Every ADCC cycle brings with it a lot of debate: who’s in, who’s out, and who is on the bubble. With the Trials circuit nearly over, we shift our attention toward the athletes who haven't qualified but now wait on another method - the coveted invitation to the ADCC World Championships. Those invitations don't have any set criteria, but they do factor in your past & success at the weight
In this article, I’m breaking down my picks for who has earned those invites at every weight class. That means weighing recent performances, consistency on the biggest stages, stylistic relevance, and even the training location of the athletes. With only a few spots available at each weight class, these are the names I believe should round out the brackets when the world’s best collide again.
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It's important to keep in mind the traditional layout of the ADCC brackets with regards to invitations. Usually a sixteen man bracket will consist of;
- The top-4 returning placers from the previous ADCC World Championships, plus anyone who medaled in the open class (for example, Dante Leon should receive an invitation at -77kg even though he didn't medal in his weight)
- 8 regional trials winners, two per global region
- Any past champions who want to participate, like JT Torres or Matheus Diniz
- Only 3-4 discretional invitations for everyone else
I'm trying to be reasonably realistic here so this list assumes a few things, namely;
- Grapplers under exclusive contracts are out, like the Tacketts and the Ruotolos.
- certain guys like Gordon Ryan and Nicky Rod who have made statements about not doing it will hold to that and won't be listed here.
- People who have been dealing with injuries and made statements about returning after the window for Worlds (like Nicky Ryan) will be unable to participate and aren't listed here.
-66kg
#9 Gavin Corbe
Gavin Corbe is a very deserving grappler for an invite, getting to the finals of East Coast Trials and showing off an incredibly high level of skill at basically every tournament on Earth. He has made the walk at CJI, medaled at Trials, won on super fight promotions like WNO, and worked his way into the top-10 of one of the deepest weights in the world. I think it's time he finally gets the nod at ADCC Worlds.
Gavin is known for his ecological training method at Standard Jiu-Jitsu, and has an all-around style that's hard to pin down and pressure. His decision win against Owen Jones remains his signature W in the last few years and a rematch at ADCC Worlds would be highly anticipated by the fans. Gavin has also developed a swagger on the mats built from confidence and can help put on a fun show in Poland.
#13 Marco Mendes
Marco Mendes is a hard working young black belt who finally broke through with his 2025 IBJJF World No-Gi gold medal. He earned that with a narrow victory against Gianni Grippo in the finals, the same Gianni that just won ADCC Trials in impressive fashion. While there's major strategic differences between the two styles, Marco has clearly proven that he can hang with world class guys and I believe he deserves his shot at ADCC Worlds.
Marco is now living in Southern California and wasn't able to compete in either Trials this season in South America. I don't even know if he wants to do ADCC Worlds, maybe he has no interest. But if he is, I think he is as deserving of a spot as anyone else in the weight based on his results.
#17 Dominic Mejia
After two runner-up finishes in the last two ADCC seasons, I think Dominic Mejia has shown that he has all the skills necessary to compete at the ADCC World Championships. He lost in the quarterfinals of East Coast Trials after a concussion dampened his run, and then made the finals of West Coast Trials. While some fans called the match controversial because of a near-score by Mejia at the end of regulation, the ultimate result was a submission win for Gianni Grippo.
Dominic would join his Kingsway training partner Dorian Olivarez at the weight and this would be his first trip to ADCC Worlds. Dominic is a talented wrestler who has developed great submission skills over a lifetime of training. He's got an exciting style that can add a lot to the bracket in Krakow.
-77kg
#9 Andy Murasaki
Andy may be known for his success in the gi but in the brief few matches we have seen of his in no-gi, it's become clear he's also one of the best in the world at this style. His guard is lethal with stellar heel hooks and armbars from his back. He hasn't shown the wrestling that ADCC may demand but I would also expect Andy has skills we just haven't seen yet (especially the single leg that we do see him break out more in the last few years).
There's definitely a question about if Andy would be motivated to do this. First, he's doing the gi season with Brasileiros and Worlds on the horizon. He's never done an ADCC match that I'm aware of, even an Open. He also competes consistently with UFC BJJ which may frustrate any invitation. If none of these things are a problem though then getting Andy in the bracket this September should be a priority at -77kg.
#13 Deandre Corbe
Deandre Corbe has consistently shown himself to be at the highest levels of the game but unfortunately I just think he falls a little between weight classes for ADCC. The cut down to -66kg leaves him a little depleted but he did have an impressive showing against returning champ Mica Galvão in their short CJI match last year. He's a former Trials champion who continues to really impress everyone every time he is on the mat. Even though he didn't do the Trials this season, I think any bracket would be improved with his inclusion.
#18 Taylor Pearman
Taylor Pearman was so close to another legendary Trials run at the second Europeans before an ill-timed pull in the finals left him down a negative and unable to score after that. Now the London standout is left on the outside looking in of the first European ADCC in years and I think he deserves serious consideration for an invitation. His drop down to 170lbs/77kg makes him a huge grappler here who I don't think gets easily overwhelmed by anyone in the field. Considering his run through his regional Trials the last few years, and that this tournament should have the region's best, Pearman is more than worth of a look here.
Levi Jones-Leary
Levi is among grappling's biggest enigmas. He has all the skill in the world and nearly won the 'toughest bracket ever' at CJI 1. His guard is maybe the best in the world and now he has shown improved top passing as well. I don't even know if he wants to do ADCC, even though he did win Trials back in 2024. He is relatively reclusive and picks his spots very carefully. If he wants in though, he should be a priority given his skill level. He can beat anyone and everyone at -77kg, though obviously the wrestling may be some issue for him.
-88kg
#10 Ryan Aitken
It was a tough road to the finals and a tough loss to Nathan Haddad at West Coast Trials for Ryan Aitken. Still, I think Aitken is deserving of another shot at ADCC. In his debut last time in 2024, he was able to submit Pedro Marinho in a big upset and the guys who help create those moments can fair very well for invitations. The 10P Atlanta black belt is good everywhere, big & athletic for the weight, and has been looking better than ever the last few years as he has taken part in some very big events. Ryan did lose at West Coast Trials but his road was very tough to the finals and I think he's still world class and deserving of consideration.
Pedro Marinho
Pedro Marinho has had success under basically every ruleset on Earth and he has the chance to enter and win any bracket - his weight or up. The BJJ Stars & WNO Champ is out of Houston, TX these days and he is constantly proving he's one of the best. Even though he has stumbled his last few ADCCs, I think he still has all the tools necessary for a very deep run - don't forget he was among the favorites to medal in 2024.
Faris Benlamkadem
I don't think there was any final closer this season (so far, there's still another Asian Trials coming) than Marlon Tajik and Faris Benlamkadem in the -88kg finals of European Trials. It was a stellar match between two guys who are both clearly world class. It was Marlon getting his hand raised, leaving Faris on the outside looking in. I just don't think this ADCC will be complete without the inclusion of the plucky and talented London-based black belt. He is someone genuinely capable of making a deep run at Worlds and I hope he gets his chance at the biggest European tournament of a generation.
-99kg
#9 Javier Zaruski
Zaruski is really underrated, even after winning a black belt No-Gi World title. This is a big man who brings a deep arsenal of submission offense. I think fans got the wrong idea of him from his WNO match against Victor Hugo, but he took that on short notice against a top-5 opponent who was much bigger than him. Zaruski really impressed me in his match at ADCCs last time around, winning a dramatic submission victory against Henrique Ceconi after a headbutt left him opened up and bloody. I think if Zaruski were able to stay busier he'd be looked at more favorably for an invitation because it's no deficiency in his skill level.
#16 Marcin Maculewicz
'The Polish Punisher' Marcin deserves an invitation at the Worlds coming to his home country. Even though he doesn't have all the same fanfare as other countrymen like Wardzinski or Szczecinski, he's still a world class black belt who has won Trials before, medaled at both Trials this season, and medaled at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. He's a devastating leg locker who has improved his wrestling and overall game a lot in his first few years at black belt. I think the crowd would inspire him to an awesome performance at home.
#17 Steffan Banta
Steffan is such a consistent grappler and he was really successful this ADCC season, coming up just short of qualifying to Worlds after two close finals in North America. To make the finals twice at North American Trials is in itself a statement, given how hard this region has become over the last few seasons. He's got a slow, controlled, strategic game that continues to be effective in winning matches and advancing deep in brackets.
+99kg
#3 Victor Hugo
To me this is one of the easiest calls on this list. We have to have the BMF in this bracket against other greats like Felipe Pena, Luke Griffith, and more. Hugo went 1-1 in his last ADCC in 2022, losing to Gordon Ryan in the quarters. Since then he has really matured physically and has established himself as one of the best. His goal, rightfully, is to prove he is THE best. There's only one place to do that and it's going to be in Poland - Victor has gotta be in this heavyweight class, even just for the sake of the fans who deserve to see that high a level of big man grappling.
#7 Ruslan Abdulaev
I called Levi one of the big enigmas in grappling and Ruslan is right up there too. This guy has dominant wins over guys like Kaynan and Luke Griffith, clearly he is a powerhouse of a wrestler/grappler hybrid out of Russia. Honestly, he sounds perfect for ADCC rules - we've typically seen him under AIGA rules which are similar. However, he has never done Trials to my knowledge and has not sought out an invitation. I think if he does end up included, he is a crazy wild card in the mix who suddenly brings upset potential to any match. He hasn't been untouchable though - ADCC World Medalist Big Dan leg locked him in short order when they faced off.
#15 Devhonte Johnson
Devhonte is an experienced, technical black belt who has notched some great wins over the years. Even for as many big wins as he has had, I still think fans don't quite rate 'Bones' as highly as they should - I believe he could rocket up to being the top guy one day. I am only including heavyweights here that I think could make deep runs in the bracket and that certainly includes Devhonte.
Because of the smaller size of the women's brackets, I'm going to only list the person I believe to be the best option. Usually they invite back 4 grapplers and have 4 trials champions in the women's brackets so there isn't space for discretional invitations like the men. If there's an injury or someone cannot compete, I do think these should be the first names on the list.
-55kg
#8 Ana Mayordomo
If there's anyone on this list that I would like to see at ADCC over the rest, it might just be Ana Mayordomo. Maybe that is sentimental and not analytical, but as a fan that's what I want to see. Ana won the European and North American Trials - but the brackets that didn't confer a ticket to Poland. When she finally had a chance to qualify, she injured her knee in the European Trials finals and lost to Janette Gloger.
It was very disappointing for fans (let alone Ana) who had been following her journey and seen how impressive Ana had been - including going 8 for 9 on submissions in the two Trials she won. I don't know where she's at with her injury and if ADCC Worlds in September is something that could even be realistic, but if it is and if a space opens up then Ana Mayordomo has earned it.
-65kg
#2 Elisabeth Clay
Elisabeth Clay is one of the biggest badasses in all of submission grappling and if invited she will do more than attend; she will contend in Poland. Lis has been around for years now fighting against all the best in the world and her resume speaks for itself. I think the biggest highlight of her career, if you had to pick just one, came in December when she won double gold at IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. In the open class finals, she submitted the juggernaut Gabi Pessanha.
Lis in at -65kg would open up matches against young stars like Helena Crevar (a rematch), Sarah Galvão, and Livia Barasine, as well as a potential new chapter in one of women's no-gi's best rivalries - Clay vs BSM. Lis is such a professional when it comes to her jiu-jitsu and having her there in any way in the bracket would add a ton of intrigue.
+65kg
#1 Gabi Pessanha
ADCC already invited Gabi Garcia to the division and because of the size limitations, I think it's unlikely for anyone else to be added. Having said that, injuries and unforeseen circumstances do happen that necessitate replacements. With that in mind, I would nominate Gabi Pessanha.
Gabi has proven over and over that she is the apex predator of women's jiu-jitsu, with more IBJJF world titles than any other woman else in history (and her eyes set on the overall record in just a few years). She's a dominant submission threat who has few if any holes in her game. While we've seen her beaten a few times over the years, the trend line continues to be Gabi crushing anyone she walks on the mat with outside of a select few elite names.
I want to see more matches where someone as great as Gabi Pessanha is pushed. I want to see her facing the best in the world in new situations that test her in new ways. For that, it needs to be Gabi at ADCC Worlds. It would also be her ADCC debut but like any bracket Gabi is in it is one she could win running away.
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