2025 ADCC North American East Coast Trials

The 2025 Trials spotlighted emerging talent and produced several first-time ADCC qualifiers:

Men’s ADCC Qualifiers:

• 66 kg: Dorian Olivarez (Kingsway)
• 77 kg: Jacob Bornemann (Pedigo Submission Fighting)
• 88 kg: Jon Blank (10th Planet)
• 99 kg: Achilles Rocha (VRMA)
• +99 kg: Brandon Reed (Pedigo Submission Fighting)

Women’s Division Champions:

• 55 kg: Ana Mayordomo
• 65 kg: Morgan Black
• +65 kg: Maia Matalon

This edition was characterized as atypical, with several top-ranked athletes opting out. Their absence paved the way for lesser-known competitors and bracket favorites—including Dorian Olivarez, Achilles Rocha, Ana Mayordomo, and Morgan Black—to secure gold and make their mark on the ADCC stage.

Men’s Division Finals

Each men’s division delivered decisive finals, with technical battles and strategic mastery on display:

• 66 kg Final: Dorian Olivarez imposed dominant positional control and precise scoring to defeat Gavin Corbe 5-0. Olivarez’s semifinal featured a measured 3-0 win over Reese LaFever.
• 77 kg Final: Jacob Bornemann utilized effective positional strategy to secure a 3-0 victory over Michael Sainz. Bornemann’s path included a hard-fought decision in the semifinals.
• 88 kg Final: Jon Blank showcased his submission prowess, finishing Sean Yadimarco with a Short Choke after earning a semifinal win via Inside Heel Hook.
• 99 kg Final: Achilles Rocha outscored Steffen Banta on points, following a dominant 11-0 semifinal performance against John Combs.
• +99 kg Final: Brandon Reed claimed victory over Nick Hartman by points, having submitted Amir Allam with a Guillotine Choke in the semifinals.

Women’s Division Finals

• 55 kg: Ana Mayordomo edged Valerie Wong by decision in a tactical final, after a 2-0 semifinal win over Danielle Kelly.
• 65 kg: Morgan Black submitted Taylor Ellis with a Guillotine Choke in the final, building on a 3-0 semifinal victory.
• +65 kg: Maia Matalon secured gold by submitting Nathalie Levesque with an Inside Heel Hook. Matalon reached the final after a 6-0 semifinal win over Josilyn Molina, while Levesque advanced by submitting Britney Elkin.

Notable Submissions Across Divisions

Submissions played a decisive role throughout the event, with several matches ending via high-level techniques:

• Jon Blank demonstrated finishing ability, using a Short Choke in the 88 kg final and an Inside Heel Hook in the semifinals.
• Hasnat Raza submitted Angelo Claiborne with an Anaconda Choke in the 88 kg quarterfinals, showcasing opportunistic front headlock attacks.
• Steffen Banta advanced to the 99 kg final by submitting Benjamin Sutz with a Rear Naked Choke.
• Morgan Black and Maia Matalon both secured their titles via submission—Black with a Guillotine Choke, Matalon with an Inside Heel Hook.
• In the +99 kg division, Ian Daube submitted Alfonso Kaihau in the quarterfinals, though the specific technique was not detailed.

A diverse array of submission finishes—including the Inside Heel Hook, Guillotine Choke, Rear Naked Choke, Anaconda Choke, and Short Choke—featured prominently in key matches. Competitors such as Jon Blank consistently demonstrated the ability to finish matches by submission, highlighting the technical depth of the field.

Quarterfinals to Finals: Division Overviews

From the quarterfinals onward, each bracket delivered intense matchups and notable upsets:

• 66 kg: Dorian Olivarez advanced with a rear naked choke in the quarterfinals, a 3-0 semifinal victory, and a 5-0 win in the final. Gavin Corbe upset Keith Krikorian in the semifinals via Inside Heel Hook.
• 77 kg: Jacob Bornemann progressed with a decision in the quarterfinals, a semifinal decision over Cameron Hurd, and a 3-0 points win in the final.
• 88 kg: Jon Blank submitted Nathan Haddad in the quarterfinals, used an Inside Heel Hook in the semifinals, and finished with a Short Choke in the final.
• 99 kg: Achilles Rocha dominated with a 15-0 quarterfinal, 11-0 semifinal, and a points victory in the final. Steffen Banta submitted Benjamin Sutz in the semifinals.
• +99 kg: Brandon Reed and Nick Hartman each secured submission wins in the semifinals before Reed claimed the final by points.
• Women’s 55 kg: Ana Mayordomo advanced with a 4-2 quarterfinal, a 2-0 semifinal over Danielle Kelly, and a decision in the final.
• Women’s 65 kg: Morgan Black submitted both her quarterfinal and semifinal opponents, finishing the final with a Guillotine Choke.
• Women’s +65 kg: Maia Matalon submitted her quarterfinal and semifinal opponents, culminating in an Inside Heel Hook finish in the final.

The bracket progression underscored the emergence of new contenders and the effectiveness of submission-oriented strategies. Multiple champions submitted several opponents en route to their titles, reinforcing the technical evolution and competitive depth present at the 2025 ADCC North American East Coast Trials.