The Untouchables: All-Star Performances From ADCC Trials

The first edition of the ADCC European trials went down yesterday in sunny Bucharest, Romania.

Oct 8, 2018 by Chase Smith

The Untouchables: All-Star Performances From ADCC Trials

The first edition of the ADCC European trials went down yesterday in sunny Bucharest, Romania.

Early-confirmed athlete registrations had us in a state of frenzied anticipation the days leading up to the trials, and the outcome exceeded even our lofty expectations.

Three champions stand out with nearly flawless performances on their way to the top of the podium: 77kg’s Ross Nicholls, 88kg’s Adam Wardzinski, and +99kg Eldar Rafigaev. Wardzinski finished three out of five matches by submissions Ross Nicholls finished four out of five, and Rafigaev finished all four of his matches.

See all of their matches on FloArena

Wardzinski's Butterfly Cannot Be Stopped

Wardzinki’s trademark butterfly guard system was in full effect throughout the trials event, earning him submissions and acting as an expressway to his opponents' backs. An untrained viewer be fooled into thinking Wardzinki's approach to guard is a bit lackadaisical, but he is simply a master of retention and balance.

Even though his opponents know what's coming they still managed to get swept head over heels. Among our favorite sequences include Wardzinski's effortless back-take on Djati Melan that saw him finish the fight with RNC.

WATCH Adam Wardzinski's No-Gi Butterfly Guard Masterclass

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Yakuza Decimates +99kg Competition

Eldar "Yakuza" Rafigaev submitted three of his opponents in less than one minute. Rafigaev elected to attack from the bottom at all times and had a craft guard that he used to attack both with triangles and lower limb submission attacks. Rafigaev's composure also seems to be also a critical factor to his success: the Moldovan athlete's facial expression was an ocean of calm, nearly expressionless until he finished Ioannis Arzoumanidis the final and had secured his ticket to the ADCC 2019 World Championships when he let out a cry of elation.

Nicholls: The UK's Best Kept Secret?

Ross Nicholls can finish the fight from anywhere. We enjoyed watching the Roger Gracie black belt employed a wide-variety of guards and attacks, cycling from the modern half-butterfly guard approach that target's leglocks and back takes to pressure passing on top. The 77kg division was arguably the most well-rounded division in the entire event and Nicholls ran through monsters like Vegard Vandenburg and Matheus Gamrot on his path to gold. We expect big things at ADCC Worlds from this up and coming star.

Watch Nicholls' Savage Heel Hook finish in the 77kg Final