For the uninitiated, the Absolute Bracket is the fire and brimstone of the ADCC World Championships. Absolute competition is chaotically good.
In this division, weight classes are thrown out the window and athletes from different weight classes compete against each other. There is the possibility of uneven opponents, size vs. ability, and unpredictability.
After the medals for each main class have been awarded on Sunday, August 18, the athletes will register themselves for the Absolute Bracket or will be selected to participate in it.
A total of 16 participants will be selected for the absolute men’s class and eight for the absolute women’s class. In the history of the ADCC there have only been two absolute women’s competitions, the last of which took place in 2007.
For this reason, fans should check out the Absolute Bracket at ADCC 2024.
Diego Pato offers unpredictable encounters and potential surprises
“The craziest thing you’ll see in the absolute class is – I think we have a better chance than ever of someone much smaller than usual winning a medal in the absolute class,” explains FloGrappling expert Joe Gilpin.
Pato quickly rose through the ranks and proved himself to be a formidable competitor, becoming a three-time IBJJF World Champion and a two-time IBJJF No-Gi World Champion in recent years.
“I think he has a chance to become the first athlete in the -66 kg class to win a medal in the absolute class. His leg locks and submission skills are so deadly that I don’t think there is anyone in this tournament that he can’t force to submit,” Gilpin added.
“Pato is pound for pound the scariest wrestler in the world right now. He’s a nice guy, but his submission attacks are brutal. And that makes him a really intimidating presence on the mat.”
David versus Goliath scenarios
Athletes like Pato and Dante Leon bring a David versus Goliath aspect to the 2024 ADCC World Championships.
“Dante (Leon) has really earned his reputation as one of the toughest guys in the sport over the last few years by taking on and beating guys much bigger than him,” Gilpin says, “and not just anyone, but real champions.”
Gilpin adds: “Dante is someone who will be given a face by many of these absolute athletes. I think that element will generate a lot of interest.”
“This could be a year where all the bigger guys beat all the smaller guys. It could be a year where things are very mixed and varied. You can’t tell until we get out of there.”
Historic absolute women’s bracket at ADCC 2024
For the first time since 2007, the introduction of an all-women class brings a new dynamic to the competition.
“For the first time in many years, there will also be an absolute women’s ranking. And I think because this is so new and we’re not used to seeing how these groups play out for the women, it will be interesting to see what dynamics emerge,” says Gilpin.
Former ADCC champions Amy Campo, Bianca Basilio and Bia Mesquita will compete in separate divisions at the 2024 ADCC World Championships. The possibility of them competing against each other in the Absolute classes could lead to incredible results, something we haven’t seen at ADCC in nearly 20 years.
When will the absolute brackets be announced at the ADCC 2024?
The ADCC Absolute Brackets will be announced following the conclusion of the Major Class Gold Medal Matches on Sunday, August 18.
The gold medal fights are scheduled to begin at 2:40 p.m. EDT.
The Absolute matches are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
What you should know about the absolute brackets at ADCC 2024
- Open Weight Division: The Absolute Bracket allows athletes of all weight classes to participate without weight restrictions.
- By invitation only: The Absolute Division is by invitation only, so only the best participants are selected.
- Bracket structure: The bracket consists of 16 participants in the men’s class and 8 participants in the women’s class.
- Selection of participants: Participants are selected based on various criteria, such as holding titles or medals in their respective divisions, being invited as high-level athletes or demonstrating exceptional skills.
- Women’s Competition: The Women’s Absolute Division will compete for the first time since 2007.
How to watch the 2024 ADCC World Championship
The 2024 ADCC World Championship will be streamed live in the USA on FloGrappling and the FloSports app.
Replays, highlights and news will also be available on both platforms.
ADCC start time
Here you can find the times for the ADCC World Championships. All times are Eastern Time.
17 August:
- The opening ceremony of the ADCC World Championship will take place at 1 p.m.
- The matches of the first round of the ADCC World Championship start at 13:45
- The quarter-finals of the ADCC World Championship are expected to start around 5 p.m.
- The ADCC Super Fight Gordon Ryan vs. Felipe Pena is scheduled to take place at 8 p.m.
18 August:
- The semi-finals of the ADCC World Championship start at 1 p.m.
- The bronze medal matches at the ADCC World Championship are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
- The gold medal fights of the ADCC World Championship are scheduled to begin at 2:40 p.m.
- The ADCC World Championship Absolute Division is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.
- The medal rounds of the ADCC World Championship in the absolute division are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m.
- Gordon Ryan vs. Yuri Simoes ADCC Super Fight is expected to start at 9:30 p.m.
Watch BJJ on FloGrappling
FloGrappling is the streaming home of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu events and news coverage. FloGrappling is the streaming home of:
Don’t miss the IBJJF World Championships and the ADCC World Championships on FloGrappling
In May 2024, FloGrappling will broadcast the fourth and final Grand Slam event on the IBJJF calendar in California.
In August 2024, FloGrappling will broadcast the ADCC World Championships. The biennial tournament returns to Las Vegas.
