Continuing with our look a the divisions we now pay our attention to the U77KG division
-77kg
- Lachlan Giles (Australia) – 1st Asian Trial winner
- Tero Pyylampi (Finland) – 1st European Trial winner
- Mansher Singh Khera (USA) – 1st North American Trial winner
- Felipe Cesar (Brazil) – 1st South American Trial winner
- Marcelo Mafra (Brazil) – 2nd South American Trial winner
- Osmanzhan Kassimov (Kazakhstan) – 2nd Asian Trial winner
- Vagner Rocha (USA) – 2nd North American Trial winner
- Oliver Taza (Canada/Lebanon) – 2nd European Trial winner
- Garry Tonon (USA) – Invited
- Lucas Lepri (Brazil) – Invited
- JT Torres (USA) – Invited
- Gilbert Burns (Brazil) – Invited
- DJ Jackson (USA) – Invited
- Celso Vinicius (Brazil) – Invited
- Leonardo Saggioro (Brazil) – Invited
- Enrico Cocco (USA) – Invited
This, like all ADCC divisions is a stacked group with names like Gary Tonon, Lucas Lepri, JT Torres, Gilbert Burns and Dj Jackson. Tonon gave Kron Gracie all he could handle a couple of events ago and has only improved and has been winning many of the pro events currently available, however he has had spotty record when faced with the top level competition. In my mind the question is again, how is he going to fare against the best at the biggest competition. This ADCC will answer that question, he certainly has the tools to win but remains to be seen if he can adjust to the rules and the top level opponents.
Lucas Lepri is a multiple times World BJJ champion and was runner up to Davi Ramos last ADCC when he was surprised by a lighting flying arm-lock attack. Lepri has the experience and the technique to win it all. Torres is a veteran and always places high, if he can take his game to the level everyone knows he has he can win the event as well. Burns is a former BJJ World champion but has been concentrating in MMA, the MMA speed and timing is slower than submission grappling so it may affect his efficiency.DJ Jackson is a solid and very smart competitor that uses his skillset to the edge. His stand up game is very good and he is cagey and doesn’t give any openings for the opponents to score points.
Those are my favorites in this division, depending on the bracketing they may face each other earlier than the final and change the eventual final match up but my favorite is Lepri followed by Tonon
