The Birth & History of the ADCC

ADCC Origins and Founding (1993–1998)

The ADCC was the brainchild of Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the sixth son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the former leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Sheikh Tahnoon’s passion for martial arts was sparked in 1993 while he was studying in the United States. After watching the inaugural Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event, he was captivated by the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, particularly through Royce Gracie’s dominance.

This led him to train under Nelson Monteiro, a Gracie Barra instructor in San Diego, California, using the pseudonym “Ben” to maintain a low profile.

Inspired by the idea of testing grappling styles against one another, Sheikh Tahnoon returned to Abu Dhabi in 1998 with a vision to create a world-class martial arts facility and a neutral platform for grapplers to compete. 

He transformed an idle facility in Abu Dhabi into the Abu Dhabi Combat Club, hiring top instructors in BJJ, judo, wrestling, sambo, Muay Thai, and other disciplines to create a premier training center for MMA and grappling.

The facility aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle, self-defense, and martial arts excellence in the UAE.

To achieve his vision of determining the most effective grappling style, 

Sheikh Tahnoon created the ADCC World Submission Fighting Championships. The tournament introduced a unique, “neutral” ruleset designed to level the playing field for practitioners of various grappling arts. 

Unlike traditional BJJ tournaments, ADCC rules emphasized submissions over control in the first half of matches, allowed a wide range of techniques (excluding spinal attacks).

The Early Years (1998–2001)

The first ADCC World Championship in 1998 was a groundbreaking event, though it lacked widespread publicity due to the limited specialized media at the time. 

Despite this, it attracted some of the world’s top grapplers, including legends like Renzo Gracie, Royler Gracie, and Jean Jacques Machado. 

The tournament’s rules rewarded points for techniques that allowed all grappling styles an equal chance, such as takedowns, sweeps, and submissions, while prohibiting strikes to focus on grappling purity. 

The event was a success, with competitors praising its fairness and organization, sparking global interest in submission grappling.

In its early years, ADCC was held annually in Abu Dhabi.

1999 ADCC Championship 

The second edition saw Jean Jacques Machad win his division and cement his legacy as a pioneer of innovative grappling techniques.

2000–2001: The tournament continued to grow, with competitors like Saulo Ribeiro and Royler Gracie achieving notable success. The introduction of the absolute division allowed for thrilling cross-weight matchups, showcasing the versatility of smaller fighters like Machado, who earned a silver medal in the absolute division in 2001.

The success of these early events led to an explosion of interest, but the limited 16 spots per division created a need for regional qualifying trials to accommodate the growing number of competitors. 

By 2001, ADCC transitioned to a biennial format, allowing more time for organization 

Global Expansion and Rising Prestige (2003–2017)

From 2003, ADCC began hosting events outside Abu Dhabi, reflecting its growing international appeal. Host countries included Brazil, the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom, China, and Finland. 

This global outreach helped establish ADCC as the premier no-gi grappling tournament, attracting top talent from diverse grappling backgrounds.

Rise of Legends

The early 2000s saw the emergence of iconic grapplers like Marcelo Garcia, Roger Gracie, Braulio Estima, and Dean Lister. 

Marcelo Garcia, known for his technical brilliance, won multiple ADCC titles, including the absolute division in 2003, despite being a middleweight. 

Roger Gracie, with his dominant fundamentals, won over 10 world titles, including ADCC golds.

Crossover to MMA

ADCC became a proving ground for MMA fighters. Champions like Mark Kerr, Matt Hughes, Ricardo Arona, Tito Ortiz, Georges St. Pierre who all competed in separate championships.

Women’s Divisions

Women’s divisions were introduced early on, with pioneers like Kyra Gracie and Penny Thomas achieving success. However, until 2007, women’s divisions were limited to two weight classes, and the absolute division for women was discontinued after that year until its return in 2024.

Modern Era and Organizational Changes (2019–Present)

In 2019, Mo Jassim took over as head organizer of the ADCC World Championships, ushering in significant changes. Jassim’s vision focused on modernizing the event, increasing its visibility, and improving opportunities for competitors. 

Expanded Women’s Divisions

In 2023, Jassim announced the addition of a third women’s weight class for the 2024 championship, the first time since 2007 that women would have more than two divisions. The women’s absolute division also returned in 2024, a significant step toward gender equity in the sport.

Children’s Division

In 2024, ADCC introduced a children’s version of the championship, held alongside the main event, to nurture young talent.

Streaming and Accessibility

In 2023, ADCC signed a multi-year streaming deal with UFC Fight Pass but returned to FloSports later that year. This ensured global access to live streams, replays, and highlights, boosting the tournament’s reach.

Venue Upgrades

The 2022 championship, delayed from 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, drew 13,000 fans to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. In 2024, the event moved to the T-Mobile Arena, reflecting its growing popularity.

Legacy and Future

Since its founding in 1998, ADCC has grown from a niche tournament to a global phenomenon, often credited with ushering in the “modern era of submission grappling,” as Royler Gracie described. 

Its neutral ruleset, elite competition, and crossover appeal have made it a cornerstone of the grappling world.