Vagner Rocha
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Riocha is a Brazilian-American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed marital arts fighter who began his MMA career in 2009 and has spent time competing with Bellator and Strikeforce. In 2011 he made his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut, but lost to Cody McKenzie. Over the course of his 18 professional MMA matches he has amassed a 14-4 record. Rocha won via submission in 8 of the 14 victories and has four by way of knockout and TKO.
Oliver Taza
He’s been training less than 3 years and is seen as an up and coming force in the Jiu-Jitsu world. The 23-year-old Hey who is half Canadian and half Lebanese trains mostly out of Tristar Gym in Montreal. He’s a former soccer play turned MMA fighter who initially started training as a boxer before making the switch. Recently at the ADCC North America trials, he won several matches.
Gary Tonon
With an impressive list of recent victories, the Brazilian jiu jitsu fighter has earned his black belt under Tom deBlass and Ricardo Almeida. He’s won championships at the IBJJF World and Pan American Championships. He hails from New Jersey, where his interest in MMA began as a youth wrestler before evolving into a world class BJJ fighter.
- IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2011/2012 brown)
- IBJJF World Champion (2008 juvenile blue)
- IBJJF Pan American No-Gi Champion (2010* purple, 2011/2012** brown, 2015 black)
Lucas Lepri
Lucas Lepri is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under the instructor of the notorious Elan Santiago. He is a standout in the lightweight division and trains currently with the Alliance team. The Brazilian born veteran fighter has encompassed an impressive list of victories over his standout career.
- IBJJF World Champion (2007/2014/2015/2016/2017)
- IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2009/2010/2011)
- UAEJJF World Pro Champion (2015)
JT Torres
The New York native, also known as “The Spiderman,” is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt that has taken that expertise and skill to victories at the World and Pan American Nogi Championships. He now trains in San Diego, California for Andre Galvao’s Atos Academy.
- Pan American Champion (2015)
- Pan American Nogi Champion (2010)
- European Champion (2015)
DJ Jackson
Jackson was born in Maryland and currently stands as one Team Lloyd Irvin’s most successful fighters. He has impressively won the IBJJF World Championship at every single level leading up to him earning his black belt in 2012. His career started as a high school wrestler and has evolved into one BJJ most prolific competitors.
- BJJF World No-Gi Champion (2015/2012 black, 2010 purple, 2011 brown, 2009 blue)
- BJJF World Champion (2012 brown, 2011 purple, 2010 blue)
- Copa Pódio MW Grand Prix Champion (2017)
ADCC 2017 Full Bracket list:
-77kg
- Lachlan Giles (Australia) – 1st Asian Trial winner
- Tero Pyylampi (Finland) – 1st European Trial winner
- Mansher Singh Khera (USA) – 1st North American Trial winner
- Felipe Cesar (Brazil) – 1st South American Trial winner
- Marcelo Mafra (Brazil) – 2nd South American Trial winner
- Osmanzhan Kassimov (Kazakhstan) – 2nd Asian Trial winner
- Vagner Rocha (USA) – 2nd North American Trial winner
- Oliver Taza (Canada/Lebanon) – 2nd European Trial winner
- Garry Tonon (USA) – Invited
- Lucas Lepri (Brazil) – Invited
- JT Torres (USA) – Invited
- DJ Jackson (USA) – Invited
- Celso Vinicius (Brazil) – Invited
- Leonardo Saggioro (Brazil) – Invited
- Enrico Cocco (USA) – Invited
The post Heavy Hitters at ADCC WORLDS 2017 -77kg Bracket appeared first on Jiu-Jitsu Times.