APRIL 19, 2026, was the date, and Fairplex Expo Hall 9 in Pomona, California, USA was the place set for this year’s edition of the ADCC North American West Coast Trials, the last chance for grapplers of this continent to qualify for the big show happening later this Summer in Krakow, Poland.
Unlike in previous iterations of the event, we did not see many of the sport’s biggest draws applying for the trials. Aside from veterans Gianni Grippo and Elder Cruz, as well as Atos’ star rookie black belt, Sarah Galvao, the event was mostly crowded by new, lesser-known, blood.
In the male division, the biggest standout was Alpha Miami team rising star at 77 kg, Michael Sainz. A regular in the ADCC US circuit, Sainz showed tremendous talent in a very challenging division, with a great blend of wrestling and jiu-jitsu, as well as an appetite for scrambles. A mix that certainly earned him a few fans this weekend. Michael’s brother, Tristan, was another interesting prospect at 66 kg, where he won bronze.
At the 99-plus kilo division, it was all about Nick Hartman. The rookie black belt under Robert Drysdale had a fantastic 2025 at brown belt in the IBJJF league and is now proving his worth against the top ultra-heavyweights of the ADCC. Nick submitted 4 out of 5 of his opponents with a variety of submissions, neck and limbs, the full scope. In his post-finals speech, Hartman spoke about how he hopes this performance helps to shed some light on his daughter’s eye condition, which his doctors have been unable to cure.
The female division was (expectedly) dominated by Sarah Galvao, who cruised through her division, but the most impressive performance was that of Sheliah Lindsey, who submitted 5 out of 6 of her opponents in the 55-kilogram division. One of the most serious back-takers in the sport at this moment.
2026 ADCC US WEST COAST QUALIFIED ATHLETES.
66KG – Gianni Grippo (Bodega JJ)
77KG – Michael Sainz (Alpha Miami)
88KG – Nathan Haddad (Core Combat Sports)
99KG – Elder Cruz (Checkmat)
99+KG – Nick Hartman (Zenith)
55KG – Sheliah Lindsey (Magness BJJ)
65KG – Sarah Galvao (Atos)
65+KG – Paige Ivette (Legion)
Below are the results of the most important matches in the ADCC West Coast Trials of 20206.
66 KILO, MALE
4F – Tristan Sainz def. Andrew Degraff via Decision
4F – Dominic Mejia def. Victor Delibero via Katagatame
4F – Gianni Grippo def. Joshua Flores via 3×0
4F – Elias Anderson def. Diego Ortiz via Decision
SF – Dominic Mejia def. Tristan Sainz via Triangle
SF – Gianni Grippo def. Elias Anderson via Short choke
F – Gianni Grippo def. Dominic Mejia via Short choke
3RD – Tristan Sainz def. Elias Anderson via Decision
77 KILO, MALE
4F – Michael Sainz def. Jett Thompson via 3×0
4F – Michael Liera def. Richie Lewis via Decision
4F – Ernesto Rivera def. Logan Smith via 2×0
4F – Max Hanson def. Kade Tsitos via 3×2
SF – Michael Sainz def. Ernesto Rivera via Straight ankle lock
SF – Max Hanson def. Michael Liera via Decision
F – Michael Sainz def. Max Hanson via Decision
3RD – Michael Liera def. Ernesto Rivera via Triangle
88 KILO, MALE
4F – Nathan Haddad def. Daniel Deeder via 2×0
4F – Ryan Aitken def. Anthony Robinson via 3×0
4F – Angelo Claiborne def. Jacob Couch via 3×0
4F – Jayden Groner def. Sean Yadimarco via Straight ankle lock
SF – Nathan Haddad def. Jayden Groner via Armbar
SF – Ryan Aitken def. Angelo Claiborne via Outside heel hook
F – Nathan Haddad def. Ryan Aitken via penalty
Note: Jayden Groner won 3rd via forfeit by Claiborne due to injury
99 KILO, MALE
4F – Elder Cruz def. Henry Zachary via 4×0
4F – Colin Carr def. Ian Daube via 4×2
4F – Breylor Grout def. Abraham Montagne via Triangle
4F – Steffen Banta def. Brandon George via 3×0
SF – Elder Cruz def. Colin Carr via Injury
SF – Steffen Banta def. Breylor Grout via Decision
F – Elder Cruz def. Steffen Banta via penalty
Note: Breylor Grout won 3rd via forfeit by Carr.
99+ KILO, MALE
4F – Vinicius Ferreira def. Steven Mason via 3×0
4F – Francis Pana def. Evan Rosborough via 2×0
4F – Austin Baker def. Kyle deSantos via 2×0
4F – Nick Hartman def. Andrew Delaney via 3×0
SF – Francis Pana def. Vinicius Ferreira via Decision
SF – Nick Hartman def. Austin Baker via Guillotine
F – Nick Hartman def. Francis Pana via Straight ankle lock
Note: Austin Baker won 3rd via forfeit by Ferreira.
55 KILO, FEMALE
4F – Valerie Hamilton def. Bre Stikk via 3×0
4F – Cindy Ung def. Anabella Junco via Decision
4F – Sheliah Lindsey def. Emily Leyva via RNC
4F – Madison Porceli def. Danielle Kelly via 3×0
SF – Valerie Hamilton def. Cindy Ung via 3×2
SF – Sheliah Lindsey def. Madison Porceli via RNC
F – Sheliah Lindsey def. Valerie Hamilton via 3×0
3RD – Madison Porceli def. Cindy Ung via 9×0
65 KILO, FEMALE
4F – Sarah Galvao def. Aislinn OConnell via Armbar
4F – Jadeya Reber def. Caitlin Huggins via 2×0
4F – Rana Willink def. Cholena Horne via 2×0
4F – Aaremey Cathey def. Amanda Schurtz via Armbar
SF – Sarah Galvao def. Rana Willink via 3×0
SF – Jadeya Reber def. Aaremey Cathey via 2×0
F – Sarah Galvao def. Jadeya Reber via RNC
3RD – Rana Willink def. Aaremey Cathey via RNC
65+ KILO, FEMALE
4F – Elizabeth Mitrovic def. Melissa Sheppey via Armbar
4F – Paige Ivette def. Maia Matalon via RNC
4F – Natalie Levesque def. Jennifer Case via 2×0
4F – Joslyn Molina def. Raien Sky via Darce choke
SF – Elizabeth Mitrovic def. Joslyn Molina via Armbar
SF – Paige Ivette def. Natalie Levesque via Armbar
F – Paige Ivette def. Elizabeth Mitrovic via Decision
3RD – Joslyn Molina def. Natalie Levesque via 11×0
