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
Alexandre Ribeiro
41 matches
Vagner Rocha
40 matches
André Galvão
34 matches
Roberto Abreu
34 matches
Oliver Taza
30 matches
Marcelo Garcia
30 matches
Felipe Pena
29 matches
Vinicius Magalhães
28 matches
Rafael Lovato Jr
27 matches
Pablo Popovitch
26 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 1st ADCC South American Trial
2024 ADCC World Championships Presented
2017 ADCC World Championships
2011 ADCC World Championships
Match records
| Fighters | Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janice Russell | def. | Alicia Anaya | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Janice Russell | def. | Rhonda Johnson | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Rhonda Johnson | def. | Alicia Anaya | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Shye Lilly | def. | Justice Stanford | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Justice Stanford | def. | Christine Sanchez | Dq | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Brittany Reyes | def. | Alpana Trivedi | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Quezia Andrade Braga | def. | Justice Stanford | Submission | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| Bianca Giannini | def. | Andrea Amaro | Dq | 2025 ADCC Dallas Open | |
| 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 | ADCC Santiago Open 2025 | |
| Nicolas Infante Reategui | def. | Jose Claudio Bustamante | Submission | ADCC Santiago Open 2025 |
