Brazilian jiu-jitsu star Nicholas Meregali recently opened up about his unexpected elimination from the ADCC tournament during the quarterfinals due to a shoulder injury and subsequent submission. In an interview, Meregali expressed his disappointment and confusion following the match that ended his run in the prestigious competition.
Meregali described the incident that led to his injury, stating, “He uchi mataed me and I landed with my elbow on the ground, and then just looked at it on my shoulder. And then my shoulder was out.” He further explained that he felt his bone “kind of broke in place” and attempted to signal his opponent to stop, but the match continued until his opponent secured the finish.
The Brazilian grappler admitted to feeling “a little lost” and struggling to process the turn of events. “I never expected to go on this. That’s why it was so weird and still being weird,” Meregali confessed. He expressed that while he would have preferred to lose in a different manner, he acknowledged that injuries are part of the sport.
Regarding his current condition, Meregali revealed that his shoulder is “pretty painful” and that he needs to undergo an MRI to assess the extent of the damage and determine if surgery is necessary. He also mentioned the possibility of undergoing surgery on his right knee, which has been troubling him.
Meregali reflected on the potential reactions to his elimination, recognizing that some people might celebrate his loss or injury. However, he emphasized the importance of support from his close circle, including friends, family, and his girlfriend. “That is what matters at the end of the day,” he stated.
Meregali seems to be struggling dealing with the online reaction to his behavior. Prior to ADCC, Meregali made an instagram post in which he already declared himself the winner which rubbed many grappling fans the wrong way.
Looking ahead, Meregali expressed uncertainty about his future plans. He had initially envisioned taking a break after winning ADCC, but now finds himself reassessing his path forward. “I don’t know what to do,” he admitted, contemplating how to approach his career after this setback.
In the immediate future, Meregali plans to take some time away from social media and competition. He intends to travel to Florida and possibly Brazil, focusing on recovery and reevaluating his situation.
Craig Jones was quick to post about Meregali’s downfall yesterday and the brunt of online commenters seem to thing Michael Pixley earned a CJI 2 invite with his takedowns on Meregali and subsequent submission.
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Despite the disappointment, Meregali closed the interview with a message of gratitude to his supporters.
