Eddie Bravo caused one of the biggest upsets in BJJ history at ADCC 2003 when he managed to defeat Royler Gracie in the quarter-final of the 66kg division. It was a moment that shocked the BJJ world for a number of reasons, not least of all because Royler had ruled over that division for three editions of the ADCC world championship prior to that event. He had put in some of the best performances that have ever been seen on the ADCC mats when he beat all four men put in front of him in 1999, 2000, and again in 2001. Bravo on the other hand was a completely unknown brown belt at the time who had won ADCC trials the year before and was about to make his debut.
Royler Gracie started out 2003 in the same fashion as his three ADCC runs before that, submitting Charles Pearson in the opening round match with a rear-naked choke. Eddie Bravo did exactly the same to Mark Ashton in his first match in order to book his place in the quarter-final opposite Royler. Almost everyone watching was expecting Royler to display the same dominance he always had and defeat Bravo on his way to a fourth consecutive ADCC gold medal. The full match between Eddie Bravo and Royler Gracie at ADCC 2003 can be seen below, including a breakdown of it.
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Eddie Bravo v Royler Gracie at ADCC 2003
The match starts with Bravo dropping to a knee and after about a minute of Royler circling him and attempting to get a good angle to pass, he pressures forward into his half-guard. Royler has heavy top-pressure but Bravo tries using the lockdown and an underhook on the free leg to prevent him from passing. He almost does pass at one point, but Bravo is quick to regain half-guard and start attempting to return to a better position again. Royler manages to get a crossface and underhook at this point though, and he’s starts using that chest-to-chest pressure to work for another pass.
Bravo manages to get a good lockdown while looking for upper-body control, and the referee resets them in the centre at this point. Royler works his way free from the lockdown, but Bravo does a great job of switching between a knee-shield and traditional half-guard to try and prevent him from fully passing. Royler is driving through with a knee-slice pass when Bravo attempts to wrestle up and switches to a back-take that he can’t quite get. Bravo uses the angle he’s created with the attempt to sweep Royler over though, and he takes top position in Royler’s guard.
Royler Gracie immediately starts threatening Eddie Bravo with a triangle choke, but he can’t get one leg out from underneath Bravo’s hip. Bravo stays tight and works his free arm back inside to force Royler to abandon the attempt, while Royler starts looking to wrestle up. Bravo laces his arm under Royler’s shoulder and attempts a 100% sweep but Royler frees his head and immediately looks to pass Bravo’s guard. He knee-slice passes again and this time goes straight past Bravo’s hips, sinking into side control. He’s only there for a few seconds though, as Bravo slides his far-side leg inside Royler’s furthest hip and uses it to recover back to closed guard eventually.
Bravo sets up the rubber guard that he’s since become famous for and although Royler tries to stand several times, the threat from the bottom is enough to prevent him from putting everything into the escape. He manages to stay tight and eventually force Bravo back to half-guard though, getting back to the same heavy passing sequence as earlier in the match. Bravo recovers back to closed guard again, but this time he gets control of one of Royler’s hands and uses it to set up a triangle choke.
Bravo gets his legs to cross at the ankles and Royler stands up to escape, but it’s too late as Bravo manages to keep control and eventually lock up the triangle choke fully. Bravo overhooks the leg and Royler sits down at this point to try a late-stage escape, but Bravo is squeezing with everything he has on the choke. Royler returns to his knees when Bravo commits both arms to reinforcing the choke, and he stands up once again to try another escape. Bravo cuts the angle all the way this time though and the choke is tighter than ever before, forcing Royler to tap out after a little under 9 minutes in total.
The full match footage of Eddie Bravo defeating Royler Gracie in the quarter-final of the 66kg division at ADCC 2003 was uploaded to YouTube with retroactive commentary by Bravo himself, and can be found below:
