On May 7, 2022 Poznan, Poland hosted the second ADCC European, Middle East and Africa trials of the ADCC. The tournament selected the last seven athletes who will win spots for the ADCC’s World Championship in September.
The ADCC is known as the Olympics of Grappling and for years has been the top promotion in the no-gi scene, and as expected many of the top competitors of the sport appeared.
ADCC Second European Trials Winners
Men’s Divisions
- -66 kg: Sam McNally (ECBJJ / IRE)
- -77 kg: Tommy Langaker (Wulfing Academy / NOR)
- -88 kg: Santeri Lilius (Lilius Barnatt MA / FIN)
- -99 kg: Luke Griffith (New Wave / SA)
- +99 kg: Daniel Manasoiu (New Wave / ROM-USA)
Women’s Divisions
- -60 kg: Julia Maele (OXY / NOR)
- +60 kg: Eleftheria Christodoulou (ZR Team / CYP)
ADCC Second European Trials Results
Men’s -66 kg
The 66 kilogram division was filled with some of the best featherweights in Europe, including Sam McNally of East Coast JJ (IRE), rising Israeli prodigy Yarin Shriki, Thomas Halpin (IRE), Kamil Wilk (POL), and Daniel De Groot (HOL).
But it all came down to one of the best Black Belts from Ireland: Sam McNally. McNally is a competitor for ECBJJ, one of the strongest schools in Europe right now. The young Irishman ran through the division with 6 wins, and submitting four of his opponents.
Quarter finals
- Sam McNally defeats Samuel Gibbs by points 5 x 3
- Roine Bohlim defeats Bruno Amaddeo by points 5×2
- Tomas Tovey defeats Tuomas Kokkonen by decision
- Daniel Groot defeats Thomas Kartas by points 3×0
Semi Finals
Bronze medal match
- Daniel Groot defeats Tomas Tovey by straight ankle lock
Final
- Sam McNally defeats Roine Bohlim by points 3×0
Men’s -77 kg
Despite the many no-gi specialists in the division a primarily gi competitor was crowned the champion and earned his spot at the upcoming ADCC Worlds.
The Norwegian super star Tommy Langaker dominated the 77 kg division with relative ease, defeating two the division favortes, Ross Nicholls and Mateusz Szczecinski, on his way to gold. Langaker won a total of 7 matches, 3 of which he won by submission and without giving up a single point in all 7.
Quarter finals
- Tommy Langaker defeats Thomas Barry by points 3×0
- Mateusz Szczecinski defeats Jozef Chen by straight ankle lock
- Ellis Younger defeats Lee Hammond by points 2×0
- Ross Nicholls defeats Christopher Wokcik by decision
Semi finals
- Tommy Langaker defeats Ross Nicholls by points 6×0
- Mateusz Szczecinski defeats Ellis Younger by armbar
Bronze medal match
- Ross Nicholls defeats Ellis Younger by points 2×0
Final
- Tommy Langaker defeats Mateusz Szczecinski via RNC
Men’s -88 kg
Traditionally stacked with a lot of Polish grapplers, this time the two finalists of the 88kg division were Finland’s Santeri Lilius and Portugal’s Bruno Lima.
The final between them was mostly a wrestling match, but near the end of the match Lima ended up on his back after one scramble, and was awarded a negative point which led to Lilius taking home the crown and his spot in September’s competition, after winning 7 tough matches.
Quarter finals
- Piotr Fręchowicz defeats Konrad Olszewski by points 3×0
- Bruno Lima defeats Johan Oosthuysen by RNC
- Santeri Lilius defeats Ben Dyson by points 3×0
- Otto Kuikka defeats Marcin Maciulewicz by decision
Semi finals
- Bruno Lima defeats Otto Kuikka by points 4×0
- Santeri Lilius defeats Piotr Fręchowicz by armbar
Bronze medal match
- Piotr Fręchowicz defeats Otto Kuikka by dead orchard
Final
- Santeri Lilius defeats Santeri Lilius by decision
Men’s -99 kg
Another John Danaher prospect earned his spot in the 99 kilogram division. Originally from South Africa and still a purple belt, Luke Griffith took out a few of the division’s favorites, including Hungary’s Kristof Szucs, by submission. Griffith had 4 matches and 3 of those he won by submission and was the only African winner of the tournament.
Quarters finals
- Freddy Vosgroene defeats Jan Kogel by points 3×0
- Owen Livesey defeats Adem Crnalic by points 11×0
- Luke Griffith defeats Kristof Szucs by heel hook
- Dawid Drobina defeats Kasper Larsen by heel hook
Semi Finals
- Owen Livesey defeats Freddy Vosgroene by injury
- Luke Griffith defeats Dawid Drobina by RNC
Bronze medal match
- Dawid Drobina awarded 3rd place as Vosgroene was unable to compete.
Final
- Luke Griffith defeats Owen Livesey by RNC
Men’s +99 kg
While still a blue belt, New Wave’s Danial Manasoui had 4 matches on his way to win the gold, three of which he won by submission. With this demonstration, Daniel is clearly one of the rising stars to watch on the big show in September
Quarters Finals
- Mateusz Juskowiak defeats Paulo Brasil by penalty
- Muslim Patsarigov defeats Akseli Kaasalainen by points 2×0
- Daniel Manasoiu defeats Aiden Woodley by heel hook
- Francis Prana defeats Seif- Eddine Houmine by points 2×0
Semi Finals
- Muslim Patsarigov defeats Mateusz Juskowiak by penalty
- Daniel Manasoiu defeats Francis Prana by points 3×0
Bronze medal match
- Francis Pana defeats Mateusz Juskowiak by injury
Final
- Daniel Manasoiu defeats Muslim Patsarigov by katagatame / arm triangle
Women’s -60 kg
While there weren’t many local names on the bracket, the 29 years old Julia Maele from Norway had a beautiful performance on her way to the gold of the division. Julia had 4 matches and submitted 2 of her opponents.
Quarters finals
- Naiomi Matthews defeats Ashley Bendle by decision
- Peyton Letcher defeats Nora Schultz by decision
- Julia Maele defeats Amanda Schurtz by anaconda choke
- Naomi Mathews defeats Laila Ohlhoff by points 6×0
Semi finals
- Naiomi Matthews defeats Peyton Letcher by points 3×0
- Julia Maele defeats Naomi Mathews by decision
Bronze medal match
- Janette Gloger defeats Naiomi Mathews by RNC
Final
- Julia Maele defeats Naiomi Matthews by RNC
Women’s +60 kg
In one of the most heavily contested divisions of the tournament, the top prospect from Cyprus Eleftheria Christodoulou had difficulties on her way to taking gold in the event.
Being a part of Ievgen Skyrda’s army of grapplers at ZR Team’s professional squad in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine, Christodoulou has recently returned to her home country, likely due to the current dire situation in Eastern Europe.
But despite these challenges, Christodoulou was able to win the division among some of the very best in the sport from that division, including Nia Blackman, Maria Malyjasiak, and Ane Svendsen, and will represent the Old Continent at the ADCC World Championship in Las Vegas.
Quarter finals
- Magdalena Zaszczudłowicz defeats Duyen Tran by kneebar
- Ane Svendsen defeats Julija Stoliarenko by points 6×0
- Eleftheria Christodoulou defeats Nia Blackman by decision
- Maria Malyjasiak defeats Selma Essahli-Vik by RNC
Semi finals
- Ane Svendsen defeats Magdalena Zaszczudłowicz by points 3×0
- Eleftheria Christodoulou defeats Maria Malyjasiak in overtime points
Bronze medal match
- Magdalena Zaszczudłowicz awarded 3rd place as Maria Malyjasiak forfeited.
Final
- Eleftheria Christodoulou defeats Ane Svendsen by points 2×0
I am black belt under Bruno Bastos and I am very passionate about Jiu Jitsu. I do the sport for 13 years. Now I am an owner and head coach at one of the biggest Jiu Jitsu academies in Bulgaria and still an active competitor.