The Harrah’s Resort and Casino had a certain tangible buzz in the air this last Sunday morning as the 2023 ADCC East Coast Trials came down to its final day of competition. Though ADCC has continued to climb two steps at a time, I couldn’t have predicted that there would be an almost magical level of hype in the air on the day of finals.

It was my first time experiencing the privilege of traveling to New Jersey for the East Coast Trials, and nostalgia gripped me during the finals as each athlete at the pinnacle received their moment to walk with their own music to the mat. I was reminded that I felt the same pounding in my chest during the West Coast Trials leading into the last ADCC Worlds. ADCC is just different, and in order to fully appreciate the atmosphere of these events you have to be there.

I can not possibly hope to recount every memorable moment from this tournament even with the help of FloZone, so I have narrowed it to my top 3.

Jacob Couch. Champion.

In every sport, there are examples of athletes that bring a smile to your face when they speak. Their personalities exude even from their style of performance, whether it be the way they run a touchdown, the moments following a stylish lay-up, or even the way they approach their sport.

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In BJJ, Jacob Couch is a shining example of a champion of the people. Hailing from Pedigo Submission Fighting and possessing one of this sport’s scariest guards, Couch has garnered an affection from the fans. An effect the “Daisy Fresh” documentary had on our community was showcasing the raw, genuine personalities of Heath Pedigo’s students, Couch being the most successful. Jacob would go 7 for 7 on submissions in his trek to the finals, overcoming a stumbling block in Elder Cruz to take home the -88kg title.

Upon winning via outside heel hook versus what seemed like his “achilles heel,” the floodgates of emotion broke the dam of poise that regularly adorns the demeanor of Jacob Couch. All of the difficulty, the setbacks, the pain, the grit and the determination that led him to that moment were clearly evident in his celebration. From tightly embracing his entire PSF family, to screaming in front of the camera, to getting his hand raised, and finally to running a lap around the entire arena to high-five everyone (myself and Brandon McAghren included), I felt like I was witnessing the end of a classic television series where the hero finally makes it happen. Bravo.

Dorian Olivarez Doesn’t Stop

Sometimes, I like to think of passing the guard as picking a lock. The better someone’s guard is, the more difficult the lock, or perhaps the more locks on the door there are. Dorian Olivarez, while definitely still picking the lock, is more of a “continue to kick the door in different spots until it wilts and I get through,” kind of athlete.

I needed to remind myself several times as I was witnessing the performance of Dorian Olivarez that he is only 17 years old. Not even old enough for a Costco membership card and yet he just won ADCC trials. Not only that, he was victorious over well-established names like Gianni Grippo and Ethan Crenlisten.

One thing that floored me was the unreal pace that this kid put up in every single match without faltering. Moving quickly from side to side, going in and out, mixing up heavy pressure with running around, he truly showcased how powerful a weapon cardio can be. Truly it was that insane endurance that wilted most of his opponents on the weekend, but that is not to discount his skill in wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Dorian kept it simple on the feet and on the ground, maintained a solid game plan with poise across every match, and outworked almost every opponent.

Elijah Dorsey Stuns

Elijah Dorsey is a competitor known mostly for competing in the Gi, at least until the introduction of the ADCC Opens. There is no doubt that there is an intensity and pace difference between Gi and No-Gi competition, so it would be realistic to anticipate a learning curve for a Gi athlete to adjust to the No-Gi scene.

Elijah Dorsey is built differently. In only his third ADCC-rules tournament, Elijah would showcase endurance, tenacity, and opportunistic strategy that would expunge any notion one could have. FloZone was rife with matches popping up on the radar, so I did not get to see most of Dorsey’s matches save his war vs. Oliver Taza and his finals match vs. Nicky Ryan.

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The Team Lloyd Irvin representative not only convincingly beat Oliver Taza in the semifinal by points, but stifled and out-paced Nicky Ryan, who, until the final looked like an unstoppable force. Ryan submitted each opponent with precision and relatively little pushback before facing off against Dorsey, making the win for Elijah that much more surprising.

This tournament was one of my favorite experiences in my commentary career thus far. With the direction ADCC is headed, I am so excited for the West Coast Trials and, of course, the 2024 ADCC World Championship at T-Mobile Arena. What an event!

Tell me your favorite moment below!