The road to ADCC 2026 officially kicks off in Warsaw, Poland this weekend, and the entry list is absolutely mental. Hundreds of grapplers are about to put everything on the line at the European, Middle East & African Trials, chasing their shot at the biggest stage in no-gi grappling.
What’s Actually at Stake
Here’s the thing that’s going to piss off a lot of people – there are no qualifying spots on the line for the women’s divisions. Yeah, you read that right. The ladies are still competing, but they’re essentially fighting for seeding, potential invitations, and replacement spots down the line. It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth, but that’s how ADCC operates in the first round of regionals.
For the men though? This is the real deal. Win your division and you’re punching your ticket to ADCC 2026. Lose and you’re waiting another two years, watching from the sidelines while someone else lives your dream.
The Weight Class Breakdown
The entry lists are stacked across all divisions, but let me break down what we’re looking at:
Men’s -66kg – Always the most technical division, expect some absolute wizards to emerge from this weight class. Big names include Sam Gibbs, Robert Diggle, Martin Rapčan, Yigit Hanay, JP Buys, Richard Bukovcsan, Kamil Wilk, Jack Sear, and Marcus Phelan.
Men’s -77kg – The sweet spot where speed meets power. This could be the most competitive division of the weekend. Watch for Natan Sap, Oliver Taza, Mateusz Flaga, Jed Hue, Davis Asare, and Mateusz Szczeciński.
Men’s -88kg – We already know this includes beasts like Tyrone Gonsalves, Carson Coles, Marlon Tajik, Tarik Hopstock, Pawel Jaworski, Santeri Lilius, Linus von Schrenk, and Faris Ben-Lamkadem. This division is going to be an absolute war.
Men’s -99kg – The big boys who can still move. Expect some serious scrambles and heavy pressure games from Mateusz Mazur, Marcin Maciulewicz, and Declan Moody.
Men’s +99kg – Where giants collide. These matches are going to be must-watch television with Mark Macqueen and Heikki Jussila leading the charge.
Women’s divisions feature Ana Mayordomo, Martina Zola, Josefine Modig, and Ashley Bendle at -55kg; Zara di Tofano, Selma Vik, and Cara du Plessis at -65kg; and Salla Simola, Jessika Torttila, and Eleftheria Christodolou at +65kg.
The Notable Absences
What’s interesting is who’s NOT on this list. Tommy Langaker and Jozef Chen – two massive European names that people expected to see – are nowhere to be found. Whether that’s due to existing ADCC invitations, strategic decisions to wait for other trials, or just scheduling conflicts – their absence creates opportunities for hungrier athletes to step up.
Sometimes the best stories come from the guys nobody saw coming.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
This isn’t just another tournament. This is where careers get made and legends are born. The ADCC trials format is absolutely brutal – one mistake, one moment of fatigue, one perfectly timed submission, and your dreams are done for another cycle.
The athletes who emerge from Warsaw won’t just be ADCC qualifiers – they’ll be the guys who proved they can handle the pressure when everything is on the line. That mental toughness is what separates ADCC competitors from everyone else.
The Format Reality Check
Twenty minutes of regulation time with overtime if needed. Points matter, but submissions are king. The ADCC ruleset rewards aggression and finishing, which means we’re going to see some absolute violence this weekend.
These aren’t friendly rolls at your local gym. This is career-defining competition where playing it safe gets you sent home empty-handed.
Where to Watch
FloGrappling has exclusive coverage, so if you want to see history in the making, that’s where you need to be. The action starts early and runs all day – this is appointment viewing for any serious grappling fan.
The Bottom Line
The first ADCC European Trials of the 2026 cycle is going to separate the pretenders from the contenders. By Sunday night, we’ll know who has what it takes to compete at the highest level and who needs to go back to the drawing board.
For the athletes stepping on the mats in Warsaw, this is their moment. Two years of preparation, countless hours of training, and all the sacrifices that come with chasing greatness – it all comes down to one weekend.
The road to ADCC 2026 starts here. Let’s see who’s ready for the journey.
