Make ADCC Truly World-Class: Equal Opportunity for Women and Men

The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) hosts the most prestigious submission grappling championship in the world. Winning a place at ADCC Worlds is one of the highest achievements in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

If I were a man, I would be going to ADCC Worlds right now. I won the first European trials on the 6th of September—but because I am a woman, the first trials don’t count for me. That means I won’t be going to ADCC Worlds. Women only get one chance to qualify, in early 2026, while men get two. And while men have five weight classes, women only have three. This is not fair.

To qualify for ADCC Worlds, athletes must first win regional trials. Men get two trials per region, across five weight classes. Women get only one trial, across three weight classes.

This disparity is a clear example of inequality. Women in BJJ train and compete just as hard as men, but we are not given the same fair chance to earn our place on the world stage. This unfair system not only harms individual careers—it limits the visibility, growth, and professionalism of BJJ as a sport. It also undermines ADCC as an organisation by preventing the best talent from being showcased on its biggest stage.

Some argue that there aren’t enough women at this level, or that women’s matches don’t attract the same audience. This is simply not true. The growth of women’s divisions across IBJJF, ONE Championship, CJI, and UFC shows that fans are eager to watch world-class female athletes. Representation creates interest: when women are given platforms, viewership grows, role models are created, and the sport as a whole benefits. By holding women back, ADCC isn’t reflecting demand—it’s suppressing it.

Equal opportunity is crucial for a fair and thriving sport. 

We call on ADCC to:

 • For 2026: Run 16-woman brackets at ADCC Worlds, equal to the men. The simplest way to do this would be to invite all women’s trial winners to Worlds (both first and second trials). 

 • For 2028 and beyond: Equal size brackets for everyone AND expand to five women’s weight classes. 

This is also a huge opportunity for ADCC. By making this change, ADCC can demonstrate leadership, repair criticism of inequality, and solidify its reputation as the premier and most inclusive grappling competition in the world. Fans and athletes alike are watching—and this is ADCC’s chance to show it truly represents the best of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, for everyone.

It’s time for ADCC to do what’s right: give women the same stage, the same respect, and the same chances as men. Let’s ensure that talent and hard work—not gender—decide who competes at ADCC Worlds.