2026 1st ADCC South American Trials, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The first ADCC South American Trials of the cycle took place March 16, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, opening the region's road to the ADCC World Championship finals in Krakow, Poland later in the year.

The standout storylines both came from teenagers training under the Melqui Galvao stable — the same team behind reigning ADCC champions Diogo Reis and Mica Galvao. Purple belt David Santos, 18, won seven matches in a single day at 66kg to beat a field stacked with black belts, while 19-year-old brown belt Julio Suzigan Martins went 6-0 at 77kg for gold. Reigning IBJJF world champion Roosevelt Souza also punched his ticket, alongside Franco Diaz and Elioenai Julio Braz.

Trials Winners — ADCC 2026 Qualifiers

• 66kg: David Santos
• 77kg: Julio Suzigan Martins
• 88kg: Franco Diaz
• 99kg: Elioenai Julio Braz
• +99kg: Roosevelt Sousa

Related Reading

• BJJ belt system roadmap — how purple and brown belts like Santos and Martins climb toward black
• Technique library — the submissions and scrambles behind Rio's seven-match win streaks
• Custom no-gi team gear — outfit your squad for trials season