As controversy continues to swirl around Australian grappler Izaak Michell, who faces serious allegations and an active warrant in Texas, former ADCC promoter Mo Jassim has broken his silence on the matter while official ADCC channels remain quiet.
Jassim, who previously organized the prestigious grappling tournament, shared his perspective on social media after receiving multiple inquiries about Michell’s status with the organization.
“ADCC has had competitors convicted of cri mes, did their time and competed in ADCC after,” Jassim wrote, establishing precedent for the organization’s approach to competitors with legal troubles. “Another thing to remember is Izaak is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and has a right to defend himself.”
The former promoter outlined two distinct paths this situation could follow. The first involves Michell appearing in court to face the second-degree felony charge against him, with the outcome determining his competitive future. “He shows up to court and defends himself and the jury finds him innocent or guilty, which be jail time and wouldn’t be able to compete anyways,” Jassim explained.
However, Jassim made clear that the second scenario would warrant different action from the organization. “The second option is if he avoids court appearances and becomes a fugitive. This would be a different situation and my opinion and my recommendation would be a remove him and give the spot to the 2nd trials winner which would be Kenta.”
Michell, 26, earned his qualification for ADCC 2026 in Poland by winning the Asia Trials in the 170 lbs (77 kg) division. Since then, multiple women have come forward with allegations against him, leading to formal charges and his placement on Hays County’s Top 12 Fugitives list. Authorities are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to his apprehension or indictment.
Among those who have spoken publicly is Hannah Griffith, an IBJJF No-Gi World Champion and three-time Pan No-Gi gold medalist. The 23-year-old brown belt from South Africa, who trains under John Danaher, shared a detailed account on social media describing her experience.
“I truly don’t believe I would have had the courage to come forward if my brother hadn’t helped be my voice in the beginning and advocate for me alongside others who supported me,” Griffith stated.
She praised her coaches’ response to her disclosure: “I also want to acknowledge that when I informed my coaches John Danaher, Gordon Ryan, and Garry Tonon they responded with immediate seriousness compassion and action. They removed Izaak from the gym and made it clear that my safety and well-being were their priority.”
Griffith emphasized that coming forward was particularly challenging given the timing, as the alleged incident occurred just one week before the World Championships. “I am normally a very private person and speaking publicly about my personal life is something I never imagined I would have to do,” she wrote. “However after deep reflection I feel morally obligated to share what happened to me. Not for attention but because silence allows harmful behavior to continue.”
She was direct in her characterization of what occurred: “What happened to me was not a misunderstanding mixed signals or a moment of confusion. It was a clear violation of my consent. Consent is unmistakable and responsibility always lies with the person who chooses to ignore it.”
A second woman, Ariel De Haro, a real estate professional from Austin, Texas, also came forward with similar allegations. De Haro clarified she is “in no way part of the BJJ community” but felt compelled to speak out to encourage others.
“Months ago I experienced a violation of my consent by someone I knew Izaak Michell,” De Haro stated. “I didn’t share this right away because I needed time to process what happened and to feel safe enough to put words to it. That silence wasn’t confusion or uncertainty. It was fear shock and the weight of trying to understand something that never should have happened.”
The situation was also addressed on the Simple Man podcast, where co-host Nicky Ryan discussed Michell’s removal from Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu. “Pretty much just because I believe multiple different women went to the police you know claiming that he SAd them,” Ryan said. According to the podcast, Michell traveled to Thailand around the time trials were taking place, though his current whereabouts remain unknown.
Despite the gravity of the allegations and the active warrant, official ADCC channels have not issued a public statement. BJJDOC reached out to ADCC for comment regarding Michell’s eligibility for the 2026 event in Poland but received no response. Similarly, Mateusz Łuckiewicz, head of the ADCC Poland marketing team, did not provide a statement when contacted.
The silence from official ADCC accounts stands in contrast to Jassim’s willingness to address the situation, though he emphasized he was sharing his “personal 2 cents” rather than speaking in any official capacity.
Meanwhile, Subversion Jiu-Jitsu has taken action by stripping Michell of his Light Heavyweight Championship. The promotion announced it is “vacating the Light Heavyweight Championship effective immediately” and stated it would make no further comment as the situation develops.
Law enforcement has described Michell as “a martial arts expert” and cautioned the public to “never attempt to apprehend wanted persons yourself.” He is described as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing between 185 and 195 lbs (84 to 88 kg), with a shaved head, green eyes, and multiple tattoos on both arms. His last known address was in Austin within Travis County, Texas.
Griffith concluded her public statement with an appeal to others who may have had similar experiences. “If you have been a person harmed by Izaak Michell please don’t hesitate to reach out to me personally,” she wrote. “I can also put you in contact with advocacy which is a hundred percent confidential or direct you to authorities.”
She added: “For the women who feel alone unheard or afraid to take that first step. If you have experienced something similar please know that your ‘no’ matters your feelings matter and your safety matters. It was not your fault and you are not alone.”
Hays County has asked anyone with information regarding Michell or his whereabouts to contact them anonymously at 1-800-324-TIPS (8477), submit tips online, or use the P3 Tips app.
