The UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Tour rolls on this weekend with the ADGS Los Angeles. It’s not merely a crucial staging area for the UAEJJF’s season rankings, but also a turning point for the state of competition in jiu-jitsu. 

Why?

This is the first MAJOR gi tournament for many athletes who were promoted after the 2018 World Championships, including the brown belt debuts of Roberto Jimenez and Thalison Soares (in the gi), and the exciting Kennedy Maciel, now competing as a black belt. 

Some of the athletes have cut their teeth at regional events, but the Grand Slam represents their toughest challenge yet and a real introduction to the next level of competition.

Watch the 2018 UAEJJF ADGS Los Angeles LIVE Sept. 22 

Black Belt Newcomers

Kennedy Maciel

69kg | Alliance | Brazil 

The 2018 featherweight brown belt World Champion is a young athlete who seems destined for greatness. Son of the legendary Cobrinha, Maciel has shouldered the high expectations with uncommon composure, refusing to let minor setbacks incurred as a purple belt affect his motivation or drive. All this led to his best year yet, culminating in winning Worlds and getting promoted on the podium. 

Kennedy's entrance to the 69kg division sees him join a cast of elite veterans, including potential matchups with Gianni Grippo and Paulo Miyao. A tough test for Maciel, and an opportunity to see how he handles world class opposition. 

WATCH: Kennedy Maciel vs Malachi Edmond, 2018 IBJJF Worlds Final

 

Leonard Lara 

77kg | Almeida JJ | Brazil 

Leo Lara is an Almeida / Atos Jiu-Jitsu representative and the 2018 middleweight brown belt World champion, Pan champion and Abu Dhabi World Pro champion. Lara is easily one of the most exciting black belt prospects, and has big wins over names like Levi-Jones Leary and Matheus Lutes.

Lara's entrance in this weekends' event sees him join the same division as veteran black belts Jamie Canuto and Victor Silverio, and will be an excellent test for the rising star. 

Mayssa Bastos

49kg | GF Team | Brazil 

Mayssa Bastos is another recent black belt that has already made her presence known on the black belt circuit.  The GF Team representative recently put up over 40(!) points in two matches at the No-Gi Pans and submitted both of her opponents earlier this summer at the ADGS Tokyo.  

WATCH: Mayssa Bastos vs Pati Fontes – 2018 IBJJF Pan No-Gi 

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Gabrielle Lima McComb 

62kg | Gracie Humaita | Brazil

Gabi McComb is a black belt under Leticia Ribeiro and one of the most promising up and coming female athletes. A World Champion as a purple belt and a brown belt Pan Champion, McComb has been honing her craft in San Diego, CA. McComb has a crafty guard and is the owner of a nasty ballon sweep. 

McComb certainly has no easy task in front of her this weekend though: also featured in the 62kg division are Atos standouts Bianca Basilio and Nicole Sullivan and recent No-Gi Pans gold medalist and Checkmat team member Catherine Perret.  

Gabrieli Pessanha 

90kg | InFight | Brazil

Gabi Pessanha hails from the favela of Cidade de Deus in Rio de Janeiro, a neighborhood infamous for the movie that shares its name, “City of God." She was the only athlete– male or female– to hit the double grand slam in the 2018 IBJJF season as a purple belt (gold at weight & absolute at Euros, Pans, Brasileiros, and Worlds).  She was promoted to brown on the podium after worlds and will be facing black belt competition for the first time this weekend at the Grand Slam (the UAEJJF combines women's brown and black belts).  

The combined divisions mean we could see Gabi take on some of the best female black belts on the planet today, including Nathiely De Jesus and Izadora Silva.  

WATCH: Gabi Pessanha Rolls With Male Brown Belt

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Blue and Purple belt World Champions making the jump to their new belt at the ADGS Los Angeles

Brown Belts: 

• Thalison Soares – 2018 Purple Belt Worlds Silver Medalist (closed out with Jonas Andrade), 2018 Pans Champion, 2018 European Champ.
• Roberto Jimenez – 2018 Middleweight & Absolute Purple Belt World Champion.
• Jonas Andrade – 2018 Purple Belt Worlds Gold Medalist. 
• Mason Fowler – 2018 Purple Belt World Champion, 2018 European Champion.

Purple Belts: 

• Elisabeth Clay – 2018 World Champion, Pan Champion.
• Sarah Thackray  – 2018 Blue Belt World Champion, Pan Champion, European Champion.
• Tainan Dalpra – 2018 Blue Belt World Champion, 2018 Pan Champion.
• Mateus Rodrigues – 2018 Blue Belt World, 2018 Pan Champion Champion, Pan Champion.
• Lucas Protasio – 2018 World Champion, 2018 European Champion.