Earlier today, it was confirmed by FloGrappling that Taylor Pearman would be entering the ADCC 2026 competition. Here, they added that he would be doing the – 77KG division, replacing Izaak Michell as a result. Pearman is no stranger to ADCC, having qualified for the 2024 competition via the European trials. Here, he won every qualification match by submission before losing to Elder Cruz at the main event by referee’s decision. Over the years, Pearman has become best known for his heelhook game, which has seen him win against the likes of Adam Wardzinski and Giancarlo Bodoni.
Over the past 12 months, it was unclear whether Michell would be attending ADCC 2026. Although the Australian grappler qualified, reports emerged that he was the subject of criminal investigations in Texas involving allegations of sexual assault. An arrest warrant was issued, and later reports stated that a second warrant had also been issued. Michell has not been convicted of these allegations, and the criminal matters remain unresolved.
Because of this, it looks as though Michell has gone underground for now, which is good news for Pearman. Taking place on September 12-13th, ADCC returns to Europe for the first time since 2017. This year, it will be held in Poland, where Mateusz Szczeciński will compete on home soil.
A freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on delivering accurate, engaging, and well-researched reporting. He studied at the University of Birmingham, where he developed a strong foundation in journalism and communications. Martin is a 10th Planet BJJ brown belt and has been training for approximately 10 years and a keen follower of submission grappling.
