Ruleset
Submission Only
The umbrella for pure submission-only formats (Kasai, Subversiv, Finishers, and similar): no points, finish or draw/decision.
How the ruleset works
Submission-only is less one ruleset than a family: no points, no advantages, and a match that only truly ends with a tap. Promotions in this family (Kasai, Subversiv, Finishers Sub Only, Third Coast Grappling and others) differ in what happens when nobody finishes: some use judges, some use overtime formats borrowed from EBI, some accept draws.
We group these events together because the competitive incentives are the same: submission hunting over positional maintenance.
At a glance
- Attire
- Varies by event
- Format
- Submission-only (varies by promotion)
- Overtime
- Varies (EBI-style, judges, or draws)
- Time limit
- Varies
- Submissions
- Generally everything legal
What wins under Submission Only rules
Most active under Submission Only rules
Renato Canuto
16 matches
William Tackett
15 matches
Lucas Barbosa
13 matches
Nicole Mathew
13 matches
Craig Jones
11 matches
Edwin Ocasio
11 matches
Aaron Johnson
11 matches
Gianni Grippo
10 matches
Fellipe Andrew
9 matches
Roberto Jimenez
9 matches
Rankings across every ruleset live on the stats page and the BJJ Elo rankings.
Biggest Submission Only events
2026 Finishers: Money In The Bank 3 vs 3
2026 Finishers: Women's Survivor Series 2
2020 Subversiv 4
2021 Subversiv 5
2022 SUBVERSIV 7
Kasai Pro 6
Kasai Pro 7
Match records
| Fighters | Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Flores | def. | Nick Digiacomo | Heel Hook | 2025 Finishers Fall Classic | |
| Madeleine Avila | def. | Vanessa Comeau | Decision | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Gabriella Bermudez | def. | Alysa Couce | Rear Naked Choke | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| George Whitehead | def. | Ezra Outlaw | Decision | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Nicholas Willey | def. | Jack Reynolds | Kneebar | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Elijah Flores | def. | Savion Marañon | Submission | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Asher May | def. | Steven Eisner | Kneebar | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Jack Sudduth | def. | Nate Chappell | Arm Triangle Choke | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Cory Kennedy | def. | William Keith Highfield Jr | Rear Naked Choke | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Jonathan Lopez | def. | Thomas Salas | Kimura | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Nick Digiacomo | def. | Efrain Garcia | Decision | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| My Bao Nguyen | def. | Nicole Bye | Armbar | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Derin Yusufi | def. | Jordan Juliano | Split Decision | 2025 Finishers: Summer Bash 4 | |
| Nick Cashdollar | def. | Alejandro Villalobos | Split Decision | 2025 Finishers Money in the Bank | |
| Sid Tavolaro | def. | Yorgos Vassilou | Armbar | 2025 Finishers Money in the Bank | |
| Lucas Jones | def. | Jack Sudduth | Choke | 2025 Finishers Money in the Bank | |
| Logan Hicks | def. | Nick Cashdollar | Submission | 2025 Finishers Money in the Bank | |
| Kevin Miller | def. | Ben Smith | Choke | 2025 Finishers Money in the Bank | |
| Jonathan Lopez | def. | Brandon Bigelow | Heel Hook | 2025 Finishers Money in the Bank | |
| Nick Digiacomo | def. | Roberto Vargas | Decision | 2025 Finishers Money in the Bank |
