The 94 kg bracket contains two of the 2017-18 season’s top ten competitors as well as the last two World brown belt open class champs. 

Wardzinski on top

Poland’s Adam Wardzinski (Checkmat) finished in second place overall last year with an incredible 1940 points and eight gold medals. Wardzinski is currently ranked seventh this season. Helton Junior (Atos) finished sixth in 2017-18, with six gold medals and a 26-5 record.

Two of the top prospects in the sport are also registered in the 94 kg division in Rudson Mateus (Brasa CTA, pictured top) and Kaynan Duarte (Atos). 

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Mateus is fourth in the rankings this season after gold in Tokyo and silver in Los Angeles. 2018 has been a successful first year at black belt for the 2017 brown belt World champ. So far this year Rudson has won the Brasileiro as well as third place finishes at both Pans and Worlds. 

Kaynan Duarte

Kaynan won the brown belt open classes earlier this year at Europeans, Pans and Worlds before receiving his black belt on the podium in Long Beach from Andre Galvao. The 20-year-old is considered one of the most promising prospects in jiu-jitsu history, and has so far defeated Nicholas Meregali, Jackson Sousa, Tim Spriggs and Murilo Santana in his five month-long black belt career. He won high-level tournaments such as the first World Series of Grappling and Spyder Invitational BJJ Championship. 

Also in this division are Anton Minenko of Australia, ranked no.12 in the world with 220 points. Minenko is a 2018 World Pro bronze medalist at brown belt. 

Watch the 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio de Janeiro LIVE or On Demand on FloGrappling, November 16-18