The last Grand Slam event of the season before the tour ends with the Abu Dhabi World Pro in April, the ADGS London is a crucial moment for athletes who need to solidify their positions in the rankings.

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Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa (Atos) won the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam earlier this year and will be looking to take home another Grand Slam title in London. Standing in Hulk’s way at 85kg will be reigning middleweight Abu Dhabi King of Mats champion Charles Negromonte (Roger Gracie) and 2019 Los Angeles Grand Slam champion Manuel Ribamar (NS Brotherhood).

Hulk in action.

Joao and Paulo Miyao (Cicero Costha) are registered at 62 and 69kg. They both won the 2018 Abu Dhabi World Pro and have conquered several Grand Slams each throughout their careers. Paulo will be looking to repeat his performance from a year ago where he won the 69kg division in London, and should face tough competition in Isaac Doederlein (Alliance), Cole Franson (Tinguinha), Joao Paulo Neto (Alliance) and Victor Moraes (Cicero Costha).

Joao Miyao has his sights set on a big year already.

Diego Ramalho and Gabriel Sousa from ZR Team are sitting at the top of this seasons UAEJJF rankings after staying active with UAEJJF Continental Pros between Grand Slams. Ramalho is in a 16-man bracket at 77kg including Leo Lara (Atos), Pedro Ramalho (Focus), Max Lindblad (Prana) and Bradley Hill (Gracie Barra)

Sousa has his work cut out for him at 62kg, with the previously mentioned Joao Miyao and 2018 London Grand Slam champ Hiago George (Cicero Costha) both present in his bracket.

Adam Wardzinski (Checkmat) is always near the top of the UAEJJF rankings and is currently third for 2018-19, after six gold medals and a 20-2 record this season. Two rookie black belts will be challenging Wardzinski at 94kg: 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio champion Kaynan Duarte (Atos) and Devhonte Johnson (Unity)

The top three ranked black belts in the UAEJJF.

Gabrieli Pessanha (Infight) and Mayssa Bastos (GF Team) are only 40 points apart at the top of the women’s brown/black belt rankings, with Pessanha currently in the top spot.

Brown belt Pessanha is 17-0 this season against the black belts at 90kg and has won every Grand Slam. Incredibly, the new brown belt has defeated two-time black belt World champion Nathiely de Jesus twice during that run.

Gabi Pessanha takes home gold in Abu Dhabi.

Bastos won the World Pro two years in a row along with nearly every Abu Dhabi Grand Slam over the last couple years while a brown belt in the brown/black division before receiving her black belt in 2018. Sitting 40 points behind Pessanha in the rankings with a little over a month left, Mayssa will have to continue her winning form and hope Gabrieli slips up in order to overcome her and take home the end of season prize for 2018-19.

Mayssa Bastos playing guard.

The 62kg women’s bracket includes the 2017-18 season champion, both World Pro finalists from 2018 and the returning London Grand Slam champion. Larissa Paes (Palm Sports) was the top-ranked woman a year ago and is currently ranked fourth. Bianca Basilio (Atos) won the 2018 Abu Dhabi World Pro and is ranked sixth. Ffion Davies (East Coast) lost an extremely close referee decision to Basilio in the World Pro final. Charlotte Von Baumgarten (Mathias Ribeiro) was victorious a year ago in London.

Other entrants: 
• Carlos Oliveira (GF Team), Cleber Sousa (JFC Almeida), Pedro Dias (Cantagalo) and Nobuhiro Sawada (Tri-Force) will contend for the men’s 56kg title 
• Abu Dhabi Grand Slam champs Ricardo Evangelista (Commando) and Helton Junior (Atos) are both in at at 110kg
• Third-ranked Samantha Cook (Checkmat) and fifth-ranked Thamara Silva (Cicero Costha) will continue their rivalry at 70kg
• Rising brown belt star Ana Rodrigues (Alliance) will compete at 55 kg along with Gabriela Fechter and Rose El Sharouni of Checkmat.