Sports fans frequently experience surprises and the ADCC North American Trials were full of such. Grappling fans experienced everything from breakout performances, unexpected bouts and super fights showcasing some of the biggest names in the sport. At the end of the day athletes earned their shot at an ADCC championship and enjoyed epic bouts between some of the best grapplers in the world today.

The scheduled super fights attracted much of the attention heading into the day and they did not disappoint. The big moment came when it was revealed that Braulio Estima was injured during warmups and his bout against Leandro Lo was off the table. The event organizers began looking for replacements and none other than Danaher Death Squad standout, Gordon Ryan, step up to the plate. The multiple-time EBI Champion agreed to face the 5-time IBJJF world champion Lo, in a no-gi match.

The match between Lo and Ryan was intriguing from the start. Lo would be able to hit to takedowns to push the score to 4-0; a margin he would win by. Ryan hunted for many different attacks but was unable to catch Lo in anything to secure the finish. This surprise bout caught everyone off guard but opens up the idea that these two may face off again in the future.

The rest of the super fights did not disappoint as well. Bruno Frazatto earned a 5-0 victory over another EBI champion in Geo Martinez. Marcus Almeida defeated Rafael Lovato Jr on points, 4-0. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu was also victorious with a 3-0 win over UFC veteran, Vinny Magalhaes.

The tournament portion of the showcase saw a number of people earn their way to the ADCC Championships in Finland later this year. The match of the night may go to Vagner Rochaand AJ Agazarm for their battle in the 77 kilogram final. Rocha had a number of tight submissions locked in but Agazarm continued his trend of fighting through bad spots and refusing to tap. Rocha would win the bout in a match that stole the show.

Ethan Crelinsten of Tristar won the 66 kilogram division as he halted the run of 15-year old Nicky Ryan, who took third in the event. Ryan looked to become the youngest competitor to ever qualify but fell just short of that goal. John Salter defeated DJ Jackson to win the 88 kilogram division and Paul Ardila won the 99 kilogram group. Casey Hellenberg walked out of the day as the 99 kilograms and up champion. Elizabeth Clay and Tara White were victorious in the women’s divisions, taking the 66 kilogram and 66 and up titles, respectively.

As September creeps closer these men and women earned their slot to take part in perhaps the most important tournament in the grappling industry today. The highly promoted showcase brought out some of the best athletes in North America and gave fans super fights that met the expectations. The replay of the ADCC North American trials is available through Flo Grappling.