Two of jiu-jitsu’s most widely-discussed competitors stand a chance to meet one another at the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Pro – We're talking about Atos wonderkid and potential superstar Kaynan Duarte and the Brazilian badboy Erberth Santos.

This is a potential classic matchup for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to the fact that: 

• Kaynan has run through just about everyone at black belt so far, but he’s never met Erberth in competition 
• This is Erberth's first event back after the fiasco at BJJ Stars; he will surely be looking to redeem himself 
• For a brief period, the two were teammates at Atos, and Erbeth secured his World Championship title while sharing the same room as Kaynan. The two surely know each other's strengths and potential vulnerabilities 

There's more on the line than just a shot at the gold medal: redemption and future legacy also hang in the balance. 

How may the paths of these two monsters of the tatami cross? Read on. 

A Battle of Nations & The Country Qualifiers

The UAEJJF World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is unique in the way they separate athletes by nationality: only two athletes per country are allowed to compete in the ‘main’ bracket. 

The highest ranked athlete signed up in that division from a given a country will be given automatic placement in the main bracket; every other athlete from that nationality will have to compete the day before in the country qualifiers to secure the second spot. 

The country qualifying system means that Erberth Santos– ranked number 6– will automatically be given a spot in the main bracket. Kaynan, currently ranked at the number 9 position, will have to fight through the qualifiers. 

It’s also the case that one country cannot have two athletes in the final, so two Brazilians will have to fight in the semi-finals at the very latest to get their place in the gold medal match – and we believe that those two could very likely be Kaynan Duarte and Erberth. Here’s why: 

The Brazilian Qualifier

• Kaynan Duarte
• Jackson Sousa
• Felipe Pacces
• Anderson Lima
• Paulo Pinto
• Orione Netto
• Alexander Monsalves
• Renato Cardoso 

A quick review of the qualifier shows that Duarte's toughest matchups come in the form of Jackson Sousa and Renato Cardoso. Kaynan has beaten Sousa twice in the past, but the Checkmat competitor is never one to count out. 

Kaynan Duarte vs Jackson Sousa – 2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Slam LA 

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Cardoso,  another accomplished veteran of the game, holds wins over some of the best competitors today, including a submission victory over Erberth Santos.  Paulo Pinto is another dark horse in the Brazilian qualifier, but we would consider it would be a fairly shocking result if anyone but Kaynan emerges victorious.  

But still, that’s three matches to win – and that can be draining for any athlete.  

The Main Bracket & Showdown Analysis

If nobody drops out, there should be a division of 13 people coming to the 94kg main bracket, including Erberth – and presumably – Kaynan.  

That means that the two Brazilians, should they advance past their opening round, could meet as early as their second match of the day, and definitely by their third as they cannot compete in the final.  

What could we expect form should these two titans meet?

If given the opportunity, we're certain the Erberth is hoping to flex some of his standup skills; he has some of the nastiest judo we've seen with heavy snapdowns and footsweeps.

Erberth in action. 

Kaynan, on the other hand, typically elects for a wrestling influenced approach, displaying a fondness for single and double leg takedowns, making solid use of arm drags throughout the process.  

BUT, Kaynan is also fond of pulling guard, and he is very comfortable playing with a loose DLR hook while fighting for double ankle control and pant grips, typically winning the sweep with 'simple' well-timed effort. The Atos representative will be likely eager to nullify the takedown threat from Erberth employ this strategy. 

Erberth's guard is excellent, but we've also seen him fold under pressure in the past, and Kaynan's passing game brings that in spades. If Kaynan is able to close the space and smash Erberth with the crushing power we know he can bring, it's quite possible that Erberth will concede position – something that Kaynan never gives back.  

It seems though as Erberth matures as an athlete, he has also recognized the unpredictable nature and volatility of his competitive approach could be an issue, and he's just revealed he's been working with a clinical psychologist for the past seven weeks to address the issue. 

How might this affect his performance in Abu Dhabi? We'll find out very soon.