ADCC 2015: Rodolfo Vieira Wins 40-Minute War Against Felipe Pena, Takes First ADCC Title

SAO PAULO -- An emotional Rodolfo Vieira managed to win his first ADCC title on Sunday after a 40-minute match against up-and-comer Felipe Pena. A multiple-time world champion in the gi, Vieira was considered the favorite in the 218-pound division, but he told Sherdog.com that Pena gave him more trouble than anticipated.

“I knew it was going to be a tough fight,” Vieira told Sherdog.com. “Felipe is a young athlete, but also very experienced. I expected a hard time, but not as hard as it actually was.”

Vieira started the bout explosively and managed to score two takedowns before making his way onto his opponent’s back. However, points are not scored in the first five minutes of ADCC matches, and the fight ended in a draw after two overtime periods.

“I went for it all at the beginning and tried to get a quick submission, but he defended himself very well,” explained Vieira. “As time went by, we began to get tired and things got even tougher. It’s very tiring to grapple for 40 minutes.”