Victor Hugo captured the first ADCC gold medal of his career on Sept. 13, submitting Josh Saunders in the +99kg final to complete a perfect four-submission run through the 2026 ADCC World Championships.
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Hugo overcame an early deficit after conceding two penalties against Saunders. As Saunders pressed forward in search of offense, Hugo trapped an arm and used the opening to transition to a rear-mount triangle before securing an armbar for the finish.
Hugo Finishes Every Opponent On The Way To Gold
The championship victory capped one of the most dominant performances of the tournament.
Hugo opened his weekend with a heel hook submission over Heikki Jussila before adding a rear naked choke against Abdulaev Ruslan in the quarterfinals. He advanced to the final with a leg-lock finish against Mark Macqueen and completed the sweep with Sunday's submission victory over Saunders.
All four of Hugo's wins at ADCC 2026 came by submission.
First ADCC Medal Becomes First ADCC Championship
The gold medal marks both Hugo's first ADCC medal and first ADCC world championship title.
The veteran Brazilian entered the tournament as one of the favorites in the +99kg division and delivered on that expectation with a flawless performance across two days of competition.
Hugo Announces Retirement From Championship Competition
Following his victory, Hugo announced his retirement from championship competition.
He leaves the ADCC World Championships as the +99kg champion after one of the most memorable runs of the weekend, finishing all four opponents and claiming the first ADCC title of his career.
Watch Victor Hugo vs. Josh Saunders
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