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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enrique Guerrero | def. | Joel Alexander Ferrin Andrade | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Salvador Essenwanger | def. | Anthony Gaibor | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Diego Herrera | def. | Adrian Maquilón Karolys | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Francisco Ugas Aurich | def. | Christian Lara | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Leonidis Villagran | def. | Jaime Lopez | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Patricio Benítez | def. | Byron Andres Santos | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Christopher Han | def. | Luis Fernando Vera | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Francisco Antonio Iturralde Lara | def. | Nythan Ariel Mantilla Siguenza | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Bryan Lopez | def. | Christian Camilo Coral Cabrera | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Pablo Ramirez | def. | Ariel Delgado | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| MILTON BUSTAMANTE | def. | Emilio Enrique Saltos Flores | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Luis Gomez | def. | Enrique Martinez | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Sebastian Guevara | def. | Marco Aurellio de Queiroz | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Javier Basurto | def. | Gino Delgado | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Axel Changuan Centeno | def. | Cristhian Edu Anda Guillen | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Nythan Ariel Mantilla Siguenza | def. | Carlos Nunes Vieira Da Costa | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Mauricio Vasquez | def. | Hugo Angel Rivera Mendez | Dq | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| JEROHAM ARBOLEDA | def. | Axel Changuan Centeno | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Nelson Guerrero | def. | Javier López | Advantage | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Juan Pablo Lecaros Pérez | def. | Ivan Bolek | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open |
