ADCC promoter Mo Jassim has addressed the controversial incident that unfolded at the 2026 ADCC Atlanta Open.
The incident occurred during the Men’s Advanced Under 65kg final on May 30, when 19-year-old brown belt Anthony O’Dell Jr. faced Carlos Sainz after both athletes put together impressive performances throughout the tournament.
But what began as a competitive match quickly spiraled into one of the most talked-about controversies of the year.
During a scramble near the edge of the mat, a sequence involving a standing back take and reversal led to a chaotic exchange.
The situation escalated from there, eventually resulting in O’Dell’s disqualification and Sainz being awarded the gold medal.
In the aftermath, reports emerged of a confrontation involving athletes, coaches, and individuals in the crowd, with multiple eyewitnesses alleging that a cornerman entered the competition area and became involved in the altercation.
After remaining silent publicly for several weeks, Jassim released a formal statement explaining both the investigation process and ADCC’s final decision:
The events that occurred at the ADCC Atlanta Open were unacceptable. The incident began with an illegal slam during competition and escalated into a physical altercation involving athletes, coaches, parents and spectators. That conduct has no place at an ADCC event and falls well below the standards expected of everyone involved in our sport.
Jassim explained that the delay in addressing the situation was intentional, as he wanted to fully review the circumstances before making any public comments:
I have intentionally refrained from publicly commenting on this matter while efforts were underway to fully evaluate the incident and explore a potential resolution between the parties involved.
Over the past several weeks, I have personally spoken with all parties involved, reviewed the facts, listened to each perspective and worked toward a resolution that balanced accountability, fairness and the long-term interests of the sport.
According to Jassim, a neutral third party was brought in to help facilitate discussions between those involved.
Although the parties reportedly reached an agreement in principle, the process ultimately ended without a final signed resolution.
Despite that, the discussions provided ADCC with enough information to move forward with disciplinary action.
As a result, two athletes have received indefinite suspensions from ADCC competition, while a third individual voluntarily withdrew from participation.
While Jassim did not focus solely on punishment, he made it clear that the outcome was particularly disappointing because of the standing of those involved within the grappling community:
What makes this situation particularly disappointing is that the individuals involved are respected members of the grappling community who have dedicated years to the sport as competitors, coaches and mentors.
They knew better, I expected better and the grappling community deserved better.
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