Vote Now! See The Nominees For 2022 FloGrappling Match Of The Year
Vote Now! See The Nominees For 2022 FloGrappling Match Of The Year
The 2022 FloGrappling Match Of The Year nominees have been announced! See which six matches are up for the award, and vote here now.
Voting is now open for the 2022 FloGrappling Awards. Read below to see which six matches have been nominated for Match of the year, and cast your ballot in the form at the end of this article.
Tune in live for the official award show on Thursday, January 12 at 2pm CT!
Kade Ruotolo vs PJ Barch | 2022 ADCC World Championships
This rematch from of the 2021 North American Trials semifinal had everything. Meeting Ruotolo in yet another semifinal, Barch came into the 77kg bout with a career best victory over JT Torres. Ruotolo, though, was on the hotstreak of a lifetime with two submissions in two matches on the weekend.
Barch pushed the wrestling pace on Ruotolo, but Ruotolo utilized his aggressive snapping game to control distance. That didn't stop Barch's counter wrestling, which was the catalyst to a wild and dramatic finish.
Ruotolo shot, Barch countered with a whizzer to the back, but Ruotolo got loose. Barch shot and spun behind Ruotolo; he jumped for the back and set the hooks. Ruotolo quickly escaped to his feet and sat out to a single. Barch sat out in response but Ruotolo — as if magically — locked an armbar and finished it.
Nicholas Meregali vs Tye Ruotolo | 2022 ADCC World Championships
After a heartbreaking first round loss in the weight class, Tye Ruotolo was on a tear in the absolute.
After finishing second at 99 kg in his first ADCC ever, Nicholas Meregali was determined to capture the absolute title.
They met in the absolute semifinal, where the calculated wrestling-judo blend of Meregali put Ruotolo to the ground. The unpredictable takedown game of Ruotolo switched the positions or Meregali, and allowed an opening for a sharp darce choke.
Meregali attacked Ruotolo's back twice before overtime.
Ruotolo smashed several double leg attempts in the do-or-die period.
The crowd cheered for Ruotolo. Meregali was awarded the victory. A rivalry was born.
Izaak Michell vs Vagner Rocha | 2022 ADCC World Championships
Voted the best match of the event by ADCC organizers, Izaak Michell vs Vagner Rocha had the 10,000 plus in attendance at the Thomas & Mack Center on the edges of their seats.
Multiple time ADCC medalist Vagner Rocha took the pace to WNX winner and ADCC rookie Izaak Michell in the early period of the match. But Michell rebounded, taking control of the second half with several near takedowns and a backtake attempt, which was inches from scoring.
In overtime, Rocha regained momentum, switching the tides and getting behind Michell. But Izaak fended off the score, leaving it to the judges, who awarded the victory to Rocha. Watch the embeded highlight of the match here.
Ffion Davies vs Beatriz Mesquita | 2022 ADCC World Championships
The ultimate rubber match in the -60kg category of ADCC 2022. Beatrice Mesquita submitted Ffion Davies in her gold medal run at ADCC 2017. Davies responded in the semis in 2019, breaking Mesquita's arm for silver.
Davies attacked the arm again in this semifinal matchup, leading to a counter heel hook from Mesquita.
In the points period, Davies landed a huge hip throw, and got behind Mesquita as she tried to prevent the takedown score. There, Davies secured her top position for an outstanding six point victory.
Andrew Tackett vs Damien Anderson | ADCC West Coast Trials
A match so competitive it literally broke our camera and destroyed the footage. Fortunately, we found a copy.
After four minutes of relentless handfighting, Andrew Tackett took Damien Anderson down and nearly scored. But Anderson kept the points off the board, forcing overtime.
In OT, the athletes traded takedown attempts and backtake entries, carrying the match far out of bounds on several occasions.
The match went to a 0-0 decision, which was awarded narrowly to Anderson.
Gordon Ryan vs Felipe Pena | Tezos WNO: Ryan vs Pena
The third installment in the greatest rivalry in the sport of grappling was one of the most anticipated matches of the year. Gordon Ryan had seemed nearly untouchable in most of his previous 50 bouts, but Felipe Pena pushed the pace, at times sweeping Ryan and taking him down.
Ryan gained more and more control throughout the match, attacking with pressure and vicious takedowns. Pena seemed to break, possibly marred by the death of his close friend, Leandro Lo, less than 24 hours earlier. Pena gave in around the 45-minute mark of the no-time limit match, submitting without a lock set in.
The end left something to be desired; still, the match assured us that this rivalry — and this matchup — remain as strong as ever.