With the biennial ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship postponed until next year due to the pandemic, a host of grapplers, itching to get back in the hunt for a chance at their sport's biggest title, descended on Atlantic City, N. J. this weekend for the ADCC East Coast Trials. A record field of more than 800 competitors entered the event seeking to punch their ticket to next year's championships in Las Vegas.

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The extra wait for the new cycle of trials allowed some new faces to emerge lead by 16-year-old Cole Abate who won the men's 66 kg division. He was joined by Kade Ruotolo at 77 kg, Giancarlo Bodoni at 88 kg, ADCC veteran Mason Fowler at 99 kg and perhaps the day's most impressive performer, John Hansen, who won the finals of the over 99 kg class with a submission in less than 30 seconds. The women's field saw Brianna Ste-Marie take the 60 kg category, while Kendall Reusing won the over 60 kg division. Though the women's winners didn't automatically qualify for the world championships, flograppling.com reports event organizer Tom Deblass offered to fly them to the West Coast Trials which will guarantee winners a championship bid.