Continuing with last weeks look at the ADCC categories we now step up to the 88- 98KG KG. Typically the 88 – 98 division has a few stand-outs that are a step or two above the rest. This year however the division is as tough as ever. With great fighters like returning ADCC champion Jon Olav Einemo, World and European BJJ Champion Roger Gracie, World BJJ Champion Xande Ribeiro, runner up Alexandre ‘Cacareco’ and Olympic Wrestler Antoine Jaoude the division is as hard to predict as ever.Once again a reminder that the rating is based on the most current list of names as per ADCC News; so anyone not offically announced is not going to be considered at this point for the ranking.88 – 98.99 KG #1 Jon Olav Einemo 2003 World Champion (NORWAY) #2 Roger Gracie Brazilian Qualifier (Brazil) #3 Jamal Patterson North American Qualifier (USA) #4 Alistair Overeem European Qualifier (Holland) #5 Yukiya Naito Japanese Qualifier (Japan) #6 Anthony Perosh Australian Qualifier (Australia) #7 Alexandre ‘Cacareco’ Ferreira (Brazil) #8 Alexandre ‘Xande’ Ribeiro (Brazil) #9 Antoine Jaoude (Brazil) #10 Paulo Filho (Brazil) #11 Vladimir Matyushenko (UKRAINE) #12 Victor Viana (Brazil) #13 Travis Wiuff (USA) #14 Bruno Bastos (Brazil) #15 Robert Drysdale (USA) 1- Roger Gracie – Roger has proven to be a force, in ’03 Roger got the 3rd place lsoing to Champion Einemo in the semi’s and defeating Xande for the 3rd. Roger typically starts slow in his matches but look for him to change that this year and be in the finals fighting for the Gold. 2- Xande Ribeiro – Talent and strategy are keys to winning this division and Xande posesses both. He has been a force in every tournament he has participated in the last few years and if the bracket helps, he and Roger will be in the finals. Look for him to use all his game against Roger and if he gets the early lead, it will be difficult for Roger to recover.3- Jon Olav Einemo – You don’t hear much about Jon, but every time you see him fight he is going for the win. After a big win over Rigan Machado in ’01 Einemo came back to surprise some (not those in the know) and take the Gold in ’03. Jon will be there but this year a more mature Roger and Xande will be too much for the Viking . . . maybe . . . ? ! ? Darkhorse – Robert Drysdale – The quiet american assassin will surprise many who are not familiar with his game. With the looks of the kid next door but with ice cold nerves, Robert is a terror without the Gi and if the brackets help him will do serious damageThese are my predictions, now I want you to make the call. Email your top predictions to [email protected] and Kid will randomly publish two of the readers predictions along with their info. Then after the event is run, we will have a random drawing of all the entries with the winner getting the 2003 ADCC DVD set sponsored by BJJMart.comCrosley Gracie New sponsorship from his sponsorGreen Whale Productions woud like to announced that we’ve struck a deal to sponsor Crosley Gracie for his upcoming fight in Pride Bushido. We are pleased to be the lone sponsor for such an excellent and exciting fighter and look forward to future opportunities. Make sure to catch Crosley Gracie in action on the Pride Bushido 7 ppv telecast. Green Whale Productions is looking to sponsor other competitors in BJJ, Grappling and MMA. Please visit www.greenwhaleproductions.com to contact us and to inquire.
