Four Crazy First-Round Matches At ADCC 2017

The brackets are out, and this year's ADCC is looking to be one of the greatest ever if the first-round matches are anything to go by.

Sep 22, 2017 by Hywel Teague

Four Crazy First-Round Matches At ADCC 2017

The ADCC brackets are out, and this year's tournament is looking to be one of the greatest ever if the first-round matches are anything to go by. Here are four that stand out Saturday for being explosive, hotly-anticipated, or just all-out crazy!

4. Jake Shields vs. Abdurakhman Bilarov, -99kg

Shields is coming into -99kg as one of the lightest competitors in the division. Barely scraping 99kg fully dressed, Shields will face the little-known but highly dangerous Bilarov, who hails from the grappling hotbed of Dagestan.

The Russian has -- as you'd expect from someone of that region -- a solid wrestling background. However, he has the submissions to match, having shown his skills by tapping out Checkmat's Jackson Sousa with an Imanari roll to inverted heelhook -- impressive for a man his size.

Shields will need to rely on every ounce of his extensive wrestling background in this first-round match. The winner will likely go on to face 2015 silver medalist Felipe Pena.

3. Talita Alencar vs. Bianca Basilio, -60kg

What do you get when put two of the most aggressive, dynamic competitors in the -60kg division against each other? The answer is fireworks! Basilio won the ADCC South American Trials in Sao Paulo while Alencar was invited. Both make their ADCC debut and will obviously have a strong desire to impress.

Stylistically they are similar in having solid stand-up games, dynamic passing, and good guards. The will to win will be key in deciding who comes out on top in this match, something both competitors possess in plenty.

2. Nicky Ryan vs. AJ Agazarm, -66kg

Probably the most shocking matchup we spotted among the first-round matches was this -66kg clash. The wily and durable Agazarm faces the youngest male competitor in ADCC history in this bout, which is a genius piece of matchmaking.

Ryan accepted the spot in the division just 48 hours out from the event following the withdrawal of Justin Rader but comes in fully prepared thanks to being part of the ADCC camp in New York, training alongside his older brother, Gordon, and teammates Garry Tonon, Oliver Tara, Ethan Crelinsten, and co.

1. Gordon Ryan vs. Dillon Danis, -88kg

This is the one match EVERYBODY hoped to see at ADCC. Hopes faded that we would see it at all, as the two competitors have so far never been close to agreeing on a match. ADCC decided to take the initiative by putting them against each other first round, thereby giving the fans the big match they had been clamoring for between Ryan and Danis.

How the match plays out in anybody's guess. Danis' wrestling ability will be a big factor, considering that ADCC penalizes guard pulling and Ryan's stand-up has never been his strong point. Ryan is a notorious leg locker and triangle expect and has a mean rear-naked choke, but as Danis showed in his recent match with Garry Tonon, getting him a position from which to attack is easier said than done.

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