.





Best submission of the day goes to either Eddie Cumming's 23-second heelhook of Asadulaev Surkhayv, or Vinny Magalhaes's twister of Rodrigo Artilheiro.

Be sure to check back here all weekend for more news, updates and recaps.