James R. Brasco (USA)
- 2010 IBJJF Pan American No Gi Champion
- 2007 IBJJF World No-Gi Champion Brown Belt
- 2013 Grapplers Quest Champion
- 2006-2007 NAGA Champion
Hailing from Pennsylvania, the 194-pound Brasco first experienced fighting through wrestling, earning a Division 1 college scholarship. He went on to win three Eastern Regional Championships and qualifications for the NCAA tournaments.
This led into grappling, where James also shows great strength. He earned his BJJ black belt in 2009.
Murilo Silva Ferreira Santana (Brazil)
- Brazilian National Champion for 2007, 2010 & 2012
- 2013 World Champion No Gi
- 2007 World Cup Open Weight Champion – CBJJE
- World Championships Bronze Medalist for 2007, 2008 & 2014
At 181 pounds, Murilo Santana is a powerhouse Brazilian fighter. He earned his black belt from Mario Yamasaki in Sao Paulo. In 2015 he helped start the Unity Jiu Jitsu School in New York. He is a clear example of Brazil’s dominance in jiu-jitsu.
Kaynan Duarte (Brazil)
- 2017 Double Gold Medal -IBJJF No-Gi Worlds Purple Belt
- 2017 ADCC South American Trials Champion
Duarte started his judo career at the age of 12, working with Ze Luis and Paulo Ledesma. He now competes in the purple belt class. His all around strength and admiration has earned him many fans, and he is rising to stardom quickly in the world of BJJ.
Rômulo Barral (Brazil)
- 2013 ADCC Champion
- 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 IBJJF World Champion
- 2016 IBJJF World Masters Champion
- 2007 IBJJF Pan American Champion
- 2016 IBJJF European Open Champion
- 2006 & 2007 CBJJ Brazilian National Champion
- 2008 IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
- 2013 IBJJF European Open Champion
At 15, Romulo began jiu-jitsu training with the Gracie Barra BH academy, coached by Cristiano Lazzarini and Vinicius Magalhaes.
Moving on to a black belt, he rose quickly as one of the best in his medium-heavyweight division. He earned numerous victories while fighting on the international level, earning invites from professional MMA fighters to coach them in BJJ techniques. Romulo eventually moved to the United States, teaching at Alberto Crane’s school in California before starting his own Gracie Barra academy in Northridge, California.
Keenan Cornelius (United States)
- 2013 brown IBJJF World Champion
- 2012 purple IBJJF World Champion
- 2014 IBJJF Pro League Champion
- 2014 & 2015 IBJJF Pan American Champion
Since he began training at the age of 15, Keenan Cornelius’ became a BJJ Phenom, transforming him into one of the best fighters of his generation. Cornelius won all the major IBJJF competitions back-to-back for the purple and brown belt categories. He is well known among the BJJ community.
Gordon Ryan (United States)
- 2013 brown IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
- 2013 Newaza Challenge Champion
- 2016 EBI 6 OW Champion
- 2013 EBI 8 MW Champion
- 2014 EBI 11 WW Champion
Like so many BJJ greats, Ryan started his jiu-jitsu training at 15 under the guidance of Miguel Benitez and later with Tom DeBlass. Ryan would later go on to train with the best coaches at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York, where he developed a style crucial to his success.
Pablo Popovitch (Brazil)
- 2013 ADCC Champion
- 2007, 2010, 2012 World Nogi Champion
- 2001, 2007 NAGA Champion
- 2013 Copa America Champion
Pablo Popvitch was born in Brazil in 1979 to a family heavily involved in jiu-jitsu. Pablo’s father was an experienced jiu-jitsu fighter.
At the age of 5, Pablo started his jiu-jitsu training, going on to enroll in the academy that would become the Gracie Barra academy in Barra da Tijuca, Brazil. His coaches were Jean Jacques Machado and Carlos Machado.
Pablo would later move to the United States and wrestle at the collegiate level. He opened a BJJ Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his father.
Alexandre Ribeiro (Brazil)
- 2004/2005, 2006, 2008, 2015 black belt IBJJF World Champion
- 2001,2002,2005,2006 black belt IBJJF Pan American Champion
- 2012 black belt IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
- 2007, 2009 ADCC Champion
At 10, Alexandre was training under the Monteiro Brothers. He proved to be nearly unstoppable, only losing two times in his first seven years of training. By 18 Alexandre was training at the Gracie Academy in Rio de Janeiro. He would go on to win two World Championships and Pan Americans. He earned his black belt in jiu-jitsu in March of 2001, by his brother Saulo Ribeiro.
Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento (Brazil)
- 2012-2016 IBJJF World Champion
- 2012, 2014-2017 IBJJF Pan American Champion
- 2011, 2012 CBJJ Brazilian National No-Gi Champion
Leandro began his jiu-jitsu training with Projecto Social Lutando Pelo Bem, going on to win many titles as a junior, including the 2005 Mundial. He backed off of the BJJ scene for a while due to an injury, but in 2011 Leandro went on to beat both Celso Vinicius and Michael Langhi, two of the greatest fighters at that time. He started an academy, Jiu Jitsu New School Brotherhood in 2015.
Dillon Danis (United States)
- 2013 brown belt IBJJF World Champion
- 2014 brown belt UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion
- 2013, 2014 IBJJF Pan American Champion
- 2014 brown belt IBJJF World No-Gi Champion
Dillon began his jiu-jistu training at 15. A tiny youngster, Dillion knew he had to become a smarter fighter in order to succeed. He trained extensively in BJJ and wrestling to form a well-rounded fighting style. At 17, Dillon was training at Jamie Cruz’s academy, as well as Marcelo Garcia’s in New York. He chose to become professional and at 19 won various prestigious tournaments. He earned a black belt in 2015.
Rustam Chsiev ADCC 2015 Bronze Medalist
Craig Jones Winner at Asia & Oceania Trials
Jesse Urholin Winner at European Trials
Kit Dale Winner at Asia & Oceania Trials
John Salter Winner at North American Trials
Piotr Marcin Frechowicz Winner at European Trials
The post Check Out The Most Stacked Bracket At ADCC 2017 Finland, The -88kg appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Times.