Check out the champions of ADCC 2013 trial in Rio

A table full of medals at ADCC 2013 trial Rio. Photo: Carlos Arthur Jr / GRACIEMAG

Changing the routine of the gymnasium, Maracanãzinho was the stage for some of today’s best athletes to stamp their passports to Beijing, the host city of the tenth edition of the international tournament ADCC 2013 in October.

The Brazilian trial lasted all day Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., on April 20, and crowned young stars and some surprises. The commonality of champions, however, was the very high technical level and good physical condition.

After an afternoon of elimination fights, the winners won the all expenses paid trip to the championship in China. See all GRACIEMAG.com witnessed during the finals of the event:

Up to 66kg: João Miyao beat Marcio André by decision

After a great match, the purple belt Marcio André (Nova União) and brown belt João Miyao (Cicero Costha) made a highly technical and strategic final. After a good few seconds of attempts of takedowns on both sides, Marcio was the first to pull for his guard, then João sat down to work his berimbolo. Marcio defended with style all attempts of submissions in the foot and knee. The fight went a good deal of time with both players sitting down, trying sweeps and submission attacks on the ankle and knee. The fight ended 0-0 and went to the extra time of four minutes. The athletes rolled out of the mats with their feet twisted, but the score remained zero. After a quick conference between the referee and the table, the victory went to João Miyao.

Up to 77kg: Leozada Nogueira beat Victor Silvério with a guillotine

The category was strong, with names like Murilo Santana, Edson Diniz and Carlo Prater, but after a series of good fights, the finalists were Victor Silverio (GFTeam) and Leonardo “Leozada” Nogueira (Pequeno). Brother of Shooto and WEC Alexandre Pequeno, Leonardo was one of the most technical of the championship with an explosive back defense and a guillotine in automatic mode. In the final, the brown belt Victor began a mile per minute, took the fight down and took the back. However, he couldn’t hold Nogueira there, or end the match. Leonardo then reacted, and using an attempt by Silverio, used the guillotine to submit and get the ticket. Alexandre Pequeno, who didn’t compete since he was giving seminars in Mexico, must have liked it.

Up to 88kg: Claudio Calasans beat Paulo Baraúna by 3-0

After a series of tough fights, like the semifinal with Delson Pé de Chumbo who won with a leglock, Claudio Calasans (Atos) faced the MMA ace Paulo Baraúna (Alliance) in the final. The fight was mostly on the feet. Calasans began gripping on the neck and working on Paulo’s foot to take him down. Baraúna managed to get up and keep the fight standing up again. Then, magically, the good judoka Calasans shot on, slipped to the back and turned into a backpack on the Alliance’s fighter back. The rear naked choke didn’t come, but the points (3, according to ADCC) yes. Calasans is going to China, too.

Up to 99kg: João Gabriel Rocha submitted Cristiano Titi on the back

After a series of opponents were submitted along the way, João Gabriel Rocha (Soul Fighters) and Cristiano Lazzarini (Gracie Barra) made a final of giants. João pulled the opponent to his guard, trying his sweep game. Titi was well balanced and trying to pass the guard, until João managed to slip away and apply the rear naked choke. “Gee, I’m a black belt for four months, I’m thrilled,” he said.

Above 99kg: Rodrigo Cavaca submitted Kitner Mendonça with a gogoplata

With the deadliest guard in the tournament, Rodrigo Cavaca (CheckMat) went to the final against Kitner Mendonça (Ryan Gracie), looking to apply more of his triangles or knee locks. After the referee initiated the fight, Rodrigo automatically sat to guard and Kitner was up, trying to put pressure to pass. Cavaca held the opponent with his hand pushing the shoulders and making good grips on Kitner’s arms. And then came the spectacular submission. When Kitner threw his weight to pass the guard, Cavaca raised his shin, pressed the neck with his hand and closed the fight, and the event, with a beautiful gogoplata.

In the female categories, the tickets to Beijing went to Michele Tavares and Fernanda Mazzelli:

Up to 60kg: Michele Tavares beat Michelle Nicolini by 6-0

Ana Michele Tavares (Nova União) went for it in the trisl, and had to fight with everything she had. In the semifinals, she overcame her friend Ana Maria India by points. In the final, she saved herself from Michelle Nicolini’s (Check Mat) sweeps, she took the back twice and won by 6-0.

Over 60kg: Fernanda Mazzelli beat Talita Treta by 2-0

Fernanda Mazzelli (Striker) and Talita Nogueira (Ryan Gracie) had no easy task to reach the final, despite the absence of Luanna Alzuguir, who didn’t show up at the gym. But the category had Marina Ribeiro and other great fighters who were eliminated along the way. In the final, Mazzelli and Treta exchanged moves standing up until the points started. Fernanda then fell rapidly over Talita and kept the score in her favor. Asked how she scored, she said excitedly: “I can’t remember!”