The 2019 ADCC Championship takes place this weekend from September 27th to the 29th in Los Angeles, California. Round 1 will take place on Saturday, with the semifinals, finals, and bronze medal matches on Sunday. Weigh ins and brackets take place on Friday. Flograppling will be streaming the action live. The -60kg women’s bracket consists of 8 athletes, including the 2017 champion, 3 trials winners and 4 invited athletes.
2017 Champion: Beatriz Mesquita (BRA) – Gracie Humaita
Beatriz (Bia) Mesquita is the 2017 ADCC Champion, and probably the favorite out of the 8 women competing. She is a 9 time Black Belt IBJJF World Champion, and 5 time Nogi World Champion. She also has won Panams 7 times, Europeans 4 times, and Brazilian Nationals 3 times in addition to holding the EBI Bantamweight title, and is arguably the most decorated female jiujitsu athlete to date.
North American Trials Winner: Jena Bishop (USA) – Alliance
Jena Bishop is the only American in the 2019 ADCC Championships having won her way by winning the West Coast ADCC Trials earlier this year in dominant fashion with 4 submissions, winning on points in the finals. She is a Master World Champion in both her weight and open class, Nogi World Champion, Pan American Champion, and European Champion. Jena’s list of titles is long, and she will definitely be a fun athlete to watch this weekend.
European Trials Winner: Livia Giles (POL) – Absolute MMA
Representing Poland, Livia Giles won her ticket by winning the European Trials by inside heel hook earlier this year. The formal gymnast is an EBI veteran, Fight2Win Pro veteran, and Nogi Worlds and Europeans Silver Medalist to list only some of her accolades. Having received her black belt in May of 2017, she is one of the newer blackbelts in this bracket, but this by no means she will be an easy opponent, and can be said to have one of the best leg lock games in this division.
Asia-Oceania Trials Winner: Rikako Yuasa (JPN) – Paraestra Shinagawa
Rikako Yuasa trains out of Japan, and is the smallest competitor in this division typically competing in the Rooster weight class, 48.5kg. She won her invitation at the Asia Rikako is also a very highly decorated grappler, with 4 Black Belt World Titles. She won her first 4 IBJJF World Championships since she received her black belt in 2014, receiving second place this year. She is also an EBI veteran, Asian Open Champion, and Japan Open Champion. In the gi, Rikako is a tough battle, but given the nogi style, it will be exciting to watch her compete especially given her great performance at EBI 18.
Invited: Bianca Basilio (BRA) – Almeida Jiu Jitsu
Bianca Basilio is another Brazilian athlete training out of Almeida Jiu Jitsu, and is the first of four invited athletes in this division. She is a well decorated athlete as a Pan American Champion, Brazilian Champion, and South American Champion, along with a Worlds medalist. She is an EBI veteran, losing to Bia Mesquita in overtime after 3 dominate submissions. We could very easily see a rematch between the Bia’s this weekend, a repeat of the 2017 -60kg women’s final.
Invited: Elvira Karppinen (FIN) – 10th Planet
Elvira Karppinen is the newest black belt, receiving her black belt from Eddie Bravo this April. In the 2017 ADCC Championships, Elvira earned 4th by beating out the 2015 Champion and favorite Mackenzie Dern. She is a leg lock specialist, and arguably the best leg locker in this division. Her accolades include Fight2Win, Quintet, and Subversiv. She could very easily reach the top of the podium this weekend, and a rematch between her and Bianca Basilio would be exciting.
Invited: Ffion Davies (GBR) – East Coast Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Ffion Davies is another new black belt, receiving hers in November of 2018 from Darragh O’Conaill. Shortly after earning her black belt she became the 2018 Nogi World Champion. With less than a year at Black Belt, she already has a long list of accomplishments including Europeans Champion, Brazilian Champion, and Polaris Champion. She is sure to put on an exciting match, and rematchs with Bia Mesquita from 2017 ADCC Championship or Catherine Perret from Fight2Win would be action packed.
Invited: Catherine Perret (BRA) – Checkmat
Accepting an invitation on an impressive 6 days notice, Catherine Perret is replacing the South American Trials winner, Francine Nascimento. Catherine is a very well decorated athlete, as a Nogi World Champion, Nogi Pans Champion, and Worlds Medalist. She is also Fight2Win 135 pound nogi champion, beating. Ffion Davies to win the title, and a possible rematch could be very exciting.. Given her constant presence on the competition scene, the 6 day notice may not faze her.
Contact us at: WomenWhoRollBJJ@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoRoll
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenWhoRollBJJ
Instagram: @WomenWhoRollBJJ