BJJ phenom Cole Abate says IBJJF No-Gi world title triumph marks “one of the most special days” of his growing career

Cole Abate knows he's just starting on what could be one of the best careers in modern Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

The American phenom secured his first BJJ world title as a black belt competitor when he triumphed over the male featherweight division in the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships 2024 in Las Vegas.

Taking to Instagram following his world title win earlier this week, Abate described the magnitude of his achievement and what it meant for his growing legacy.

Cole Abate wrote:

"Black belt world champion at 20 years old. Probably one of the most special days of my career, and for many reasons. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to have a world title at black belt sitting at the top of my resume and yesterday I made it happen."

He added:

"If you’ve known me since I was a kid, you know none of this was by chance and that everything has been planned since Day 1. So much work has been put in since I started this path at the age of 5, and I feel like this moment is a celebration for, not only me but to everyone who has contributed to my growth over the years."

Abate, who made his ONE Championship earlier this month at ONE Fight Night 26, scored a dominant 6-0 win over Julian Espinosa in the division's final match at Las Vegas Convention Center.

'Ice' Cole is one of two ONE Championship fighters to secure gold in the event, with Mayssa Bastos taking the gold in the female light featherweight division.

Bastos scored an absurd 20-0 victory over Sophia Casaella in the tournament final to capture her 10th IBJJF world title.

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Cole Abate revels in the glory of his submission win over Shinya Aoki

Less than a couple of weeks before his first world title win, Cole Abate secured one of the most important wins of his career when he submitted Japanese legend Shinya Aoki in his ONE Championship debut.

Abate essentially beat the former ONE lightweight MMA world champion in his own game with a sublime heel hook finish at ONE Fight Night 26 in Bangkok.

In his post-fight interview with ONE Championship commentator Mitch Chilson, Abate said:

"It's incredible, you know? ONE is one of the biggest platforms in all of combat sports. So for this to be my debut, for it to be against such a top level opponent was amazing."