We Speak Jiu Jitsu
ADCC 2026: Felipe Pena Makes History, Helena Crevar Wins Gold and Scotland’s Mark Macqueen Takes Bronze
The 2026 ADCC World Championship in Kraków, Poland delivered history, a stack of new champions, and a strong showing for the United States and Europe — with Scotland’s Mark Macqueen reaching the podium in front of a European crowd.
Brazil’s Felipe Pena became the first person in ADCC history to win the absolute bracket twice, beating Roosevelt Sousa in the final. In the championship superfight, Yuri Simoes defeated Kaynan Duarte by submission after Duarte appeared to injure his shoulder in overtime.
American star Helena Crevar continued her takeover of the women’s divisions, submitting Anabel Lopez in the +65kg final to add ADCC gold to her growing collection. Fellow American Paige Ivette Clymer took bronze in the same division, submitting Elizabeth Mitrovic in 1:52 in the bronze-medal match. The USA also picked up silver medals through PJ Barch (-77kg) and Gavin Corbe (-66kg), while Austin-based Luke Griffith won his first ADCC world title at -99kg.
Europe enjoyed its strongest ADCC showing on record. Host nation Poland celebrated its first ADCC champion as Pawel Jaworski won the -88kg title with three straight leg-lock submissions on his way to the final, and Scotland’s Mark Macqueen claimed bronze in the +99kg division behind champion Victor Hugo and silver medalist Josh Saunders.
ADCC 2026 Champions
Absolute: Felipe Pena
Superfight: Yuri Simoes def. Kaynan Duarte
Men’s +99kg: Victor Hugo
Men’s -99kg: Luke Griffith
Men’s -88kg: Pawel Jaworski
Men’s -77kg: Magomed Dzharbaev
Men’s -66kg: Kennedy Maciel
Women’s +65kg: Helena Crevar
Women’s -65kg: Ana Carolina Vieira (submitted Sarah Galvão in overtime in the final)
Women’s -55kg: Jasmine Rocha
The championships also produced the weekend’s ugliest moment: a brawl broke out after the 66kg opening-round match between Dorian Olivarez and Bekzat Kapashov, with Olivarez’s corner — including Gordon Ryan — caught in the middle. ADCC disqualified both fighters and banned each for one year, with Olivarez’s father and coach suspended for two years.
We Speak Jiu Jitsu
Garry Tonon Returns to Face Sam McNally for Polaris Lightweight Title at Polaris 40 in Southampton
Garry Tonon is coming back to the grappling mats — and he is coming back for revenge. The American star will face Ireland’s Sam McNally for the Polaris Lightweight Championship at Polaris 40 on Saturday, November 21, at Central Hall in Southampton, England.
The booking, announced by Polaris and FloGrappling this week, brings Tonon back to the superfight circuit after roughly six years focused on MMA with ONE Championship. It also gives him the chance to reverse a very specific result: at the 2022 ADCC World Championship, McNally — who had earned his place by winning the European trials at 66kg — upset the No. 1-seeded Tonon 3–0 on points in the opening round, in one of the defining victories of the Irish black belt’s career.
“Garry Tonon is back, and this time it’s personal,” Polaris said in announcing the fight, with the lightweight title on the line.
Tonon built much of his reputation on the Polaris mats as one of the most exciting submission grapplers in the world before crossing over to MMA. McNally, meanwhile, has already shown he can beat him on a major stage. Their rematch carries a simple question: can the Irishman do it again, this time with a belt at stake?
Tickets for Polaris 40, a full day of professional grappling from Europe’s biggest pro jiu-jitsu show, are on sale now, priced from £22.
-
We Speak Music1 week agoFox De La Rose Refuses To Be Defined On ‘Nothing Is Written In Stone’
-
We Speak Music1 week agoDidn’t get tickets to Oasis? Buying for the dad who still talks about that gig in 1996
-
We Speak Dining & Drinks2 days agoOff The Rails Opens in Boston, Bringing Nashville-Inspired Dining, Live Music and High-Energy Entertainment Downtown
-
We Speak Music1 week agoDesire Machines Pair Literary Inspiration With Psychedelic Art-Rock On New Single