COMBAT SPORTS
ADCC West Coast Trials 2024 Preview
_{How to watch and–more importantly–who to watch this weekend in Las Vegas}

The penultimate ADCC qualifying tournament–the ADCC West Coast Trials–takes place this weekend in Las Vegas, where athletes from all over North America will arrive at the Westgate hotel in hopes of punching their ticket to the 2024 ADCC World Championship. Out of nearly 1,000 competitors registered to fight this weekend, only eight will qualify to compete at ADCC 2024.

Here’s a breakdown by division highlighting a few athletes worth watching as the action heats up this weekend.

Division: -66kg 

Size of division: 245 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in -66kg:

• The Hot Prospect(s): 2022 No Gi Pan Champions, Deandre and Gavin Corbe

• The Rising Star: New Wave wunderkind, Dominic Mejia

• The Decorated Favorite:  Multi-time No Gi World Champion, Gianni Grippo 

• The Returning West Coast Trials Champion: Keith Krikorian

• The OG: 10th Planet legend and ADCC Veteran, Geo Martinez

Division: -77kg 

Size of division: 241 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in -77kg:

• The Perennial Competitor: ADCC Veteran and multi-time ADCC Trials medalist, Oliver Taza

• The Family Squad: brothers Andrew and Caleb Tackett, whose elder brother, William, will compete at -88kg 

• The ADCC Trials Rookie: longtime Atos representative and 2024 Pans Bronze medalist, Michael Liera Jr. 

• The Old School Standout: fourth-degree black belt, Paragon’s Bill “The Grill” Cooper 

Division: -88kg 

Size of division: 184 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in -88kg:

• The Older Brother: 2022 West Coast Trials Winner at -77kg, and eldest of the Tackett Brothers, William Tackett

• The Monster: ADCC Veteran and 2023 No Gi World Champion, Elder “El Monstruo” Cruz

• The Returning West Coast Trials Champion:  younger brother of Nick Rodriguez and king of the buggy choke, Jacob Rodriguez (“Jay Rod”)

• The Technician: Matt Serra black belt and respected instructor, Jason Rau

• The Young Hotshot: son of submission grappling luminary Vagner Rocha, Achilles Rocha

Division: -99kg 

Size of Division: 89 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in -99kg:

• The Atos Rookie: newly-minted black belt under André Galvão, Calon Sabino

• The Notorious Wrestler: NCAA and NAIA Champion representing Pedigo Submission Fighting, Michael Pixley

Division: +99kg

Size of Division: 66 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in +99kg:

• The Tireless Scrapper: three-time ADCC Veteran and André Galvão black belt, Michael Perez

• The Submission Hunter: Keenan Cornelius black belt, Breylor Grout

Division: -55kg 

Size of division: 50 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in -55kg:

• The Perennial Competitor: multi-time No Gi World Champion and ADCC veteran, Tammi Musumeci

• The Heiress to the Throne: daughter of submission grappling legend Vagner Rocha, and 2022 West Coast Trials Runner Up, Jasmine Rocha

• The East Coast Trials Champion: 2023 ADCC East Coast Trials Champion, Alex Enriquez

• The Atos All-Star: André Galvão black belt and 2022 West Coast Trials Semifinalist, Amanda Bruse

• The One to Watch: 2022 No Gi Pans winner, Alex Nguyen

Division: -65kg 

Size of division: 60 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in -65kg:

• The Teenage Prodigy: sixteen-year-old blue belt under New Wave’s John Danaher, Helena Crevar

• The Potential Upsetter: 2023 ADCC East Coast Trials Champion, Morgan “Mo” Black

• The Rising Star: 2024 South American Trials Bronze Medalist under Fight Sports, Leilani Bernales

Division: +65kg 

Size of division: 38 competitors

Noteworthy Athletes in +65kg:

• The Perennial Competitor: Renzo Gracie black belt, Bridget McElice

• The Heavy Contender: 2023 No Gi World Champion, Elizabeth Mitrovic 

Overall Event Schedule: You can find the overall schedule to the ADCC West Coast Trials 2024 here and below. 

On Saturday March 30, starting at 9AM PST/12PM EST: 

• Male brackets compete until the round of 64 is complete. Order of male brackets is -66kg, -77kg, -88kg, -99kg, +99kg. 

• Female brackets compete until the round of 32 is complete. Order of female brackets is -55kg, -65kg, +65kg

On Sunday March 31, starting at 9AM PST/12PM EST:  

• Men’s brackets, round of 32

• All brackets, round of 16

• Quarterfinals

• Semifinals

• Bronze medal matches

• Finals

Competition Brackets and Timetables: Once brackets are published, you can keep an eye on specific matches and divisions by mat here on on Smoothcomp.

Where to watch: You can watch the event on FloGrappling starting at 9AM PST/12PM EST on Saturday March 30 and Sunday March 31.