ADCC Champions are widely considered to be the best wrestlers in the world. This is due to the high level of competition in ADCC submission championships, which requires a grappler to be tough, strong, competent, and scalable. As a result, you should be aware of these renowned wrestlers and learn from them.
This article highlights the most successful grapplers who won the ADCC World Championship. Enjoy!
ADCC World Champions of All Time
Many legendary grapplers have won the ADCC Submission Fighting Championship, including André Galvão, Gordon Ryan, Mario Sperry, Augusto Mendes, JT Torres, Matheus Diniz, Kaynan Duarte, Bianca Basilio, and others.
The table below shows all ADCC champions since 1998.
| Year | ADCC Champions |
| 1998 | Renzo Gracie (Male, -77 kg) Rodrigo Gracie (Male, -88 kg) Mario Sperry (Male, -99 kg) Ricco Rodriguez (Male, +99 kg) Mario Sperry (Male, absolute) |
| 1999 | Royler Gracie (Male, -66 kg) Jean Jacques Machado (Male, -77 kg) Karimula Barkalaev (Male, -88 kg) Jeff Monson (Male, -99 kg) Mark Kerr (Male, +99 kg) Roberto Traven (Male, absolute) Mario Sperry (ADCC superfight winner) |
| 2000 | Royler Gracie (Male, -66 kg) Renzo Gracie (Male, -77 kg) Saulo Ribeiro (Male, -88 kg) Ricardo Arona (Male, -99 kg) Mark Kerr (Male, +99 kg and absolute) Mario Sperry (ADCC super fight winner) |
| 2001 | Royler Grace (Male, -66 kg) Marcio Feitosa (Male, -77 kg) Sanae Kikuta (Male, -88 kg) Ricardo Arona (Male, -99 kg) Mark Robinson (Male, +99 kg) Ricardo Arona (Male, absolute) Mark Kerr (ADCC superfight winner) |
| 2003 | Leo Vieira (Male, -66 kg) Marcelo Garcia (Male, -77 kg) Saulo Ribeiro (Male, -88 kg) Jon Olav Einemo (Male, -99 kg) Márcio Cruz (Male, +99 kg) Dean Lister (Male, absolute) Ricardo Arona (ADCC superfight winner) |
| 2005 | Leo Vieira (Male, -66 kg) Marcelo Garcia (Male, -77 kg) Ronaldo Souza (Male, -88 kg) Roger Gracie (Male, -99 kg) Jeff Monson (Male, +99 kg) Roger Gracie (Male, absolute) Dean Lister (ADCC superfight winner) Kyra Gracie (Female, -60 kg) Juliana Borges (Female, +60 kg) Juliana Borges (Female, absolute) |
| 2007 | Rani Yahya (Male, -66 kg) Marcelo Garcia (Male, -77 kg) Demian Maia (Male, -88 kg) Alexandre Ribeiro (Male, -99 kg) Fabrício Werdum (Male, +99 kg) Robert Drysdale (Male, absolute) Roger Gracie (ADCC superfight winner) Sayaka Shinoda (Female, -55 kg) Kyra Gracie (Female, -60 kg) Hannette Staack (Female, -67 kg) Penny Thomas (Female, +67 kg) Hannette Staack (Female, absolute) |
| 2009 | Rafael Maledes (Male, -66 kg) Pablo Popovitch (Male, -77 kg) Braulio Estima (Male, -88 kg) Alexandre Ribeiro (Male, -99 kg) Fabrício Werdum (Male, +99 kg) Braulio Estima (Male, absolute) Ronaldo Souza (ADCC superfight winner) Luanna Alzuguir (Female, -60 kg) Hannette Staack (Female, +60 kg) |
| 2011 | Rafael Maledes (Male, -66 kg) Marcelo Garcia (Male, -77 kg) André Galvão (Male, -88 kg) Dean Lister (Male, -99 kg) Vinny Magalhães (Male, +99 kg) André Galvão (Male, absolute) Braulio Estima (ADCC superfight winner) Kyra Gracie (Female, -60 kg) Gabi Garcia (Female, +60 kg) |
| 2013 | Rubens Charles (Male, -66 kg) Kron Gracie (Male, -77 kg) Romulo Barral (Male, -88 kg) João Assis (Male, -99 kg) Marcus Almeida (Male, +99 kg) Roberto Abreu (Male, absolute) André Galvão (ADCC superfight winner) Michelle Nicolini (Female, -60 kg) Gabi Garcia (Female, +60 kg) |
| 2015 | Rubens Charles (Male, -66 kg) Davi Ramos (Male, -77 kg) Yuri Simões (Male, -88 kg) Rodolfo Vieira (Male, -99 kg) Orlando Sanchez (Male, +99 kg) Claudio Calasans (Male, absolute) André Galvão (ADCC superfight winner) Mackenzie Dern (Female, -60 kg) Ana Laura Cordeiro (Female, +60 kg) |
| 2017 | Rubens Charles (Male, -66 kg) Jonathan Torres (Male, -77 kg) Gordon Ryan (Male, -88 kg) Yuri Simões (Male, -99 kg) Marcus Almeida (Male, +99 kg) Felipe Pena (Male, absolute) André Galvão (ADCC superfight winner) Beatriz Mesquita (Female, -60 kg) Gabi Garcia (Female, +60 kg) |
| 2019 | Augusto Maledes (Male, -66 kg) Jonathan Torres (Male, -77 kg) Matheus Diniz (Male, -88 kg) Gordon Ryan (Male, -99 kg) Kaynan Duarte (+99 kg) Gordon Ryan (Male, absolute) André Galvão (ADCC superfight winner) Bianca Basílio (Female, -60 kg) Gabi Garcia (Female, +60 kg) |
| 2022 | Diogo Reis (Male, -66 kg) Kade Ruotolo (Male, -77 kg) Giancarlo Bodoni (Male, -88 kg) Kaynan Duarte (Male, -99 kg) Gordon Ryan (+99 kg) Yuri Simoes (Male, absolute) Gordon Ryan (ADCC superfight winner) Ffion Davies (Female, -60 kg) Amy Campo (Female, +60 kg) |
| 2024 | Diogo Reis (Male, -66 kg) Micael Galvao (Male, -77 kg) Giancarlo Bodoni (Male, -88 Kg) Kaynan Duarte (Male, -99 kg) Felipe Pena (Male, +99 kg) Kaynan Duarte (Male, Absolute) Adele Fornarino (Female, -55 kg) Ana Carolina Vieira (Female, -65kg) Rafaela Guedes (Female: +65kg) Adele Fornarino (Female, Absolute) Gordon Ryan (1st 2024 ADCC superfight winner) Gordon Ryan (2nd 2024 ADCC superfight winner) |
– 66 kg Male Division ADCC Champions of All Time
Many great wrestlers have won the -66 kg weight division ADCC Submission Championship, including Royler Gracie (3 times), Rubens Charles (3 times), Leo Vieira (2 times), Rafael Mendes (2 times), Diogo Reis (2 times), and others.
Here is the list of all -66 kg men’s division ADCC winners.
| Year | – 66kg men’s division ADCC champions |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Alexander Freitas |
| 1999 | Royler Gracie |
| 2000 | Royler Gracie |
| 2001 | Royler Gracie |
| 2003 | Leo Vieira |
| 2005 | Leo Vieira |
| 2007 | Rani Yahya |
| 2009 | Rafael Mendes |
| 2011 | Rafael Mendes |
| 2013 | Rubens Charles |
| 2015 | Rubens Charles |
| 2017 | Rubens Charles |
| 2019 | Augusto Mendes |
| 2022 | Diogo Reis (BRA) |
| 2024 | Diogo Reis (BRA) |
– 77 kg Male Division ADCC Winners of All Time
Many great wrestlers have won the -77 kg weight division ADCC World Championship, including Renzo Gracie (2 times), Marcelo Garcia (4 times), Jonathan Torres (2 times), Micael Galvao (1 time), Jean Jacques Machado, and others.
The table below shows all -77 kg men’s division ADCC champions.
| Year | – 77 kg male’s division ADCC champions |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Renzo Gracie |
| 1999 | Jean Jacques Machado |
| 2000 | Renzo Gracie |
| 2001 | Marcio Feitosa |
| 2003 | Marcelo Garcia |
| 2005 | Marcelo Garcia |
| 2007 | Marcelo Garcia |
| 2009 | Pablo Popovitch |
| 2011 | Marcelo Garcia |
| 2013 | Kron Gracie |
| 2015 | Davi Ramos |
| 2017 | Jonathan Torres |
| 2019 | Jonathan Torres |
| 2022 | Kade Ruotolo |
| 2024 | Micael Galvao (BRA) |
– 88 kg Male Division ADCC Champions of All Time
Many great grapplers have won the -88 kg weight division ADCC submission grappling championship, including Saulo Ribeiro (2 times), Giancarlo Bodoni (2 times), André Galvão, Gordon Ryan, Romulo Barral, Braulio Estima, and others.
Here is a list of all the -88 kg men’s division ADCC winners.
| Year | -88kg men’s division ADCC champions |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Rodrigo Gracie |
| 1999 | Karimula Barkalaev |
| 2000 | Saulo Ribeiro |
| 2001 | Sanae Kikuta |
| 2003 | Saulo Ribeiro |
| 2005 | Ronaldo Souza |
| 2007 | Demian Maia |
| 2009 | Braulio Estima |
| 2011 | André Galvão |
| 2013 | Romulo Barral |
| 2015 | Yuri Simões |
| 2017 | Gordon Ryan |
| 2019 | Matheus Diniz |
| 2022 | Giancarlo Bodoni (USA) |
| 2024 | Giancarlo Bodoni (USA) |
– 99 kg Men Division ADCC Winners of All Time
Many great wrestlers have won the -99 kg weight division ADCC Championship, including Ricardo Arona (2 times), Alexandre Ribeiro (2 times), Rodolfo Vieira, Dean Lister, Gordon Ryan, Roger Gracie, and others.
The table below shows all -99 kg men’s division ADCC world championship winners.
| Year | – 99 kg Male’s division ADCC champions |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Mario Sperry |
| 1999 | Jeff Monson |
| 2000 | Ricardo Arona |
| 2001 | Ricardo Arona |
| 2003 | Jon Olav Einemo |
| 2005 | Roger Gracie |
| 2007 | Alexandre Ribeiro |
| 2009 | Alexandre Ribeiro |
| 2011 | Dean Lister |
| 2013 | João Assis |
| 2015 | Rodolfo Vieira |
| 2017 | Yuri Simões |
| 2019 | Gordon Ryan |
| 2022 | Kaynan Duarte (BRA) |
| 2024 | Kaynan Duarte (BRA) |
+ 99 kg Men Division ADCC Champions of All Time
Many great grapplers have won the +99 kg weight division ADCC Submission Wrestling Championship, including Mark Kerr (2 times), Fabrício Werdum (2 times), Marcus Almeida (2 times), Kaynan Duarte, Orlando Sanchez, and others.
The table below shows all +99 kg men’s division ADCC tournament winners.
| Year | + 99kg men’s division ADCC champions |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Ricco Rodriguez |
| 1999 | Mark Kerr |
| 2000 | Mark Kerr |
| 2001 | Mark Robinson |
| 2003 | Márcio Cruz |
| 2005 | Jeff Monson |
| 2007 | Fabrício Werdum |
| 2009 | Fabrício Werdum |
| 2011 | Vinny Magalhães |
| 2013 | Marcus Almeida |
| 2015 | Orlando Sanchez |
| 2017 | Marcus Almeida (BRA) |
| 2019 | Kaynan Duarte (BRA) |
| 2022 | Gordon Ryan (USA) |
| 2024 | Felipe Pena (BRA) |
ADCC Absolute Champions of All Time
Many great wrestlers have won the absolute division ADCC Submission Fighting Championship, including Mark Kerr, Mario Sperry, Dean Lister, Roger Gracie, Braulio Estima, André Galvão, Claudio Calasans, and others.
Here is a list of all absolute division ADCC submission champions.
| Year | Absolute division ADCC champions |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Mario Sperry |
| 1999 | Roberto Traven |
| 2000 | Mark Kerr |
| 2001 | Ricardo Arona |
| 2003 | Dean Lister |
| 2005 | Roger Gracie |
| 2007 | Robert Drysdale |
| 2009 | Braulio Estima |
| 2011 | André Galvão |
| 2013 | Roberto Abreu |
| 2015 | Claudio Calasans |
| 2017 | Felipe Pena |
| 2019 | Gordon Ryan |
| 2022 | Yuri Simões |
| 2024 | Kaynan Duarte (BRA) |
ADCC Superfight Champions of All Time
Many great wrestlers have won the ADCC superfight, including André Galvão (4 times), Mario Sperry (2 times), Dean Lister, Roger Gracie, Braulio Estima, and others.
The table below shows the list of all ADCC super-fight winners.
| Year | ADCC Super Fight Winner |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Mario Sperry |
| 2000 | Mario Sperry |
| 2001 | Mark Kerr |
| 2003 | Ricardo Arona |
| 2005 | Dean Lister |
| 2007 | Roger Gracie |
| 2009 | Ronaldo Souza |
| 2011 | Braulio Estima (BRA) |
| 2013 | André Galvão (BRA) |
| 2015 | André Galvão (BRA) |
| 2017 | André Galvão (BRA) |
| 2019 | André Galvão (BRA) |
| 2022 | Gordon Ryan (USA) |
| 2024 1st Superfight | Gordon Ryan (USA) |
| 2024 2nd Superfight | Gordon Ryan (USA) |
ADCC Female Champions of All Time
Many great female grapplers have won the ADCC World Championship, including Kyra Gracie (3 times), Gabi Garcia (4 times), Mackenzie Dern, Bianca Basílio, Beatriz Mesquita, and others.
The table below shows the ADCC list of all female champions.
| Year | Female ADCC winners |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Sayaka Shinoda (-55 kg) Kyra Gracie (-60 kg) Hannette Staack (-67 kg) Penny Thomas (+67 kg) Hannette Staack (absolute) |
| 2007 | Sayaka Shinoda (-55 kg) Kyra Gracie (-60 kg) Hannette Staack (-67 kg) Penny Thomas (+67 kg) Hannette Staack (absolute) |
| 2009 | Luanna Alzuguir (-60 kg) Hannette Staack (+60 kg) |
| 2011 | Kyra Gracie (-60 kg) Gabi Garcia (+60 kg) |
| 2013 | Mackenzie Dern (-60 kg) Ana Laura Cordeiro (+60kg) |
| 2015 | Mackenzie Dern (-60 kg) Ana Laura Cordeiro (+60 kg) |
| 2017 | Beatriz Mesquita (-60 kg) Gabi Garcia (+60 kg) |
| 2019 | Bianca Basílio (-60 kg) Gabi Garcia (+60 kg) |
| 2022 | Ffion Davies (-60 kg) Amy Campo (+60 kg) |
| 2024 | Adele Fornarino (Female, -55 kg) Ana Carolina Vieira (Female, -65kg) Rafaela Guedes (Female: +65kg) Adele Fornarino (Female, Absolute) |
Conclusion
The ADCC champions are widely considered the world’s best wrestlers. This high-level submission grappling tournament tests grapplers to their breaking point.
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