Section 1: Introduction
ONE Championship's Submission Grappling division is a professional grappling super-fight format launched in 2021 to provide elite BJJ + grappling competitors with sustained pay scale, regular event coverage, and a globally televised platform alongside ONE's MMA + Muay Thai + Kickboxing divisions. ONE Submission Grappling uses long-format matches (10-15 minutes), all submissions legal, with judge-decision permitted if no submission occurs. Notable competitors: Mikey Musumeci, Shinya Aoki, Garry Tonon. ONE's format complements the ADCC biennial championship + UWW Grappling federated competition by establishing a sustained professional circuit. See sibling ADCC Rules and UWW Grappling Rules entries for related organizations.
Section 2: Equipment
- No-gi only: rashguard + shorts (or grappling pants); rashguard must cover torso
- Mouthguard recommended; protective cup permitted (men)
- No shoes, no jewelry, nails trimmed, hair tied back
- Athletes typically wear branded ONE-branded kit (sponsor-coordinated)
Section 3: Playing Area
- ONE's circular open-floor mat (no cage, no ropes) — same surface used for MMA events with the cage panels removed
- ~8m diameter padded mat
- Multiple parallel mats not used — single-mat broadcast format
Section 4: Players & Officials
- Two competitors per match (super-fight or title-fight format)
- Weight classes follow ONE's MMA-aligned schedule: Atomweight, Strawweight, Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
- Officials: 1 mat referee + 3 judges + medical observer + commission inspector
Section 5: Rules of Play
Match Length
- Super fight: 10 minutes (single period)
- Title fight: 12 minutes (single period)
- If tied: judge decision (no overtime golden-score)
Permitted Submissions
- All joint locks (arms + legs)
- All chokes
- Heel hooks fully legal at all weight classes (atomic-grappling-style permissive ruleset)
- Twisters + neck cranks permitted
Pulling Guard
- Pulling guard is permitted (not penalized as in ADCC); ONE values active offense from any position
- Stalling is penalized regardless of position
Win Conditions
- Submission via tap = total victory
- Time expiration → judge decision based on aggression, dominance, submission attempts, control time
Section 6: Scoring
- Decision priority: submission > judge decision (no points-system; judges weigh complete match performance)
- Champion + interim champion belts per weight class
- ONE Submission Grappling super-fight cards integrated into larger ONE event cards alongside MMA + Muay Thai matches
Section 7: Violations & Penalties
- Stalling: warning → point deduction → DQ
- Slamming: DQ
- Eye-poke, fish-hooking, biting: DQ
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: DQ
- Refusal to fight / faking injury: point deduction or DQ
- Anti-doping: ONE Championship anti-doping policy (WADA-aligned); athletes subject to year-round testing
Section 8: Safety Considerations
All-submissions-legal format including heel hooks places ONE's grappling division at the higher-risk end of competitive grappling. Mandatory comprehensive pre-event medical screening (cardiac, neurological, ophthalmological). On-site team physician + EMT + ambulance + AED. Concussion protocol per ONE medical guidelines. Slamming prohibited. Skin-infection screening before mat use. ONE's hydration testing + day-of-fight weight policy applies to grappling as well as MMA — IV-fluid use prohibited. Judges have stoppage-recommendation authority for safety even before referee acts.
