ADCC US Open - Louisville, KY
Organized by ADCC
ADCC rules take over Louisville, Kentucky on December 5, 2026 for the ADCC US Open. The no-gi submission grappling tournament runs divisions across all skill levels, bringing the Abu Dhabi Combat Club ruleset to a regional stage.
Event Description
The ADCC US Open comes to Louisville, Kentucky, running no-gi submission grappling under the internationally recognized ADCC ruleset — matches are won by submission or by points awarded for takedowns, guard passes, and control positions, with regulation-time draws going to overtime. ADCC events draw a mix of BJJ competitors, wrestlers, and other grapplers competing across weight classes and skill divisions, plus Absolute brackets for those looking to test themselves against all comers. This event takes place December 5, 2026 in Louisville, KY. It's open to competitors across the skill spectrum, not just top-level ADCC circuit veterans, and registration is handled through the Smoothcomp link on Let's Roll — check there for current pricing and division cutoffs.
Divisions
Registration deadline: December 2, 2026
About ADCC
ADCC (the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Fighting Championship) is the elite, invitation-and-qualifier world championship of submission grappling, founded in 1998 by Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Held roughly every two years across weight classes plus an absolute division under "neutral rules" designed for BJJ, judo, wrestling, and sambo athletes to compete head-to-head, it's widely regarded as the top championship in the sport. Its regional ADCC Trials events are the qualifier tournaments grassroots competitors can actually enter.
Rules
The ADCC ruleset is built to reward submission hunting over point management. During the first half of regulation no points are scored at all — competitors are free to attack without positional risk showing on the scoreboard. Points switch on for the second half, scoring takedowns, guard passes, mount, and back control.
The scoreboard can also go negative: stalling, pulling guard without engaging, and refusing to fight for position draw negative points, which makes prolonged inactivity a losing strategy. Combined with a legal-technique list that is wide open at the advanced level (including heel hooks in the adult divisions), ADCC-rules events tend to produce aggressive, submission-first grappling.
Always confirm the official rulebook before you compete — organizations update rules between seasons. See the official event page for current rules.
Community results
No results logged yet. Results show up here once competitors log them after the event.
Frequently asked questions
- When and where is the ADCC US Open Louisville?
- December 5, 2026, in Louisville, KY.
- What ruleset does ADCC use?
- No-gi submission grappling scored by submission or by points for takedowns, guard passes, and control positions; drawn matches go to overtime.
- Are there Absolute divisions?
- Yes, ADCC events typically offer Absolute brackets alongside weight-class divisions.
- Is this open to all skill levels?
- Yes, ADCC US Open events are open to a range of skill levels, not just elite competitors.
- How do I register?
- Through the Smoothcomp link on Let's Roll; check the registration page for current pricing.
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