What is ADCC? The Submission Grappling World Championship Explained

ADCC is the most prestigious submission grappling tournament in the world. Held every two years, it brings together the elite of no-gi BJJ, wrestling and submission grappling to compete for the title of world champion. This is the working guide to ADCC: what it is, how it works, the rules, who runs it, and the names that have shaped its history.

ADCC at a glance

• Full name: Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship
• Frequency: Every two years
• Format: No-gi submission grappling
• Weight classes: Five male divisions, two female divisions, plus an Absolute (open-weight) bracket
• Round length: 10 minutes for prelims, 20 minutes for finals
• Qualification: Invitation or through ADCC Trials
• Founded: 1998 by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE
• Current location: Rotates internationally. Recent editions have been in Las Vegas (2022, 2024).

What ADCC actually is

ADCC stands for Abu Dhabi Combat Club. It is both:

• The tournament: The biennial submission grappling world championship.
• The organisation: The governing body, founded by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, that runs the event and a network of qualifying trials worldwide.

The tournament is the high point of the no-gi grappling calendar. Where IBJJF Worlds is the pinnacle of gi BJJ, ADCC is the pinnacle of no-gi. The two events draw different rule sets, different specialists, and different game plans.

Why ADCC matters

ADCC's prestige comes from a combination of factors:

• The two-year cycle. Competitors get only one shot every two years, which makes each edition mean more.
• The rule set. The first 5 minutes of every match have no points scoring (only submissions and disqualifications count). This forces aggressive submission hunting. Points only matter in the second 5 minutes.
• The Absolute division. The open-weight bracket where weight classes do not apply. Watching a 77 kg specialist take on a 99 kg specialist is part of the spectacle.
• The Superfight. A special exhibition match each year between two elite grapplers. The Superfight is a separate championship and is awarded to the previous Absolute winner unless they choose to defend their weight class instead.
• The athlete roster. Every elite no-gi grappler in the world plans their training cycle around ADCC.

The rule set

ADCC matches end in one of four ways:

• Submission: A clean tap from a choke or joint lock.
• Points: Highest score at the end of regulation wins.
• Referee decision: If the time runs out at a draw, the referee decides based on aggression and control attempts.
• Disqualification: Illegal techniques, slamming, or other rule breaks.

Round lengths

• Qualifier rounds: 10 minutes
• Semifinals and finals: 20 minutes (10 minutes negative scoring + 10 minutes regular scoring)

Negative scoring (the first half)

ADCC's unique twist: the first half of every match has no positive points. You can still earn negative points by:

• Pulling guard: Penalty
• Disengaging or stalling: Penalty
• Fleeing the mat: Penalty

This pushes competitors to attack rather than play a passive points game. The result is more submission attempts than in most other rule sets.

Scoring (the second half)

Once positive scoring opens, points are awarded for established control:

Action	Points
Clean takedown beyond the guard	4 points
Sweep or takedown into side control / mount / back	4 points
Sweep or takedown into guard	2 points
Guard pass	3 points
Back control with both hooks (or body triangle)	3 points
Mount	2 points
Knee on belly	2 points

Positions must be held for 3 seconds without a submission threat to score. A submission attempt by the opponent that delays your control means the 3-second count restarts.

Allowed and illegal techniques

ADCC permits almost all standard submission grappling techniques. The full list is long, but the key categories are:

Allowed

• All standard chokes: Rear naked choke, guillotine, D'Arce, arm-triangle, Peruvian necktie, anaconda, Ninja, buggy choke
• All standard arm locks: Armbar (standard, flying, rolling), kimura, americana, omoplata, straight armbar
• All standard leg locks: Kneebar, toe hold, calf slicer, heel hook (inside and outside), Achilles lock, Estima lock
• Wrist locks
• Twister and truck submissions: Eddie Bravo's signatures are legal

For a deep dive on these techniques, see our BJJ moves glossary.

Illegal

The major prohibitions:

• Slamming (only allowed when trapped in a submission)
• Full nelson holds
• The crucifix position
• Neck cranks that trap both shoulders and apply downward pressure
• Spiking the opponent on their head during takedowns
• Striking, kicking, biting
• Eye gouging, fish hooking, hair pulling, scratching
• Holding less than 4 fingers or 5 toes
• Slippery substances on body or clothing
• Holding the opponent's shirt or shorts

The full rule set is on the official ADCC website.

Weight classes

ADCC has dedicated weight categories rather than absolute brackets only:

Men

• Under 66 kg
• Under 77 kg
• Under 88 kg
• Under 99 kg
• Over 99 kg
• Absolute (open weight)

Women

• Under 60 kg
• Over 60 kg

The Absolute division for men is the most prestigious. A win in the Absolute is often considered the greatest single achievement in modern grappling.

How to qualify for ADCC

You get to ADCC one of two ways:

1. Direct invitation

The top 16 or so spots in each weight class are invitations from the ADCC organisation. These go to:

• Previous ADCC medallists
• Recognised elite competitors from the year between events
• High-profile names whose presence elevates the event

2. Through the ADCC Trials

Open trials run in major regions:

• North American Trials
• European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) Trials
• Asian / Oceanian Trials
• South American Trials

Trials are full single-elimination tournaments. The winners qualify for the ADCC main event. The trials themselves are among the most prestigious grappling tournaments outside ADCC itself, with deep brackets and ferocious competition.

Some competitors take a "go to the trials" route their entire career. Others (like Gordon Ryan and the established invitees) skip trials and go straight to the main event.

ADCC history and notable champions

ADCC was founded in 1998 by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who had trained BJJ in the UAE and wanted a flagship submission grappling event. The first edition was held in Abu Dhabi. The event has rotated locations since, including stops in Brazil, Spain, China, Finland and recent editions in the United States.

Defining names in ADCC history

• Marcelo Garcia: Five-time ADCC World Champion (lightweight and absolute), widely considered the most accomplished competitor in ADCC history before the modern Gordon Ryan era.
• Andre Galvao: Six-time ADCC Champion across multiple weight classes. Held the Superfight Champion title for several editions. Lost the 2022 Superfight to Gordon Ryan.
• Gordon Ryan: Multiple-time ADCC Champion at 88 kg, 99 kg, +99 kg and Absolute. The most dominant grappler of the modern era. Won the 2022 ADCC Absolute and beat Andre Galvao in the Superfight.
• Pablo Popovitch: Two-time ADCC Champion known for innovative no-gi guard passing.
• Ricardo Arona: Multiple ADCC medals from the early era; later transitioned to MMA.
• Giancarlo Bodoni: Back-to-back ADCC 88 kg Champion (2022 and 2024), winning the first title without conceding a point.
• Kade Ruotolo: Youngest ADCC Champion in history at 19 (77 kg, 2022). Repeated the win in 2024.
• Tye Ruotolo: Kade's twin brother, ADCC 77 kg Champion (2024) and one of the most active competitors on the modern circuit.
• Yuri Simões: Two-time ADCC Champion in the 88 kg and 99 kg divisions, also Absolute medallist.

ADCC 2022 (Las Vegas)

The first US-based ADCC was a watershed moment for the sport. Gordon Ryan's dominant Absolute run, including the Superfight win over Andre Galvao, established him as the consensus best no-gi grappler in history. Kade Ruotolo became the youngest-ever ADCC champion at 19. Bodoni, Meregali, and Faria all turned in defining performances.

ADCC 2024 (Las Vegas)

The 2024 edition cemented the new generation. Repeat wins for the Ruotolos and Bodoni. Standout performances from rising stars across the women's divisions. Continued New Wave Jiu-Jitsu dominance in the upper weight classes.

How big is ADCC?

The live event seats around 13,000 fans, and the venue typically sells out for the finals. Online viewership has grown massively in the last two editions, with the 2022 and 2024 events streaming through FloGrappling and reaching a global audience.

ADCC has also produced a generation of crossover content stars: Gordon Ryan, the Ruotolos, Mikey Musumeci (who has won at ONE Championship rather than ADCC), and others draw audiences well beyond the traditional BJJ fanbase.

Frequently asked questions

What does ADCC stand for? Abu Dhabi Combat Club. The tournament's full name is the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.

How often is ADCC held? Every two years. Recent editions have been in 2022 and 2024.

Is ADCC gi or no-gi? No-gi. Competitors wear shorts and rashguards. ADCC is the premier no-gi grappling event in the world.

How do you qualify for ADCC? Either through direct invitation (reserved for elite-level competitors and previous medallists) or by winning your region's ADCC Trials.

What is the ADCC Absolute division? The open-weight bracket. Competitors enter regardless of size, and the winner is widely considered the best overall grappler at the event.

What is the ADCC Superfight? A separate single-match championship between two elite grapplers, held alongside the main tournament. The Superfight Champion is usually the previous Absolute winner. They can defend the title at the next ADCC instead of competing in a weight class.

Are heel hooks legal at ADCC? Yes. All variations of heel hooks (inside and outside) are legal in ADCC. This is one of the rules that distinguishes ADCC from IBJJF no-gi competitions where heel hooks are restricted at lower belt levels.

How long is an ADCC match? 10 minutes for qualifier rounds, 20 minutes for semifinals and finals. The first half of every match has no positive scoring.

Is ADCC the same as the IBJJF? No. They are entirely separate organisations with different rule sets, formats and championships. IBJJF runs the major gi and no-gi tournaments (Worlds, Pans, Europeans). ADCC runs the biennial submission grappling championship.

Where will the next ADCC be? ADCC typically announces the next venue 12 to 18 months in advance. Check the official ADCC site for the latest.

The bottom line

ADCC is the most prestigious submission grappling tournament in the world. The two-year cycle, the unique rule set, the Absolute division, the Superfight, and the depth of competition combine to make it the event every elite no-gi grappler plans their career around.

If you want to see modern grappling at its highest level, ADCC is where to look. The 2022 and 2024 editions are widely available to rewatch, and the ADCC Trials each year are some of the deepest brackets in the sport.

For more on the athletes shaping modern ADCC, see our profiles of Gordon Ryan, Andre Galvao, the New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team and the broader top BJJ athletes list.