A match at the 2026 ADCC US Open in Atlanta has gone viral after footage from the FloGrappling broadcast captured a chaotic sequence that spilled well beyond the mat. The match was Anthony O’Dell vs. Carlos Sainz in the Men’s Advanced Under 65kg division on May 30, 2026.
The Competitors
Anthony O’Dell is a 19-year-old American brown belt. Heading into the final, he had gone 2-0 on the day, submitting Aidan Collins in his first match, then winning a 2–0 points decision over Dillon Smith.
Carlos Sainz reached the final after beating four opponents on the day, making him one of the most dominant performers at the entire event.
What Happened During the Match
The trouble started during a scramble. One competitor took the other’s back while standing. The opponent responded with what viewers have described as a “backsplash” reversal. It is a scramble escape drawing comparisons to the style of reversal seen in the famous Marcelo Garcia vs. Rizzo exchange.
The reversal resulted in a chaotic pile-up near multiple grapplers on the mat.
Commenters watching the FloGrappling broadcast widely described the sequence as a situation where “no one is using jiu-jitsu,” reflecting how disorganized and physically intense the scramble became.
A slam or spike-like action was referenced by multiple viewers as part of this sequence. Some claim referees had already issued a verbal warning about slamming or spiking while controlling the back.
Others argued the point was moot, claiming slamming is legal under ADCC rules. None of these specific claims have been officially confirmed.
The Post-Match Escalation
This is where things got worse. After the scramble, a competitor allegedly addressed someone in the crowd or corner aggressively. One account claims a competitor told a spectator “f**k you fat b**ch.”
A separate account pushes back on this, suggesting the family member was verbally engaging the competitor first, indicating the confrontation escalated on both sides.
Multiple witnesses then allege that a coach or cornerman entered the mat area and physically confronted a competitor. The exact nature of the physical contact is disputed, but the mat intrusion itself is described consistently across multiple accounts.
The Official Result
The official result tells a clear story, even if it raises questions. O’Dell’s record shows:
WIN over Aidan Collins — by Submission
WIN over Dillon Smith — by Points 2–0
LOSS to Carlos Sainz — by Disqualification
Sainz took gold. O’Dell earned silver and collected ranking points across three US ADCC standings categories for the 2025–2026 season.
What the result doesn’t tell us is exactly what triggered the DQ: whether it was called for something during the match itself, such as the alleged slam, or for conduct after the scramble.
The clip spread fast, and the reaction has been strong. Many in the community are calling for a lifetime ban for the coach alleged to have entered the mat.
Others have pointed to past precedents of tournament bans for similar conduct. No official sanctions have been announced by ADCC USA at the time of writing.
