Ruleset
ADCC
The most prestigious no-gi ruleset: negative points for stalling, points only in the second half, and every submission legal.
How the ruleset works
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club ruleset is built to force action. Matches split into halves: no points in the first half (submission attempts only), then takedowns, passes, and dominant positions score in the second. Guard pulling costs a negative point once scoring starts, and stalling is penalized directly.
Every submission is legal, including heel hooks and slams inside limits, which makes ADCC the proving ground for complete no-gi games. Overtime extends the match rather than switching format, and referee decisions weigh aggression heavily.
The World Championship runs every two years and is widely treated as the sport's most prestigious no-gi title.
At a glance
- Attire
- No-Gi
- Format
- No points first half, points second half
- Overtime
- Extra time, then decision
- Time limit
- 10-40 min by round/division
- Submissions
- Everything legal
What wins under ADCC rules
Most active under ADCC rules
Vagner Rocha
33 matches
Oliver Taza
29 matches
Keith Krikorian
24 matches
André Galvão
23 matches
Jonathan Satava
22 matches
Felipe Pena
21 matches
Marcelo Garcia
21 matches
Paul Ardila-Ibarra
20 matches
Paul Barch
20 matches
Roberto Jimenez
19 matches
Rankings across every ruleset live on the stats page and the BJJ Elo rankings.
Biggest ADCC events
2017 ADCC West Coast Trials
2018 ADCC North American Trials
2019 ADCC West Coast Trials
2022 ADCC 1st South American Trial
2007 ADCC World Championship
2024 ADCC World Championship
2011 ADCC World Championship
Match records
| Fighters | Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Moreno | def. | Jason Watson | Submission | 2025 ADCC Las Vegas Nationals | |
| Danny Moisés Naranjo Romero | def. | Israel Alzamora | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Enrique Guerrero | def. | Ian Montenegro | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Joyy Vega | def. | Raphael Gomez | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Hardy Rodriguez | def. | Kevin Gustavo Carriel Marquinez | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Christian Lara | def. | Jorge Elias | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Salvador Essenwanger | def. | Paolo Portaluppi | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Luis Fernando Vera | def. | Rommel Michael Vivas Huertas | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Christopher Han | def. | Miguel Goncalvez | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Byron Andres Santos | def. | Robinson Morocho | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Ariel Delgado | def. | Daniel Letamendi | Other | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Emilio Enrique Saltos Flores | def. | Freddy Benalcázar | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Bryan Lopez | def. | ARIEL RHOR | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Nythan Ariel Mantilla Siguenza | def. | Christian Hidalgo | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| MILTON BUSTAMANTE | def. | Alberto Kevin Marmolejo Acosta | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Pablo Ramirez | def. | Andres Sanchez | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Sebastian Guevara | def. | Juan Diego Arcos | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Hardy Rodriguez | def. | Santiago Paredes | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Carlos Eduardo Vidal | def. | Danny Moisés Naranjo Romero | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Isaac Aviles Palma | def. | Joyy Vega | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open |
