The big boys are back at ADCC with the +99kg division full of some of the most powerful and dangerous grapplers on Earth. Unlike some past generations of big men, this bracket will be filled with some incredible technicians and submission artists who bring more than raw strength to the mats.

The likely favorite for gold will be former champion Felipe Pena, who will be attempting to navigate this division in conjunction with his super fight with Gordon Ryan and the absolute division. Who will stand in his way? Who are the top contenders for the podium? We broke it all down here.

All rankings are according to FloGrappling's Official No-Gi Rankings, at the weight of +205lbs unless noted.

Division Favorites

#4 Felipe Pena

• Felipe comes into ADCC as one of the star athletes. His plan is to enter the +99kg, the absolute, and do a Saturday super fight with Gordon Ryan. If he wins out, he'd become the first man to triple gold at a single event. The former open class champion has a lot of opportunity in front of him but now has maybe nine matches to deal with. That's a ton for anyone, and Felipe has had some gas tank issues in the past.
  Still he will be the one seed here and favored against most in the division (except maybe Luke). He brings tricky wrestling, good pressure, great back attacks, and a stellar guard together for his style. We took a deeper look at his guard work here. After years of faltering success at ADCC since 2017, 2024 is Pena's best chance to stamp his legacy.

#5 Luke Griffith

• The big man from New Wave has been on a serious upward trajectory since the last ADCC, and though there have been some stumbles he is really rounding into the form of a contender for ADCC gold. The South African is a dangerous leg locker, a prolific back attacker, and has really developed his wrestling. He originally was planning on competing at -99kg but has outgrown the division and should be big enough for the bracket.
  Luke's big win recently was a dominant showing over 2-time champion Kaynan Duarte in a super fight, so his momentum has never been greater than right now. Still it wasn't long ago that Vagner Rocha was able to gas him out and pass his guard multiple times. If the pace becomes a major factor in a match, it could be an issue.

Contenders

Haisam Rida

• Haisam had one of the biggest break out moments of the 2022 tournament, submitting Cyborg with an armbar that will stand the test of time. Still, that moment was so crazy that it seemed difficult for Rida to lock back in and he was eliminated next round by Roosevelt. 'The Giraffe' is so dangerous as a grappler but he still has holes in his game that will require proper strategy to keep hidden.
  Haisam's strength lies in his length, leverage, throws, and his knack for snatching up submissions out of anywhere. By hand fighting harder and controlling the tie ups earlier, I believe he will maximize his chances at winning.

Dan Manasoiu

• Big Dan is kind of a big question mark heading into this ADCC. He's had some big wins in his career and gained valuable experience by competing at the recent ADCC, but he has continued to show uncharacteristic lapses at times that have limited him. If Big Dan can put it all together, he is a threat to anyone in the world. He's got prodigious size, but is also very technically sound for the weight. He is one of the better leg lockers here and has great top pressure, often finishing with smother chokes.
  Big Dan will have to face teammate Luke Griffith in the first or second round, with whoever wins placing top-4. Considering both are likely to be around for a while at +99, winning this first matchup may be very important for the long-term standing.

Josh Saunders

• The big man from Australia is back at ADCC and now seems to be putting together the tools to make a real run. Josh has always had physical power and cardio but now he has combined that with really sharp technique and strategy that is going to make him a handful at this weight class. He recently raised his stock in a losing effort against Gordon Ryan at WNO and by every account he is improving rapidly with a solid system around him.

Darkhorses

Vinny Magalhaes

• It will be a busy weekend for Vinny Magalhaes as the former champion is also going into the hall of fame on the Friday before his division. He's been around for a long time, competed against the best of the best, and created a legacy that will stand the test of time. However, in 2024 it's hard to have confidence in Vinny making it past some of the younger contenders here.
  In 2022, he had to withdraw early with injury and with so much mileage from a long grappling and MMA career he doesn't have some of the same pop he did in his prime. What he does have is a dangerous guard that can still tie people up and a prodigious flexibility that lets him be effective in unusual positions.

#10 Roosevelt Sousa

• Roosevelt had a great tournament in 2022 where he won bronze. He's big, powerful, has a lot of length/leverage, and continues to improve technically. He still has question marks around some of his submission defense, particularly the leg locks, but he usually does a good job staying safe and strategic.

How To Watch The 2024 ADCC World Championship

The 2024 ADCC World Championship will be streaming live in the United States on FloGrappling and the FloSports app. 

Replays, highlights and news also will be available on both platforms.

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Don't Miss IBJJF World Championships And ADCC World Championships On FloGrappling

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In August 2024, FloGrappling is streaming the ADCC World Championships. The bi-annual tournament returns to Las Vegas. 

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