BJJ News · 2026-09-14 · TATSU WEAR Editorial
Victor Hugo submitted Josh Saunders via shoulder lock to win ADCC +99kg gold in Krakow, while Josh Saunders took silver after beating Felipe Pena in the semis — one of the biggest upsets of ADCC 2026.
What Happened
The ADCC World Championships concluded Sep. 12-13 at Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland, with 100+ elite submission grapplers across five men’s and three women’s divisions. In men’s +99kg, No. 7 Victor Hugo (6 Blades, Brazil) beat No. 15 Ruslan Abdulaev via Thunder lock, then No. 6 Mark Macqueen via kneebar in the semi, and finally No. 5 Josh Saunders (Australia) via shoulder lock in the final.
Saunders had shocked the bracket by beating favorite Felipe Pena via referee decision in the semi after Pena beat Nick Hartman (RNC) and Roosevelt Sousa. Hugo’s run included two submissions and a shoulder lock finish at 8:49 in the final. Mark Macqueen took bronze as Pena withdrew injured.
Why It Matters
Hugo at +99kg cements Brazil’s heavyweight depth — Queensway’s 6 Blades adds another ADCC champion. For Saunders, silver after beating Pena is a career breakthrough at +99 — he entered as the 5 seed and leaves as a name. The bracket also showed Europe’s surge: 7 medals, 2 golds for Europe (Pawel Jaworski at 88kg among them), per BJJ Heroes.
The Details
- Event: ADCC 2026 — Sep. 12-13, Tauron Arena, Krakow, Poland (FloGrappling)
- Result: +99kg Final — Victor Hugo def. Josh Saunders via shoulder lock
- Records: Hugo +99kg champion; Saunders silver; Macqueen bronze
- Other champions: 66kg Kennedy Maciel, 77kg Magomed Dzharbaev, 88kg Pawel Jaworski, 99kg Luke Griffith
What’s Next
Hugo’s double chance in absolute was cut short by Pena’s historic run — see Pena’s double absolute. For BJJ fans, Hugo vs. Pena at heavyweight remains a future super-fight tease. See also how to choose a BJJ gi.
Sources: BJJ Heroes — ADCC 2026 Results, FloGrappling Day 2 Live
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