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ADCC Rookie Report: Michael Pixley
Analyzing the pressure, takedowns, and positions of Michael Pixley.
William
April 5th, 2024
First Things First
In the lead up to this year’s ADCC World Championships we’re going to analyze the game’s of the athletes competing. If you want to read about ADCC’s newcomers so you can learn their skills, strengths, and understand the holes in their game, the ADCC Rookie Reports are for you.
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Table of Contents
ADCC Rookie Report
We’re back with another ADCC Rookie Report! In the lead up to the 2024 ADCC World Championships we’ll be analyzing the winning runs of athletes that have qualified for their first ADCC World Championship.
How do they win? What makes their game interesting and unique? What opportunities does that game present for their opponents? You can read previous rookie reports here:
We’re constraining these rookie reports to what the athletes showed in their trials winning performances. This time we’re looking at the wrestler Michael Pixley.
Michael Pixley
Pixley is one of Pedigo Submission Fighting’s brightest stars. Maybe one of their meanest too. Before transitioning to Brazilian jiu-jitsu Pixley won both an NAIA and NCAA Division 2 National Championship.
Pixley is known for pulling opponents all over the floor. His long frame helps him snap and pull people all over the mat.
He scores with from collar ties, whether you or he has one, and his slide by is one of the smoothest you’ll ever see. This upper body wrestling plays perfectly into a submission game based around D’arces and other chokes.
We’re going to start by taking a look at how he gets his offense going. I want you to pay close attention to his feet.
Takedowns & Footwork
Pixley is a menace. He’s long, strong, and mean, and he starts most of his matches by taking the center of the mat to harass your head. Take a look at this incredibly smooth sequence.
Michael Pixley vs Garrett Lineberger  | Lineberger gets a collar tie so Pixley counters with an over tie and a wrist grip. He backs up to make Lineberger’s tie loose so he can snap it off. Pixley grabs his own collar tie to snap Linberger down. Then he digs an under hook to throw him by and pulls him to the mat with a claw grip. |
Look at some important points of control below.
Pixley has countered his opponent’s collar tie with an over tie
Pixley has control of his opponent’s second arm to maintain the distance that he wants and prevent shot attempts
Pixley has stepped back to add distance and make his opponent’s collar tie weaker
See Pixley lets you lock up with him but then he moves his feet to take your control away. You’re holding on but he’s in charge. This is more clear in this next sequence below.
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