The Top Rookies Ready To Shake Up ADCC 2026

Every ADCC cycle produces a handful of newcomers who outperform their seeding, and the 2026 World Championship field is stacked with candidates. With five male divisions of 16 athletes and three female divisions of 8 apiece, Krakow leaves plenty of room for a breakout run.

Two of the most talked-about first-timers punched their tickets at the 1st ADCC South American Trials in Rio: 18-year-old purple belt David Santos, who won seven matches in a single day at 66kg, and 19-year-old brown belt Julio Suzigan Martins, who went 6-0 at 77kg. Both train under the Melqui Galvao stable that produced reigning champions Diogo Reis and Mica Galvao.

The -88kg bracket is especially open this cycle after the reigning champion's absence from the invite list, leaving a lane for trials winners like Nathan Haddad — who claimed his spot at the 2026 ADCC West Coast Trials — to make an immediate impact on debut.

Related Reading

• 2026 1st ADCC South American Trials results — full results from Rio, including Santos and Martins' qualifying runs
• 2026 ADCC West Coast Trials results — the Pomona bracket that sent Nathan Haddad to Krakow
• Leg drag pass guide — a staple passing sequence for younger, scramble-heavy competitors