In a quiet but significant policy shift, the ADCC has discontinued its women’s absolute division for the 2026 World Championship without even so much as a formal announcement.
The change emerged alongside the organization’s announcement of increased prize money, though the elimination of this marquee category has received considerably less attention than the pay structure debate currently consuming the sport.
The absolute division has long represented the pinnacle of competitive achievement in submission grappling. It crowns an open weight champion, pitting the sport’s most accomplished athletes against one another regardless of size. For decades, this division has produced some of the most memorable moments in ADCC history, establishing legacies and determining who truly stands above the rest.
While ADCC has not issued a formal statement explaining the decision, the timing suggests financial considerations may have played a role. The organization recently announced revised prize structures for the 2026 event in Poland, with male competitors seeing their winnings double from the previous championship. Women’s weight class prizes remained at their 2024 levels, creating a $16,000 disparity per division that prompted Craig Jones to pledge $48,000 through his charity foundation to equalize compensation.
The absolute division traditionally offered the largest single payout at ADCC. Given that the newly announced top prize for men stands as the highest figure in the revised structure, the absence of a corresponding women’s absolute prize suggests the category’s elimination may serve as a cost reduction measure.
Jones addressed the pay gap in a video statement after ADCC’s announcement.
“They announced that the women’s pay was going to remain increased as of the last ADCC but they doubled the men’s pay that’s a $16,000 dollar difference for the three women’s weight divisions in total $48,000 dollars. I’ve decided out of the kindness of my own heart and the fair fight foundation to pay the $48,000 difference so that women and men get paid the same for ADCC.”
The response from female competitors has been notably restrained. Helena Crevar publicly thanked Jones for his financial support, while other prominent athletes have remained silent on the absolute division’s removal. The lack of public outcry may reflect a broader reality about professional grappling’s economics.
Ffion Davies previously openly criticized ADCC due to the fact women’s divisions were severely underpaid upto 2024. Mo Jassim who served as promoter for several editions acknowledged the issue and had reported he would be bumping up the pay to match men’s following Ffion’s high profile departure for CJI,
For athletes based in regions with higher living costs, including the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, tournament winnings rarely justify the training investment and travel expenses required to compete at this level.
Jones acknowledged these financial pressures in his response to Crevar, writing:
“@cjiofficial couldn’t match pay either, but we trying.”
ADCC has not responded to multiple media requests for comment on either the absolute division’s cancellation or the broader compensation structure. Official channels have maintained silence despite mounting questions from competitors and fans about the direction of the sport’s most prestigious championship.
The organization’s lack of transparency stands in contrast to the public debate surrounding these changes.
Flograppling has also been virtually silent on the topic.
Whether the women’s absolute division will return for future championships remains unclear. For now, the 2026 event will proceed without it, marking the first time in recent memory that female competitors will be unable to test themselves in open weight competition at ADCC’s signature event.
