Just about two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of competing in one of the biggest BJJ tournaments of my life – the 2024 ADCC World Championships.

My legs are heavy.

We’re almost there.

When I was a blue belt, I was training for one of my first-ever major IBJJF tournaments. I hurt my knee about 3 weeks away from the tournament.

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping.

The fourth showdown between Gordon Ryan and Felipe Pena is less than a week away. In the last two weeks, we've caught up with both athletes to check in on their training camps, and to hear their takes on the upcoming bout at Tezos WNO: Ryan vs Pena II presented by Fat Tire.

In the eighth edition of Submission Only Series, Ryan Aitken of 10th Planet Atlanta tore through a tough 16-man bracket to take home the $5,000 grand prize. A Combat Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, Aitken impressively submitted all four of his opponents, including an ADCC veteran. While Aitken no doubt stole the show, Derek Rayfield and Kenta Iwamoto also displayed impressive submission skills, Rayfield finding a Dead Orchard finish in the opening round.

On Saturday in Hollywood, CA, the seventh edition of Submission-Only Series featured a 16-man EBI-rules welterweight bracket for a $5,000 cash prize. PJ Barch won the bracket with four consecutive submissions, including victories over division favorites John Combs and Chris Wojcik.

Some of the world’s most promising grapplers will take various stages this weekend, as three July 23 events will feature several ranked grapplers.

It’s the last chance for citizens of European, African, and Middle Eastern countries to qualify for the biggest event in submission wrestling history. Seven new ADCC competitors will earn their tickets to the big show in Poland on May 7 at the 2nd ADCC European Trials.