“I’m on the right track” - Cole Abate says he’s just getting started in his dream to conquer BJJ world after IBJJF No-Gi title win

Cole Abate couldn't have asked for a better December campaign.

The American rising star secured his first BJJ world title when he captured the gold medal in the men's featherweight (67-kilogram) division in the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships 2024 this past weekend in Las Vegas.

The 20-year-old's world title win was less than two weeks after his successful ONE Championship debut when he submitted Japanese legend Shinya Aoki at ONE Fight Night 26 earlier this month.

In an interview with Luanna Santos, Abate believes his IBJJF No-Gi world title triumph is just the beginning of his steady ascent to the summit of the BJJ world.

Cole Abate said:

"Man, this is the first big step for me. It's my first world title as a black belt. I intend to conquer more gi [events] and no-gi, too. But it shows me that I'm on the right track and that I have the right people by my side."

'Ice' Cole is one of the most promising young stars in the current BJJ landscape, and his two high-profile wins this month are a testament to his almost limitless potential.

His debut against Aoki, a former ONE lightweight MMA world champion, sent shockwaves across the combat sports world and practically signified that a new era of BJJ stars could change the submission grappling landscape.

Abate, though, wasn't the only ONE Championship athlete to capture gold in the IBJJF World No-Gi Championships 2024.

Mayssa Bastos, the ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion, secured her 10th BJJ world title when she triumphed over the women's light featherweight (61kg) division.

---

Cole Abate hopes to lead the younger generation of BJJ artists onto the global stage

Cole Abate may be just 20 years old, but he's already taken up the mantle of leading the younger generation into the biggest stage of martial arts.

Following his submission win over Shinya Aoki, Abate said in his post-fight interviews that he wants to inspire those younger than him to pursue their dreams of BJJ greatness:

"I was one of the first professional athletes coming up as a kid and over the years there's been much that I've gone through and I feel like now that's all just a result of that. So when they watch me, hopefully, they can see that story, feel inspired by it, and be able to relate to it."