These athletes, and their actions stood out as some of the most exciting and successful in 2021. The year was loaded with amazing moments, thrilling moments and breakthrough athletes. But even among the best, these moments and competitors were the best of 2021.

The 2021 Male Grappler Of The Year: Kade Ruotolo

Kade Ruotolo made his most prominent mark on grappling this year on the WNO mats, where he amassed five victories: four submissions and an injury stoppage. He earned the WNO lightweight title at the WNO Championship, submitting two top-notch opponents.

He had an outstanding gold medal run at the North American ADCC Trials, to boot, racking up seven more victories including three submissions. He finished the year with a second-place performance at Worlds in the gi, losing the brown belt lightweight finals to his brother, Tye Ruotolo, and receiving his black belt from Andre Galvao the following week.

Ruotolo’s stardom this year didn’t come only from his wins or submission rate, but also from his style. He’s blended wrestling with unorthodox passing, displayed darces from everywhere, unleashed the buggy choke, and was in several of the most scramble-laden, fast paced matches of the year. He’s in two matches nominated for match of the year, and his buggy choke over Cole Franson is a submission of the year contender.

Ruotolo finished the year with a 17-2 record and a 59% submission rate.

The 2021 Female Grappler Of The Year: Mayssa Bastos

Mayssa Bastos finished the 2021 season with four impressive titles, and her third consecutive nomination for Female Grappler Of The Year. Bastos captured a No-Gi Pans title, a No-Gi World title, the WNO Strawweight title, and an IBJJF World title, stringing together one of the most successful years of her career. She was most outstanding in the final performance of her season, securing three submissions in three matches at Worlds.

Now with 20 no-gi matches as a black belt, Bastos remains undefeated in all no-gi rulesets.

She finished the year with a 15-2 record and a 46.6%submission rate. Six of her seven submission victories were chokes from back control.

The 2021 Breakthrough Grappler Of The Year: Cole Abate

Cole Abate has been clamoring for top-level opposition for years. The 16-year old had his wish fulfilled this year at WNO Championship, where he entered the 155 lb division, and defeated the veteran Geo Martinez in the opening round. He then fought to a tightly-contested split decision with Gabriel Sousa, a loss.

But Abate was just getting started, and demonstrated the extent of his abilities at the ADCC East Coast Trials. There, he submitted his first three opponents, and outscored four more — namely, Estevan Martinez, Jon Calestine, Deandre Corbe, and Keith Krikorian — becoming the youngest ever male ADCC trials winner. It was an exceptional run, as Abate did not give up a point in seven matches, and none of his matches required overtime.

The 2021 Match Of The Year: Kade Ruotolo vs Ethan Crelinsten | WNO

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Kade Ruotolo defeated Ethan Crelinsten in their first encounter in 2020, but was the underdog coming into the rematch. Both athletes had something to prove. The first 90 seconds was an open scramble, a furious exchange of positions and submission attempts.

Three minutes into the match, Ruotolo attempted a darce and turned it into a vicious armbar, which Crelinsten remarkably endured and escaped.

After six more minutes of relentless activity, Crelinsten sat up, giving Rutolo his darce position once again. Crelinsten demonstrated his grit, trying to fight out. But the choke eventually earned a tap.

2021 Submission Of The Year: Grace Gundrum's Twister at WNO Championship

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With Eddie Bravo in attendance among a crowd of 10th Planet supporters, 10th Planet’s flagship competitor hit the team’s most notable submission against longtime rival Jessa Khan.

Gundrum and Khan had split victories in their youth, but this was their first meeting in five years after a series of canceled bouts.

A WNO title shot was on the line in this matchup, as the winner would move to the WNO Championship final to face Mayssa Bastos.

Anticipation built as Gundrum proceeded through the sequence leading to the twister, until it was clear that she intended to attempt that submission. The crowd erupted as Gundrum landed the first twister in WNO history.