Marcelo after beating Kron Gracie at ADCC 2009. Photo: Ivan Trindade
There’s news out of the traditional submission grappling tournament the ADCC, which is about to kick off the tryouts stage for the 2011 event. Changes have been made to the competition rules.
Traditionally, weigh-ins would be held the day before competing. As the finals are on the second day of competition, some of the competitors would make it to the final well over the weight limit.
Now weigh-ins are to take place shortly before the athletes take to the mats for their first bout. But, even after the first match, the athletes will not be able to stray from their diets. The referees shall have the authority to request a second weight in at any time. In this case, the fighter has wiggle room of 2 kg (4.4 lbs). Should the athlete be heavier than that, they will be disqualified.
“I think it’s great,” said three-time champion of the tournament Marcelo Garcia over Twitter.
Popovitch's celebration in 2009
The 170lb division champion, otherwise, did not like the change. Pablo Popovitch, who defeated Garcia in Barcelona, last September, commented the new rule also on Twitter: “With this change, the 170lb division is over for me. It is impossible for me t compete right after making the weight. Next year, I will compete at the category above. I’d really liked to have a forth final in a row against Garcia to make history.”
About the rivalry with Garcia, Popovitch has a suggestion for the ADCC: “They could put Marcelo and myself in a superfight. We sure deserve it as we closed out the last three 170lb division finals.”
Another reason for the change is to preserve the athletes’ physical integrity, by avoiding extreme and dangerous weight cuts.
WOW! This is STRAIGHT UP REVOLUTIONARY! It would not take me by surprise that some of this year’s finalist come in 20+ pounds over the weight limit the day of the final. This is taking it back to the “boxing days” when they had same day weight ins … or high school wrestling where the weight in 1 hour before the match starts. To me, this is both good and bad. Personally, for my aspirations to compete in the 2013 ADCC North American trials, if this is done there, physically I wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
Interesting to say the least!
Hey Pablo 170 lbs division has been over for you for a long time!!! If you like it sooo much to hold on to shorts and stuff like that I have a jockstrap for you to chew on. “4th final in a row with Marcelo” Haa haa
Cutting weight isn’t healthy, and puts much more importantce on size, strength over skill.
Pablo Popovitch dominated every single tournament since the ADCC 2007. Weight and Absolute champion of every tournament he competed in 2010 including Pan Am and Worlds. Marcelo is a a great champion when he is winning but a sore loser in the event of a loss. He poked Popovitch in the eye over 20 times during the match and I am sure that if Pablo lost he would not be complaining like a little girl. I watched the match over 5 times and saw Popovitch grabbing the shorts only ONCE by accident. Marcelo keeps pushing him away and poking him in the eye while Pablo is trying to get tight to set up passes. Win like a Champion and lose like one. Popovitch was super sick in the ADCC finals in 2005 and I’ve never heard an excuse coming from his mouth. True champions knows that winning and losing is part of the game.
I was there in 2009 in spain and I like Pablo alot but he grabbed Marcelo’s Short several times
the eye poke was a technnique pablo used to recover. pablo’s game is too slow. he couldn’t keep the pace of a champion. marcelo forever!