We Speak Jiu Jitsu
Polaris 39 Results: Takahashi Beats Britain’s Shay Montague for Bantamweight Title in Doncaster
Yuki Takahashi is the new Polaris bantamweight champion. The Japanese grappler beat Britain’s Shay Montague for the vacant title at Polaris 39, held at The Dome in Doncaster on Saturday, October 3.
Montague, the IBJJF No-Gi World Champion, was making his Polaris debut in front of a home crowd. Takahashi, returning to the promotion, spoiled the debut to claim the belt — and Polaris has since asked fans who the new champion should face next.
In the most anticipated match of the night, Norway’s Tommy Langaker beat Eoghan O’Flanagan in the first meeting between the two. Langaker is a No-Gi World Champion who trains with Kimura/Nova Uniao, while O’Flanagan is a two-time ADCC European Trials winner and a Polaris Squads champion.
Before the event, Polaris had presented the match as Langaker’s chance to earn a rematch with its champion Owen Livesey. After the win, Langaker talked about future matches with Livesey, with Poland’s Mateusz Szczeciński — who won the Polaris Invitational title earlier this year — and with a third opponent.
Rest of the main card
Julia Livesey submitted Shye Lilly with an arm triangle
Shane Curtis beat George Pearse on a decision
Callen O’Mahony won his match against Franco Tenaglia
Kywan Gracie beat Danny Mitchell by armbar — Mitchell refused to tap with the arm locked in, and Gracie told him to tap rather than take the injury, which ended the match
Polaris, Europe’s biggest professional jiu-jitsu show, returns on November 21 with Polaris 40 in Southampton, headlined by Garry Tonon’s return against Sam McNally for the lightweight title.
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.
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