The 2026 ADCC Asia & Oceania Trials delivered one of the most exciting tournaments of the entire qualification cycle, as eight athletes punched their tickets to the ADCC World Championships in Krakow, Poland. The group of qualifiers represents four different countries, and six of the eight champions will be making their first appearances at ADCC Worlds.
The Trials Champions are:
- -66kg: Bekzat Kapashov, Kazakhstan
- -77kg: Kaya Rudolph, New Zealand
- -88kg: Roberto Frias, Australia
- -99kg: Daniel Schuardt, Australia
- +99kg: Belal Etiabari, New Zealand
- -55kg: Kanae Ikeda, Japan
- -65kg: Nadia Frankland, Australia
- +65kg, Matilda Reid, Australia
Historically, the Asia & Oceania region has struggled to produce the same volume of medal contenders as powerhouse regions like North America and Europe. However, the level of competition throughout Asia and Oceania has risen dramatically over the past several years, and this year's group of qualifiers may be the strongest yet. Several favorites were upset throughout the tournament, creating a fresh crop of athletes with legitimate potential to make noise on the biggest stage in submission grappling.
At -66kg, Kazakhstan's Bekzat Kapashov continued the rapid rise of his country's grappling scene by capturing the gold medal and securing his place at ADCC Worlds. Kazakhstan has emerged as one of the fastest-growing regions in the sport, producing a steady stream of talented competitors capable of competing internationally.
The -77kg division was won by Australia's Kaya Rudolph, one of the standout students from the Absolute MMA room led by Lachlan Giles. Rudolph put together one of the most impressive performances of the tournament, finishing four of his six matches by submission on his way to gold.
At -88kg, Roberto Frias authored one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. Frias defeated heavily favored Lucas Kanard en route to the title, earning his first trip to the ADCC World Championships and establishing himself as a dangerous dark horse in the division.
The -99kg bracket belonged to Daniel Schuardt, who capped off his run with a dominant 11-0 victory in the finals over one of his own training partners. Schuardt's performance showcased both his technical control and strategic maturity throughout the tournament.
Belal Etiabari made history in the +99kg division, becoming the first athlete from New Zealand to win an ADCC Trials event. His breakthrough victory represents another milestone for a nation that continues to build momentum within the international grappling community.
On the women's side, Kanae Ikeda claimed the -55kg title with an upset victory in the finals over one of the division favorites. The win earned Ikeda her first ADCC World Championship berth and was one of the biggest surprises of the event.
At -65kg, Nadia Frankland finally captured her first ADCC Trials championship. Already established as one of the highest-ranked competitors in the region, Frankland's victory secured the World Championship appearance that had previously eluded her.
The +65kg division was won by Matilda Reid, who completed a dominant tournament run to round out the Asia & Oceania delegation heading to Krakow.
With eight new qualifiers officially added to the ADCC World Championship roster, the Asia & Oceania region appears poised for its strongest showing yet. The combination of established contenders, emerging stars, and breakthrough performances at Trials suggests that the gap between Asia & Oceania and the sport's traditional power regions is continuing to shrink. If this weekend was any indication, this year's World Championships could feature the region's most competitive team ever.