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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Pablo Lecaros Pérez | def. | JEROHAM ARBOLEDA | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Lucas Luciano Bessin Torres | def. | Nelson Guerrero | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Lucas Luciano Bessin Torres | def. | Erwin Calderón | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Adrian Sebastian Torres Almeida | def. | Daniel Marquez | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Adrian Sebastian | def. | Patricio Loor | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Hardy Rodriguez | def. | Carlos Eduardo Vidal | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Xavier Ledesma | def. | Jeremy Alarcon | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Francisco Ugas Aurich | def. | Salvador Essenwanger | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Ronald Javier Aguado Sauñe | def. | JUAN JAVIER ECHEVERRIA | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| MILTON BUSTAMANTE | def. | Bryan Lopez | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Miguel Paredes | def. | Gabriel Vaca Núñez | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Nythan Ariel Mantilla Siguenza | def. | Axel Changuan Centeno | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| JEROHAM ARBOLEDA | def. | Nelson Guerrero | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Patricio Loor | def. | Erwin Calderón | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Enrique Guerrero | def. | Isaac Aviles Palma | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Bruno Carrillo | def. | Enrique Guerrero | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Patricio Benítez | def. | Christopher Han | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Leonidis Villagran | def. | Diego Herrera | Submission | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Pablo Ramirez | def. | Francisco Antonio Iturralde Lara | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open | |
| Luis Gomez | def. | Ángel Patricio Ulloa | Points | 2025 ADCC Ecuador Open |
