07/28/2026
Five gyms you have never heard of that produced an ADCC qualifier this cycle.
Alpha Miami is a family gym in Miami founded by Carlos Sainz, a black belt under 12x world champion Caio Terra. His son Michael won the West Coast Trials at 77kg at just 20 years old.
Core Combat Sports is a Louisville gym where Nathan Haddad teaches kids classes. He won seven matches across two days in the deepest bracket of the West Coast Trials, submitting PGF champion Jayden Groner along the way.
Magness BJJ produced Sheliah Lindsey, who submitted five of her six opponents at the West Coast Trials, the highest finish rate of any qualifier at the event, men or women.
One Purpose BJJ is a Brisbane gym owned and run by the man who qualified out of it. Roberto Dib Frias is 36 and beat heavily favored Lucas Kanard to win the Asia and Oceania Trials.
Peninsula MMA in Australia produced Nadia Frankland, who finally broke through and won the ADCC Trials title that had eluded her for years, going 4-0.
Five gyms with no marketing machine and no roster of household names. All five sent someone to the biggest stage in no gi grappling. The patch on your sleeve doesn’t decide anything.
