This past weekend felt like a glimpse into the future of the sport. Between WNO 31, Lachlan’s match in ONE, and the ADCC Asia Trials, we saw legends closing the door, new names kicking it wide open, and a ton of exciting matches to come heading into 2026.
WNO 31 went down at the Kalahari Resorts in Texas. The main event was Felipe Pena versus Luke Griffith in a rematch that had been delayed since WNO 28. Griffith made it count. He took Pena’s back and finished with a clean RNC to win the WNO heavyweight title. That’s a huge win for him and a shift at the top of the division.
Helena Crevar also had a big night. She held onto her featherweight title with a nasty heelhook on Julia Boscher. Gabi Pessanha added another win to her streak, beating Paige Ivette by decision. Joslyn Molina stole a lot of attention too, submitting Katie Bochenek with a D’arce at just thirteen years old.
A few others stood out as well, Felipe Costa hit a nice rear-triangle, Faris Ben-Lamkadem picked up a decision over Xande Ribeiro. Chris Wojcik beat Oliver Taza, and Nick Fritz and Grayson Henley both hit quick leglock finishes on the undercard. This was one of WNO’s best cards so far. Deep matchups, clean finishes, and solid pacing from start to finish.
Meanwhile, over in Thailand, Lachlan Giles faced Marcelo Garcia at ONE Fight Night 38. It was Marcelo’s second match back since his long layoff and cancer battle. He held top control for most of it, but Lachlan stayed calm underneath and kept attacking from K-guard.
Eventually he locked in a unique leg entanglement. The announcers called it a kneebar at first, but Lachlan said it was a rotational leg lock. Part Mikey lock, part inside heel, and a little something new, he’s calling it the “Lachy Lock.”
That’s how he finished one of the greatest of all time. He said afterward that this was his last match and he’s going back to coaching. As far as exits go, submitting Marcelo Garcia with a new move you invented is about as good as it gets.
The third big event was the ADCC Asia and Oceania Trials. These Trials only give out one spot per weight class, so the pressure is always high and the brackets stay deep.
Atos’s Nico Maglicic won -99kg with all submissions. That’s a brutal run and a strong statement. Izaak Michell beat Kenta Iwamoto at -77kg to qualify for his third ADCC. He’s now done it at three different weights, which is a record for the region.
Jozef Chen took gold at -88kg with an exciting final where he went up 12-0 before finishing. He already won Euros last year and looks even sharper now with absolutely dominate run though his division. Ryoma Anraku won -66kg and showed strong wrestling throughout. Tito John Carle won +99kg with a clean submission in the final and locked in his first trip to ADCC.
These were three different events, but they all pushed the same message. The sport is changing and the younger generation of grapplers are a force to be reckoned with.
New names are rising fast. The veterans are still dangerous but the next generation is catching up quick. More importantly, the structure around the sport is finally improving.
Events like WNO and CJI are paying athletes real money. IBJJF had to respond with prize money at Crown. ADCC continues to offer a real path to the biggest stage. For once, you don’t have to choose between prestige and a paycheck.
This weekend proved there’s room for it all. The shows are getting better, the matchups are getting deeper. Most of all, the athletes are finally starting to get what they deserve.
This might be the sift that our sport has been hoping for.
