Submission Grappling (ADCC) vs Submission Grappling (ONE Championship) — Same Game, Different Rules
Same sport, different leagues. See exactly where ADCC and ONE Championship rules diverge.
| Attribute | Submission Grappling (ADCC) | Submission Grappling (ONE Championship) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Combat Sports | Combat Sports |
| Organization | ADCC | ONE Championship |
| Players | 1 | 1 |
| Location | indoor | indoor |
| Season / Version | 2026 ADCC Rules — premier no-gi submission grappling biennial World Championship; 10-minute match (5+5 min points/no-points split); all submissions legal | 2026 ONE Championship Submission Grappling Rules — pro-grappling super-fight format featuring 10-15 min matches, all submissions legal, judge-decision allowed |
| Verification | 🏛️Official — ADCC | 🏛️Official — ONE Championship |
Comparison Summary
Submission Grappling (ADCC) and Submission Grappling (ONE Championship) share 7 rule topics. All 7 have different rules.
Key differences in: Section 2: Equipment, Section 3: Playing Area, Section 4: Players & Officials, Section 5: Rules of Play, Section 6: Scoring and 2 more.
Shared Rules — Side by Side(7 shared topics)
Section 2: Equipment
Rules differNo-gi only: rashguard + shorts (no boards shorts, no pockets); Rashguard must cover torso; no zippers; Mouthguard recommended; protective cup permitted (men); women: chest guard optional
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
Section 3: Playing Area
Rules differMat: 10m × 10m competition mat (larger than IBJJF standard 8m); Padded outer safety zone; Center line + marking for restart positioning
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
Rules differTwo competitors per match; Weight classes (Adult Male, kg): -66, -77, -88, -99, +99; Weight classes (Adult Female, kg): -60, +60
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 ...
Section 5: Rules of Play
Rules differTotal: 10 minutes (qualifiers); 15 minutes (semifinals + final); First 5 minutes: no points awarded — pure submission hunt; Second 5 minutes (and any overtime): points awarded for positional dominance
Super fight: 10 minutes (single period); Title fight: 12 minutes (single period); If tied: judge decision (no overtime golden-score)
Section 6: Scoring
Rules differDecision priority: submission > points > referee decision (based on aggression, activity, near-finishes); Tournament: single-elimination bracket per weight class + absolute; Gold/Silver/Bronze per weight + Absolute champion separately
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
Rules differStalling: verbal warning → −1 point (negative); continued stalling can result in DQ; Pulling guard (in regulation): −1 point automatically (designed to penalize passive play); Fleeing match area: −1 point
Stalling: warning → point deduction → DQ; Slamming: DQ; Eye-poke, fish-hooking, biting: DQ
Section 8: Safety Considerations
Rules differADCC allows the full spectrum of submissions including high-injury-risk techniques (heel hooks, twisters). Athletes must demonstrate qualification + experience to compete (Trials system filters competitors).
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).
Permanent link: https://opensourcesports.io/rules/versus/submission-grappling-adcc-vs-submission-grappling-one-championship