Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted April 1, 2005 Dunno how many of the MMA guys here follow Abu Dhabi, but for uninitiated: It's the world's most prestigious no-gi grappling tournament, formerly held annually in the UAE and now held every other year around the world. It's in Long Beach this year, so I'm hoping to get a ticket and catch the event live. Anyways, thus far the competitors this year are: U -66 KG #1 Leo Vieira 2003 World Champion (Brazil) #2 Wagney Fabiano Brazilian Qualifier (Brazil) #3 Javier Vazquez North American Qualifier (USA) #4 Toni Kroger European Qualifier (Finland) #5 Tetsu Suzuki Japanese Qualifier (Japan) #6 Eugene Hynson Australian Qualifier (New Zealand) #7 Eddie Bravo (USA) #8 Joey Gilbert (USA) #9 Manny Reyes Jr. (USA) #10 Marcio Feitosa (Brazil) #11 Marcos 'Parrumpinha' DaMatta (Brazil) #12 Jani Lax (Finland) 66 - 76.99 KG #1 Marcelo Garcia 2003 World Champion (Brazil) #2 Juan 'Jucao' Carneiro Brazilian Qualifier (Brazil) #3 Cameron Earle North American Qualifier (USA) #4 Martin Lindqvist European Qualifier (Sweden) #5 Shinja Aoki Japanese Qualifier (Japan) #6 Gavin Kulper Australian Qualifier (Australia) #7 Chris Brennan (USA) #8 Pablo Popovitch (USA) #9 Marcos Avellan (USA) #10 Jean Jacques Machado (Brazil) #11 Renzo Gracie (Brazil) #12 Jason Brudvig (Sweden) 77 - 87.99 KG #1 Saulo Ribeiro 2003 World Champion (Brazil) #2 Demian Maia Brazilian Qualifier (Brazil) #3 David Avellan North American Qualifier Alternate (USA) #4 Marko Helen European Qualifier (Finland) #5 Hidemi Mihara Japanese Qualifier (Japan) #6 Larry Papadopoulos Australian Qualifier (Australia) #7 Robert Sulski (Poland) #8 Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza (Brazil) #9 Dennis Hallman (USA) #10 Reese Andy (USA) 88 - 98.99 KG #1 Jon Olav Einmo 2003 World Champion (NORWAY) #2 Roger Gracie Brazilian Qualifier (Brazil) #3 Jamal Patterson North American Qualifier (USA) #4 Alistair Overeem European Qualifier (Holland) #5 Yukiya Naito Japanese Qualifier (Japan) #6 Anthony Perosh Australian Qualifier (Australia) #7 Alexandre 'Cacareco' Ferreira (Brazil) #8 Alexandre Ribeiro (Brazil) #9 Antoine Joaude (Brazil) #10 Haim Golazi (Israel) #11 Travis Wiuff (USA) Over 99 KG #1 Marcio 'Pe De Pano' Cruz 2003 World Champion (Brazil) #2 Gabriel Napao Brazilian Qualifier (Brazil) #3 Karim Byron North American Qualifier (Canada) #4 Mustafa Al-Turk European Qualifier (UK) #5 Jun Ishii Japanese Qualifier (Japan) #6 Dennis Roberts Australian Qualifier (Australia) #7 Rhadi Ferguson (USA) #8 Jeff Monson (USA) #9 Paulo Filho (Brazil) SUPERFIGHT: Ricardo Arona CHAMPION (BRAZIL) v. Dean Lister Challenger (USA) LADIES DIVISIONS: Under 60.00 KG (132.00 LB): - Leka Vieira (BRAZIL) - Gazzy Parman (USA) - Leonor Coco (USA) - Kyra Gracie (BRAZIL) - Megumi Fuji (JAPAN) - Leticia Ribeiro (BRAZIL) - Ludmila 'Mila' Sundukova (Italy / Russia) - Roxanne Modafferi (USA) - Tara Larosa (USA) - Sari Redzeposki (Australia) Over 60.01 KG (132.01 LB): - Camilla Gielsten (Norway) - Marloes Coenen (Holland) - Juliana Borges (Brazil) - Hannette Stack (Brazil) - Debi Purcell (USA) - Amanda Buckner (USA) - Megumi Yabushita (Japan) - Yuki Kondo Kubota (Japan) - Stacey Cartwright (Australia) - Jessica Ross (USA) Also worth mentioning: Gazzy's E-Bay Auction I know this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'd willing to answer any questions for those who want to know more aobut the event. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted April 1, 2005 I thought Manny Reyes Jr. was a joke? Alistair Overreem and Travis Wiuff? That should be interesting. How would you rate Eddie Bravo and Wagnney Fabiano's chances? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2005 - Reyes is a joke, and I think Reyes' noteriety alone may have gotten him into this tournament. He should be subbed quickly in the opening round. - Alistair winning seems to be more condemning of the this year's European <98kg qualifiers than anything else, especially since he used the same move (guillotine) to submit each of his opponents. - Wiuff, on the other hand, obviously has some wrestling skill (though nothing on par with what it was hyped up to be) and should still be strong at a lower weight, though I'd have to say he'll probably be taken out by the first threat he meets. - Fabiano's good, as evidenced by winning the Brazilian qualifiers (always tough at pretty much every weight), but this year's seemed a bit lower on talent than in the past. I'd say he has a shot at placing 3rd or 4th. - I may be a bit biased, but I think of Bravo as a lesser version of Baret Yoshida in that he's going to try his best to sub you, but if he can't, chances are he'll lose on points. Royler was winning before Bravo caught him off guard, and Viera absolutely shredded the rubber guard. I don't expect Eddie to place this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2005 Wait, don't you get awarded points for trying to sub? It seems foolish to me that a guy who tries to finish the fight like a fighter should will lose because the other guy is ahead on points. That's one thing I like about guys from Eddie's school, like Strebrendt, the guy is crazy when he tries to finish a fight, unlike guys who just hold and paw for awhile, waiting for a really big opening. I say Fabiano because he has a school a few miles away from my house. I've been debating making the trip to go there. I'm aware of Wiuff's wrestling ability, but that seems to be it. He doesn't seem to have any good submission ability. Then again, Mark Kerr actually won at ADCC a few years ago so... Who do you think will win the superfight? I heard Arona won last time, and I think it's a bullshit excuse for him not to be in the GP, seeing as how the guy he's fighting is going to be fighting two fights in one night...for the right to be in the GP! Does Arona hold a lot, or does he try to finish? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bigboneramon Report post Posted April 2, 2005 javier vazquez. nice I don't know how he'll fair considering his knees Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AboveAverage484 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2005 Wait, don't you get awarded points for trying to sub? It seems foolish to me that a guy who tries to finish the fight like a fighter should will lose because the other guy is ahead on points. That's one thing I like about guys from Eddie's school, like Strebrendt, the guy is crazy when he tries to finish a fight, unlike guys who just hold and paw for awhile, waiting for a really big opening. I say Fabiano because he has a school a few miles away from my house. I've been debating making the trip to go there. I'm aware of Wiuff's wrestling ability, but that seems to be it. He doesn't seem to have any good submission ability. Then again, Mark Kerr actually won at ADCC a few years ago so... Who do you think will win the superfight? I heard Arona won last time, and I think it's a bullshit excuse for him not to be in the GP, seeing as how the guy he's fighting is going to be fighting two fights in one night...for the right to be in the GP! Does Arona hold a lot, or does he try to finish? I don't think you get rewarded points for trying to sub, you get rewarded points for control and you get points for improving a position, hopefully Lei will correct me if I'm wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted April 2, 2005 - Points system: Mount position = 2 points Back mount with hooks = 3 points Passing the guard = 3 points Knee on stomach = 2 points Clean Sweeps = 4 points Sweeps = 4 Points Clean Take down (Ends passed the guard)= 4 points Take down (Ends Guard or Half Guard)= 2 points Asy you can see, it's very possible for guys with little finishing skills to win simply by scoring a couple of points and then riding to a decision. - Fabiano's definitely a legit guy, and since most schools let you sit in on a few classes, you should probably check it out if you want to get into BJJ. - Though he mostly a takedown & control guy, Kerr could finish guys off every now and then with a Kimura and also new how to advance positiong somewhat. I don't think Wiuff has Kerr's wrestling or overall submission skill, though. - Arona's been undefeated in ADCC since 2000, winning something like over a dozen matches, but only ever finishing one match, submitting Roger Neff with a footlock. Definitely one of the more boring guys to watch in ADCC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lei Tong 0 Report post Posted April 7, 2005 There's good news and bad news: Good: Baret "The Finisher" Yoshida is in (<66kg), thus garaunteeing at least 2 submissions in his division this year. Bad: Manny Reyes was an April Fool's Joke. I call shenanigans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
