2023 ADCC East Coast TrialsOct 23, 2023 by Joe Gilpin
The Best Of The Rest: Impressive Performances From ADCC East Coast Trials
The Best Of The Rest: Impressive Performances From ADCC East Coast Trials
Some of the most impressive performances from ADCC East Coast Trials from grapplers who didn't win - but still left their mark on the fans
ADCC East Coast Trials is in the books and there was no shortage of incredible action. Five athletes qualified for the 2024 World Championships, but there were so many beyond just the champions and finalists who impressed us that weekend. Let's look back on some of the best of the rest who helped make East Coast Trials so exciting.
For this article, we didn't consider the top-4 placers in each weight. These are far from the only impressive runs at Trials, but are just some of the ones that really stuck out to us.
-66kg
Deandre & Gavin Corbe
- The two brothers from Standard Jiu-Jitsu have been making a name for themselves with consistently strong performances, particularly at the ADCC Opens. Deandre won his first three matches by submission before losing to eventual runner-up Mejia by points. Gavin also dropped his match against Mejia, one round later, after submitting 3 of 4 opponents to reach that point. With so much experience in the ruleset, either Corbe could be a force at West Coast with their strong wrestling and technical finishing ability.
Jon Calestine
- Jon Calestine has been off-and-on the competition mats the last few years, but he looked great at Trials. Despite being undersized at -66, he still tapped his way to the quarters where he dropped a close match to former teammate and eventual bronze medalist Ethan Crelinsten. It was great seeing Jon back and his quick leg lock finishes made us remember why we like watching him compete.
Reese Lafever
- Reese is still a young grappler who has yet to have his big breakout moment, but he continues to put together really strong performances so it could come anytime. Here, he made the round of 16 off all submissions and recently submitted ADCC Worlds vet Jeremy Skinner at another event.
-77kg
Kody Steele
- Kody Steele made sure everyone would remember his tournament run with several exciting suplexes and off-mat exchanges. The Fight Factory product has recently been excelling in MMA, so it's hard to say how much longer Steele will be in professional grappling. For however long that is, he will keep putting on performances that bring people to their feet like he did in Atlantic City.
Max Hanson
- Max continues to be right on the precipice of breaking through, and the Adamas Jiu-Jitsu grappler had another strong Trials. After beating Nick Newell in the R16, he dropped a points loss to Oliver Taza (eventual bronze medalist), who has as much experience under this ruleset as anyone.
- Last year Kade Tsitos won IBJJF No-Gi Worlds at brown belt, tapping his way through the bracket. Now, the heel hook specialist has picked up the biggest win of his career after taking out Jon Blank in the Round of 16. He did drop a points loss to Trials champ Elijah Dorsey next round, but with that submission he announced himself to the ADCC public as someone to watch.
- John Combs is a former Trials winner who continues to impress whenever he enters into these brackets. Here, he made it to the top-8 before falling to Kieran Kichuk, but not before several impressive submission wins - including with his signature arm-in guillotine.
Nick Newell
- Nick Newell isn't on this list because he has one hand. He's here because he looked incredible on his run to the round of 16, including several submission victories, and it's only made more impressive by only having one hand. The MMA veteran was eventually leg locked by Max Hanson, but not before getting everyone's attention by navigating his way deep into the field.
-88kg
Jason Rau
- This is one of the best performances that Jason Rau has had in years, winning 4 matches by submission to make the quarterfinals where he lost a super-close matchup to William Tackett. That run included tough wins over guys like Clay Mayfield and Caleb Crump. When Jason Rau is on, he's one of the most technically skilled athletes in any bracket.
- Clay Mayfield is having a really great few months, having turned in a great Trials to follow up his silver medal run at IBJJF No-Gi Pans. He did fall by foot lock to Jason Rau but he continues to look better and better. Having talked to him after the tournament, he says things are just clicking right in his training right now and he expects to compete whenever he steps on the mat, no matter who.
Ryan Aitken
- Ryan Aitken ended up losing in the quarters to Elder, but he was impressive on his run there. He's huge for the weight class but still very technical, and had a fun shoot out match with Nathan Haddad in the round of 16 before facing Elder. Ryan defeated Jacob Couch at a recent ADCC Open, so he's clearly on the level when it comes to West Coast.
- Abraham is another rising Team New Wave student who had a great day, also falling to Elder Cruz by points. Still, he submitted everyone on the way there - including over the tough Daniel Smith of Atos - so he did enough for our list.
David Garmo
- David was really competitive the entire weekend at Trials, making the quarters before he lost to familiar foe Jacob Couch. To get there, he had to string together 4 tough wins including a decision over TLI's Angelo Claiborne. David will be an interesting contender at West Coast.
-99kg
Adam Bradley
- Adam Bradley eventually fell to North American Trials Boogeyman Paul Ardila in the quarters, but the round before he had one of the best wins of the bracket when he beat Michael Pixley by points. The new member of B-Team used a really slick waiter sweep to turn the tide after two submissions leading up to that.
- Breylor, a WNO veteran from Legion BJJ, had a really good win when he submitted the very experienced Eliot Kelly, himself a former Trials winner. He would lose to Adrian Nez in the quarters, but that victory is enough that anyone should be circling his name at West Coast.