A competitor since early child years with multiple juvenile titles, Abate won, as a 16-year-old blue belt, the 2021 ADCC East Coast Trials.

[2] In 2019 his family moved to Costa Mesa where Cole joined Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ), training under Guilherme and Rafael Mendes.

[2] Abate has been competing against adult athletes throughout his younger teenage years, first appearing on the preliminary card of Who's Number One: Gordon Ryan v Vagner Rocha on 26 March 2021.

[5] He defeated 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu black belt Geo Martinez in the opening round before losing in the semi-final to Gabriel Sousa.

[6] Abate won the 66 kg division of the ADCC North American East Coast Trials on 6 November 2021[7] despite being 16 years old and a blue belt in BJJ at the time.

[9] Abate competed at the 66 kg division of the 2022 ADCC World Championship,[10] losing in the opening round to Fabricio Andrey by judge's decision.

[1] Abate competed in his first black belt match at the Tough Roll Winter Grand Prix on June 29, 2023, submitting David Stoilescu with an armbar.