The AIGA Champions League 2025 is fast approaching and the reigning champions, Team Modolfo, have announced both their full lineup and a change of name to Williams Elite Team. The grand finale will take place across June 28th and 29th, 2025 and it will see eight teams full of elite competitors battling it out for the million-dollar prize. Team Modolfo were the only ones guaranteed a place after winning the AIGA Champions League in 2023 and aside from two hand-selected teams, the rest of the field had to earn their way to the final through one of four qualifier tournaments taking place throughout 2024.
Given that the Modolfo name came from Mo Jassim, the change to Williams Elite Team suggests that he may no longer be a part of it. There have a been a few changes to the lineup too, but the majority of the team remains unchanged from 2023. Breno Peterson is the newcomer at under 60kg and both of the team’s options at under 76kg are new too, as Oliver Taza and elite wrestler Jason Nolf have joined the team. The rest of the team was here last time around and half of all them are actually competitors coming out of New Wave Jiu-Jitsu.
Both of the over 91kg entrants, Dan Manasoiu and Luke Griffith, are New Wave products and the sole under 91kg competitor is one of their most accomplished athletes; Giancarlo Bodoni. The under 65kg entrant is New Wave’s Dominic Mejia and although the final competitors aren’t from the same team, they’re some of the best grapplers in the world. Felipe Machado is the second under 60kg athlete, while Dante Leon and Izaak Michell are returning for Williams Elite Team at under 70kg and under 83kg respectively. Although the team were heavy favorites back in 2023, the level of competition has increased significantly and they have some incredibly tough matchups waiting this time around.
Williams Elite Team Lineup
-60kg: Felipe Machado
-60kg: Breno Peterson
-65kg: Dominic Mejia
-70kg: Dante Leon
-76kg: Oliver Taza
-76kg: Jason Nolf
-83kg: Izaak Michell
-91kg: Giancarlo Bodoni
+91kg: Luke Griffith
+91kg: Dan Manasoiu
The full AIGA Champions League 2025 live event, including the full Williams Elite Team (formerly Modolfo) lineup above, will be available to watch on June 28th and 29th, 2025 on FloGrappling, click here to subscribe and watch.
