Who's Going To Win The Absolute in ADCC 2019?

Let’s take a quick early look at the absolute– we have no idea who will be in the bracket, as they don’t allow competitors to sign up until the final day of ADCC, just hours before it starts. 

Andre Galvao could be hoping to pass the torch to one of his students, likely either Lucas Barbosa or Kaynan Duarte, although if both of the Atos teammates were entered into the absolute then they’d be seeded to face off no later than the second round. Although Mike Perez entered the absolute in 2017, facing off with Buchecha in the opening round, and 2015 absolute champ Claudio Calasans is back this year at -98kg. 

Cyborg looked great at the IBJJF Heavyweight Grand Prix in Vegas, and after winning the $40,000 he even said that he’s coming for the ADCC absolute gold. That would make him the only person to win the absolute twice, and he really wants to make it to the superfight again. 

We’ve never seen Orlando Sanchez in the absolute– he’s been behind Romulo Barral and Felipe Pena in the Gracie Barra pecking order but neither of them are in this year so we could see him take a shot at absolute gold for the first time. Gracie Barra doesn’t have anybody else at -98 or +99kg, with the next heaviest Gabriel Arges at -88kg. 

It's a near certainty that 2017 silver medalist Gordon Ryan will want to sign up, as will 2017 bronze medalist Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida. All signs point to this year's absolute division being the best ever.