Every two years, the ADCC World Championships returns to showcase the biggest talents in submission grappling. There, we often see a clash of generations and a massive disparity in age between the oldest and youngest fighters in each division. That trend is exaggerated this year, as several young athletes stand to break the record for youngest-ever ADCC champion, while several long-time veterans try to hold them off.  

The youngest division by average age of its competitors is the 66 kg division at an average age of 26 years old. There, the 17-year old Cole Abate has a chance to become the youngest ever to win ADCC. 

If Abate fails, 18 and 19-year old athletes like Kade Ruotolo, Tye Ruotolo, Mica Galvao and Giovanna Jara each stand a chance to take that record for themselves.

The heavier weight divisions, meanwhile, offer several opportunities for veterans to strike return gold. That is most true in the +99 kg division, with five returning champs and the oldest average age of ADCC’s competitors, with an average age of more than 30 years old.

66 kg

Cole Abate, 17

The 66 kg category at the ADCC World Championships is full of talent from top to bottom. Art of Jiu-Jitsu’s young phenom Cole Abate will make his first ADCC appearance at the 2022 Worlds at the age of 17. Seeking to make history, Abate has the chance to become the youngest ADCC Champion ever, and would best the record set by his coach Rafa Mendes, who won the 2009 ADCC World Championships at 20 years old. 

One of five competitors eyeing the opportunity to become the youngest champion in history, Abate is already an extremely accomplished grappler in his own right; he won the 2021 ADCC East Coast Trials, and placed third at the WNO Championship in 2021. Abate holds wins over fellow invitees Keith Krikorian and Geo Martinez, as well as experienced black belts Estevan Martinez, Deandre Corbe, and Jon Calestine.

Geo Martinez, 35

Geo Martinez enters ADCC 2022 as the oldest competitor in the 66 kg division at age 35. No stranger to high-level competition, Martinez will make his fourth appearance at the ADCC World Championships, having competed in the three prior editions. His most successful outing was in 2015, when he took fourth place.

Martinez has been one of the most accomplished representatives of the 10th Planet team and has three EBI titles to his credit. The leader of 10th Planet Oceanside, Freakahzoid wields the 10th Planet style of grappling to its fullest, utilizing extreme flexibility and the truck position in his unique blend of techniques. The 66 kg division is stacked this year, and Geo will contend for a world title which has eluded him in three prior tries.

Division Average Age: 26 years

77 kg

Mica Galvao, 18

The second of five competitors able to become the youngest ADCC World Champion in history, Mica Galvao is one of the fastest-rising stars in grappling world. Fighting out of Fight Sports Manaus under his father, Melqui Galvao, Mica is joined at ADCC 2022 by teammates and fellow first-time ADCC invitees Diogo Reis and Fabricio Andrey. Only a few months separate Galvao from the next youngest athlete at 77 kg. 

Joining Galvao as a competitor below 20 is 19-year old Kade Ruotolo.

 With only three losses to his name, Galvao has defeated the likes of Tye Ruotolo, Oliver Taza, Dante Leon, Pedro Marinho, William Tackett, Leandro Lo, Lucas Barbosa, and Keith Krikorian thus far in his short yet illustrious career at the black belt level. In the run-up to ADCC 2022, Galvao tore through the ADCC Balneario Brazil Trials and took home gold medals at the 2022 Brazilian Nationals and World Championships tournaments in the gi. Galvao carries an extremely well-rounded game and is proficient in dismantling his opponents before finding a submission. Most recently defeating Alan Sanchez at Who’s Number One, Mica has looked red hot during his journey to Las Vegas. To win the 77kg title, Mica will have to navigate his way through a loaded bracket with several ADCC medalists in the mix which is sure to provide fireworks for the spectators.

Lachlan Giles, 36

The 77 kg division’s oldest competitor has a much different story than Galvao. 36-year-old Lachlan Giles is a 3x ADCC veteran, who has seen much of his grappling success come to fruition in his veteran years. After disappointing one-and-out performances at the ADCC World Championships in 2015 and 2017, Giles appeared to be headed on the same route after falling to Lucas Lepri in the first round of ADCC 2019. Determined to not leave empty-handed, the Australian native entered the absolute division and famously sent the grappling world into shock as he defeated -99 kg champion Kaynan Duarte via inside heel hook in the opening round.

Giles went on to submit Patrick Gaudio in the quarterfinals before falling to Gordon Ryan in the semis. In his final fight of the tournament, Giles left the mat victorious, capturing a third heel hook submission to defeat Mahamed Aly in the absolute division’s 3rd place bout in a mere minute and twelve seconds.

Division Average Age: 27 years

88 kg

Tye Ruotolo, 19

The youngest returning ADCC veteran, Tye Ruotolo already holds a record at the World Championships. He’s the youngest ever athlete to make the semifinals at ADCC; he was 16-years old when he accomplished that feat in the 66 kg division in 2019. He is still on track to become the youngest ever champion. Now in a division 50 lbs heavier than the one he debuted in, Ruotolo will find unique challenges here in his second appearance.

Jay Rodriguez, 20

In one of the most thrilling runs at an ADCC trials this year, Jacob Rodriguez earned his spot as one of the youngest competitors in the 88 kg division of the ADCC World Championships. At 20 years old, Jay Rod had been training jiu-jitsu for less than two years before West Coast Trials and stormed his way through the division, submitting each of his seven opponents. The younger brother of “Black belt Slayer,” Nick Rodriguez, Jay Rod will look to use his wrestling background and world-class cardio to make the podium at ADCC.

Xande Ribeiro, 41

Twenty-one years Jay Rod’s senior, the legend, Xande Ribeiro returns to ADCC 2022 after being absent since 2017. A two-time champion who boasts a hefty five ADCC medals to his name, Xande has fought the most bouts of any individual in ADCC history and now leads the charge as the head of Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu. The oldest fighter set to compete at ADCC 2022, Ribeiro made his ADCC debut when Jay Rod and Ruotolo were one year old. 

In a career that has now spanned more than two decades at black belt, Xande remains a force to be reckoned with. With a phenomenal guard game grounded in a classic style, Xande is perhaps one of the best examples of the success of fundamentals. In what may be Xande’s final return to the ADCC World Championships, Ribeiro will look to stamp a two-decade legacy of competing at ADCC with a gold medal around his neck.

Division Average Age: 30 years

-99 kg

Luke Griffith, 21

After storming through the second Europe, Middle East, and African ADCC trials with three submissions in four matches — including a submission over the ever-tough Owen Livesey — Luke Griffith appears to be one of the dark horses of the 99 kg division. The 21-year-old Griffith has looked extremely impressive in competition so far, submitting a black belt no-gi worlds silver medalists in his Who’s Number One debut. A native of South Africa, Griffith now trains at New Wave under John Danaher and has had no trouble keeping up with the success of his teammates and will be joined by teammate Nicholas Meregali in the -99 kg division. Griffith will face a tough challenge against a bevy of ADCC veterans in Las Vegas, but will likely become a division staple and a feared name in years to come.

Rafael Lovato Jr., 39

An IBJJF Gi and NoGi World Champion, Rafael Lovato Jr. made history by becoming the first American to win a coveted CBJJ Brazilian National Championship gold medal in 2007. Along his run of success, Lovato has won nearly every title he has attempted, including a Bellator MMA championship belt, with the elusive ADCC World Championships gold medal an exception. He was nearest the title in 2013, where he fell in the final bout to Romulo Barral. Lovato Jr. also placed fourth in the 88kg division at the 2009, 2011, and 2017 ADCC World Championships. Now aged 39, Lovato Jr. will look to test his timeless jiu-jitsu style yet again in his seventh trip to the biggest stage in no-gi grappling.

Division Average Age: 29 years

Men’s +99kg

Daniel Manasoiu, 20

Prior to ADCC West Coast trials, very few had heard the name Daniel Manasoiu. At age 20, the blue belt entered the trials as the fourteen seed and left with a silver which included an impressive submission victory over fellow ADCC competitor Damon Ramos. Referred to simply as “Big Dan,” the 6-feet, 7-inches tall heavyweight grappler from team New Wave impresses both on the ground and the feet with technical proficiency. Undeterred by his setback at the ADCC West Coast Trials, Manasoiu ventured to the 2nd Europe, Middle East, and Africa trials where he showcased his wrestling abilities against Muslim Patsigarov before submitting the former Chechen wrestler in the division final.

Also a contestant on Flograppling’s Who’s Next series, Manasoiu has demonstrated outstanding progression in his game between the series’ filming and his most recent performance.

Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu, 42

A staple of the +99 kg division for more than a decade, Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu returns to ADCC with vindication likely on his mind. In six trips to the ADCC World Championships, Cyborg has taken home five medals, winning the Absolute division in 2013, while taking silver in 2009 and earning bronze in 2011, 2013, and 2017 in the +99kg division. In 2015, Cyborg was absent from weight class competition, as he fought Andre Galvao in the featured superfight.

 In 2019, Cyborg missed the podium after a contentious decision loss to Nicky Rod. The leader of the Fight Sports association, Cyborg will contend with a field much younger than himself and look to keep the new guard at bay as he tries for his first weight class title — and retribution.

Division Average Age: 30 years

-60 kg

Adele Fornarino, 22

Making her ADCC debut, Adele Fornarino is the youngest competitor in the women’s -60kg division at age 22. A brown belt, the Australian Fornarino was a blue belt juvenile IBJJF World Champion, purple belt IBJJF World medalist, and fought to a bronze medal at the 2022 IBJJF Pans prior to winning the ADCC Asia and Oceania trials. During her run to gold at ADCC trials, Fornarino showcased her formidable guard, capturing three straight submissions in less than two minutes each. Having spent scarce time on her feet during the tournament, Adele’s fellow -60kg competitors will likely look to test her wrestling game to avoid her armbar and triangle skills.

Elvira Karppinen, 33

A two-time ADCC veteran, 10th Planet black belt Elvira Karppinen shocked the grappling world in her first foray at ADCC Worlds in 2017 when she defeated returning champion, Mackenzie Dern, in the opening round in front of a homefield Finnish crowd. After failing to make the podium in 2017, Karppinen captured a bronze medal at the 2019 ADCC World Championships with a win over Catherine Perret in the opening round. A guard player, Karppinen tends to seek leg entanglements and wields a nasty foot lock in her arsenal of attacks.

Division Average Age: 27 years

+60 kg

Giovanna Jara, 19

The youngest female competitor at ADCC, Giovanna Jara of Dream Art has been blazing through the highest levels of competition for nearly two years now, winning the IBJJF Gi World Championships at blue belt in 2021, while spending 2022 conquering the ADCC Sao Paulo trials, taking home double gold at IBJJF Pans, CBJJ Brazilian Nationals, and IBJJF Worlds at purple belt, then going on to take another set of gold medals in the brown belt division at No-Gi Brazilian Nationals. Perhaps a prodigy in the making, Jara submitted three of her four opponents at the Sao Paulo Trials and will look to continue her winning ways in a +60kg division loaded with established vets.

Gabi Garcia, 37

One of the most dominant competitors in the history of women’s grappling, Gabi Garcia has made five trips to the ADCC World Championships and returned home with four gold medals and one bronze. A student of Fabio Gurgel and competitor for the Alliance team, Garcia has long sat atop the +60 kg throne, having first competed at and won ADCC at the 2011 World Championships in Nottingham, England. Absent from competition in 2022 so far, Garcia will return to action in Vegas eager to show that she still wears the division’s crown despite a horde of ADCC newcomers challenging for the gold medal this year.

Division Average Age: 26 years