The youngest competitor in the +99kg division defied the odds to become champion at the 2019 ADCC World Championships in Anaheim, CA.

Twenty-one-year-old Kaynan Duarte battled two returning ADCC champions in Yuri Simoes and Marcus Buchecha Almeida in the quarterfinals and semifinals before outpointing the surging Nick Rodriguez in the final. 

Duarte opened his campaign with a submission win over European Trials winner Eldar Rafigaev in 93 seconds, defeated two-time ADCC champion Simoes 3-0, earned a referee decision against the fearsome heavyweight Buchecha, and outpointed former wrestler Rodriguez 3-0 thanks to a back take. 

Neutralizing Rodriguez’s explosiveness with smooth technical legwork from bottom, Duarte was able to find the back in the latter half of the opening 20-minute round, scoring three points for locking on the body triangle. 

Rodriguez out-hustled a series of champions on his path to final, beating IBJJF World champ Mahamed Aly, 2015 ADCC champ Orlando Sanchez, and 2013 ADCC absolute champ Roberto Cyborg Abreu to make his way into the final. 

Duarte seemed unfazed by Rodriguez’s athleticism and explosiveness, slowing down the pace of the match and dictating the rhythm of the action with his refined technical game. 

This caps the most successful year for an emerging black belt in jiu-jitsu and grappling history. Duarte has been busy filling his trophy cabinet since the beginning of the year. He was crowned champion at the IBJJF World and Pan Championships, won the KASAI Pro 205lb tournament, took gold at the Abu Dhabi World Pro and scored victories at various superfights and invitational tournaments. 

Awarded his black belt in June of 2018, Duarte is the winningest member of Andre Galvao’s San Diego-based Atos team. 

WATCH: 

Elimination round: Kaynan Duarte SUB Eldar Rafigaev 0-0 1:33

Quarterfinal: Kaynan Duarte SCORE Yuri Simoes 3-0 10:00

Semifinal: Kaynan Duarte REF Marcus Buchecha Almeida 0-0 15:00

Final: Kaynan Duarte Pederneiras SCORE Nick Rodriguez 3-0 20:00