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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Case | def. | Brittany Reyes | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Teara Lewis | def. | Victoria Mcmickell | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Mayara Moreira | def. | Hannah Harjo | Dq | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Maka Vickers | def. | Gabriele Schuck | Points | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Bianca Giannini | def. | Shye Lilly | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Jennifer Case | def. | Mayara Moreira | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Teara Lewis | def. | Maka Vickers | Points | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Mayara Moreira | def. | Maka Vickers | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Quezia Andrade Braga | def. | Bianca Giannini | Points | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Jennifer Case | def. | Teara Lewis | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Arley Brandao | def. | Alfonso Estrada | Decision | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Nicolas Infante Reategui | def. | Jose Claudio Bustamante | Submission | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Marco Aurellio de Queiroz | def. | Cristian Cerda | Submission | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Mauricio Vasquez | def. | Hugo Villanueva Guerra | Submission | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Vitor Fernando Santile De Souza | def. | Mauro Riquelme | Submission | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Alex Thiele | def. | Welinton Benvenutti | Submission | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Nick Mendoza | def. | Antonio Arancibia Grossi | Other | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Arthur Figueiredo | def. | Cristian Villaman Peña | Other | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Neils Araya | def. | Thomas Olson | Points | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open | |
| Cristóbal Pooley | def. | Francisco Ugas Aurich | Submission | 2025 ADCC Santiago Open |
