Here's Why To Watch The Historic 2024 Absolute Brackets At ADCC
Here's Why To Watch The Historic 2024 Absolute Brackets At ADCC
The Absolute division at ADCC World Championships 2024 offers unpredictable matchups and potential upsets. Here's why to watch.
For the uninitiated, the Absolute Bracket is the fire and brimstone of the ADCC World Championships. The Absolute competition is chaotic good.
In this division, weight classes are thrown out the window and athletes from different weight classes will face off against each other. It offers the chance of mismatched opponents, size vs. skill, and unpredictability.
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After the medals for each of the main divisions have been divied out on Sunday, August 18, athletes will enter themselves, or be chosen to compete, in the Absolute Bracket.
Overall, 16 competitors will be chosen for the men's absolute division and eight will be chosen for the women's absolute division. In ADCC history, there have only been two Women's Absolute competitions, the last one being in 2007.
Here’s why fans will want to watch the Absolute Bracket at ADCC 2024.
Diego Pato Offers Unpredictable Matchups, Potential Upsets
"The craziest thing you're gonna see from the absolute bracket is- I think we have a better chance coming in than ever before to have someone who's much smaller than usual medal in the absolute," explains FloGrappling expert Joe Gilpin.
Pato has quickly risen through the ranks and has proven himself to be a formidable competitor and over the last few years has become a three-time IBJJF world champion and a two-time IBJJF no-gi world champion.
"I think he has a chance to become the first-ever -66 kg division athlete to medal in the absolute, he's that lethal with his leg locks and his submission prowess that I think that there is no one in this tournament that he cannot submit," Gilpin adds.
"Pato is pound-for-pound, the scariest grappler in the world right now. He is and he's a nice guy, but he is vicious with his submission attacks. And that makes him truly, truly an a intimidating presence on the mat."
David Vs. Goliath Scenarios
Athletes like Pato and Dante Leon bring a David vs. Goliath aspect to ADCC World Championships 2024.
"Dante [Leon] has really established his reputation as one of the toughest dudes in the sport over the last few years by taking on and defeating guys who are much larger than him," says Gilpin, "and not just anybody, too, real champions."
Gilpin adds, "Dante is somebody that a lot of these absolute athletes are gonna be having a face. I think that element is going to draw a lot of interest."
"This might be the kind of year where just all the bigger people beat all the smaller people. It might be the kind of year where things are very mixed and varied. There's no way to tell until we get out of there."
Historic Women's Absolute Bracket At ADCC 2024
For the first time since 2007, the introduction of a women's absolute bracket brings a new dynamic to competition.
"We're also gonna have a women's absolute the first time in many years. And I think that because it's so new and we're not used to seeing how these brackets play out for the women, it's going to be interesting to see just what dynamic takes charge," says Gilpin.
Previous ADCC champions Amy Campo, Bianca Basilio and Bia Mesquita will be competing in separate divisions at the ADCC World Championships 2024. The chance that they could compete against each other in the Absolute brackets could create incredible outcomes. It's something we haven't seen in nearly 20 years at ADCC.
When Are The Absolute Brackets Announced At ADCC 2024?
The ADCC Absolute Brackets will be announced after the main classes gold medal matches finish on Sunday, August 18.
The gold medal matches are expected to begin at 2:40 p.m. EDT.
The Absolute matches are expected to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
What To Know About The Absolute Brackets At ADCC 2024
- Open-Weight Division: The Absolute Bracket allows athletes of all weight classes to participate, without any weight restrictions.
- Invitation-Only: The Absolute division is invitation only, allowing only top competitors to be chosen.
- Bracket Structure: The bracket is composed of 16 competitors for the men's division and 8 competitors for the women's division.
- Selection of Competitors: Participants are selected through several criteria, such as holding titles or winning medals in their respective divisions, being invited as highly-ranked athletes, or demonstrating exceptional abilities.
- Women's Competition: The Women's Absolute division will be competing for the first time since 2007.
How To Watch The 2024 ADCC World Championship
Replays, highlights and news also will be available on both platforms.
ADCC Start Time
Here are times to know about the ADCC World Championships. All times Eastern.
Aug. 17:
- The ADCC World Championship Opening Ceremony is at 1 p.m.
- ADCC World Championship First Round matches begin at 1:45 p.m.
- ADCC World Championship Quarterfinals are expected to start around 5 p.m.
- Gordon Ryan vs. Felipe Pena ADCC Super Fight is expected to be at 8 p.m.
Aug 18:
- ADCC World Championship Semifinal matches begin at 1 p.m.
- ADCC World Championship Bronze Medal matches are expected to start at 2 p.m.
- ADCC World Championship Gold Medal matches are expected to start at 2:40 p.m.
- ADCC World Championship Absolute Division is expected to start at 6:30 p.m.
- ADCC World Championship Absolute Division Medal Rounds are expected to start at 8:30 p.m.
- Gordon Ryan vs. Yuri Simoes ADCC Super Fight expected to start at 9:30 p.m.
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