Lucas Lepri is considered one of the best pound-for-pound grapplers today, but there is still one elusive title he has yet to add to his collection: ADCC world champion.

Though he has won nine black belt IBJJF world titles in 11 years (including four no-gi), the 33-year-old Alliance star is still motivated to accept the challenge of a new generation of talented grapplers, including that of a stacked -77kg division at ADCC 2017 in Espoo, Finland, this weekend.


​Lucas Lepri works to pass the guard of Garry Tonon at ADCC 2015. Photo: Hywel Teague

His first attempt at an ADCC title run in 2013 in Beijing, China, was plagued by a back injury that happened the week before the event. In Sao Paulo in 2015, he won three matches against tough opponents -- including leglock expert Garry Tonon and Gracie Barra legend Otavio Sousa -- but fell short in the final, being submitted for the only time in his entire black belt career when Davi Ramos caught him with a surprise jumping armbar. 

Regardless of the outcome, Lepri is still confident in his own strategies for this time around. Or lack thereof… 

"I know that those guys make strategy to fight me, but I don't change my game," Lepri said. "I just go and fight my best."

His weight division is loaded with dangerous newcomers and veterans alike, but Lepri says he's ready for whatever comes. He is constantly named as one of the most well-rounded athletes in his (or any) division. Lepri's precise passing translates well from the gi, where many consider him king.

"The game does not change much; just adaptions for the hand positioning," he said. "The rest is the same principle."

In order to prepare, Lepri trained with his students at his academy in Charlotte, NC. The schedule for the academy remained the same as he trained with a few guys on the side and continued training and teaching in the gi. 


​Lepri with Alliance co-founder Fabio Gurgel. Photo: Hywel Teague

Back in 2015, Lepri traveled to Alliance teammate Cobrinha's gym in Los Angeles to prepare. This time Lepri traveled up the East Coast to New York City to train at Marcelo Garcia's gym, spending a couple of weeks at his old friend's place.

"I thought to come to NYC because I could finish my training at Marcelo's and with my conditioning coach Kevin Paretti [his coach since 2008]," Lepri said. "There in NYC, I can push myself a bit and train with different people."

Not only is Garcia one of the all-time best no-gi competitors, but he's also a record-holding four-time ADCC champion. He's a teacher that has sent various students to compete under ADCC rules, so there was no shortage of training partners familiar with the unique rules the event utilizes. And Lepri has a good relationship with them because he used to train at Garcia's when he lived in NYC a few years back. He has known many of Garcia's top black belts since their blue and purple belt days, such as Jonathan Satava, Matheus Diniz, and Marcos Tinoco. 


In regard to the way Lepri trains his jiu-jitsu, he doesn't add any drilling into his routine, just sparring and some specific training. Some of those sessions include working the leglock positions. In his match against Tonon in 2015, Lepri went 10-0 on the scoreboard and completely evaded the famous leglocker's A-game. 

The key is simple, Lepri said: "You have to understand the game and try to prevent the guys from getting there. Of course you have to work as well when your opponent gets the position. If the guy does get the position it's harder to escape, so I work to prevent my opponent from getting the position that he wants."

Though he has already accomplished so much, Lepri has no plans of slowing down. Should he earn the ADCC title, the only one missing from his resume, he doesn't see himself stepping away from the mat anytime soon.

I don't know if I'm ready to retire. I think I can still do so much more. I like to challenge myself and see where I can go.

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