Pablo Mantovani. Santo Negro/ ADCC
At 21, a BJJ brown-belt was dominant at the ADCC Trials held in Sao Paulo. It was Pablo Mantovani of Atos.
At the end of four intense matches, the youth bagged a spot in the main ADCC event of the year, in Finland. In the 66kg final he submitted Henrique Gomes (Nova União) with a choke from the back. Here are some of his thoughts on the breakthrough performance.
My BJJ comes in phases. There are moments I just want to play guard, and at others I just want to pass. I believe that, in order for an athlete to be the best, they must play well in all areas. Against Henrique I was working intensely on the bottom on knee and foot attacks, but he was defending well. When the points kicked in, I went up and imposed my passing game. On the top I stapled the half-guard and slowly gained the pass. From that moment I sank the kata-gatame and forced the opponent to yield the back. Then I noticed he was leaving his neck open, and I seized the chance to do the rear naked choke.
Next September, in Helsinki, Mantovani will be trying his luck at the ADCC division currently owned by Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles. No easy task, although Mantovani has brown belt titles from the No-Gi Worlds and no-gi and gi American Nationals.
[Based on a press release.]
Check out the up-and-comer’s style:
