Declan Moody

Declan Moody competes in the no-gi format as a heavyweight grappler, building a résumé that places him among the standout names in submission grappling's upper weight divisions. A defining milestone came with his victory at the WNO Absolute Tournament, a performance that demonstrated his ability to compete across weight classes and measure up against elite opposition on a major promotion platform.

Moody earned his invitation to the sport's most prestigious tournament by winning an ADCC Trials event, securing qualification to the 2024 ADCC World Championships. Competing in the -99kg division, he advanced through the bracket before meeting Kaynan Duarte in the quarterfinals. Duarte submitted Moody via guillotine choke at 1:41, ending his run — but the matchup itself spoke volumes. Reaching that stage against one of the most accomplished grapplers in the division reflects the caliber of competitor Moody has developed into.

Beyond WNO and ADCC, Moody has appeared on Craig Jones Invitational cards, further cementing his place among the elite invitation-only circuits that define the upper tier of no-gi competition.

In November 2025, Moody signed a multi-match contract with Polaris, with competition scheduled to begin in 2026 in the promotion's heavyweight division. Based in the United Kingdom, Polaris stands as one of Europe's premier submission grappling promotions, recognized for curating high-level matchups and presenting the sport to a dedicated international audience.

The signing adds a significant new chapter to a competitive portfolio that already spans WNO, ADCC, and CJI, positioning Moody for sustained exposure at the highest levels of the sport heading into 2026.

On December 19, 2025, Simple Man Martial Arts announced that Moody would launch and lead its youth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program. Co-owner Nick Rodriguez confirmed Moody as head of the kids program, which is structured into two age groups — 4 to 8 years old and 9 to 12 years old — ensuring age-appropriate instruction and development at each stage. The academy, known within the grappling community as the "Million Dollar Team," launched a founding-members offer at $129, with that rate grandfathered for those who enrolled during the initial registration window.

Moody brings over a decade of experience teaching children to the role, a background that underscores his commitment to youth development as a dimension of his martial arts career equal in importance to his competitive pursuits. Simple Man Martial Arts serves as both his competitive home base and the platform through which he expands his influence as an educator in the sport.