Jiu-Jitsu's 2026: Pans, Worlds and ADCC Kraków, the Results That Mattered
Double gold in Long Beach, Sarah Galvão's Pans double and a historic absolute in Poland. The year in grappling, in five minutes.
MAN TARGET EditorsOctober 30, 2026 4 min read
Three events define the jiu-jitsu calendar for most fans: the IBJJF Pan Championship in Florida, the IBJJF World Championship in California, and, every two years, the ADCC World Championship of submission grappling. In 2026 all three delivered. Here are the black-belt results worth knowing. Black-belt divisions are fought by weight, plus an open class, the absolute, where weight limits disappear.
Pans, Kissimmee (March)
- Sarah Galvão won lightweight and the open class, beating Gabi Pessanha 6-0 in the absolute final on 29 March.
- Sergio 'Pichilinga' Rios returned to the male open class and won it.
- Tainan Dalpra took middleweight, his fifth Pan title; Cole Abate won featherweight; Lillian Marchand won her first black-belt Pan title at middleweight.
Worlds, Long Beach (28 to 31 May)
- Erich Munis of Soldiers won the male open class on points against Marcus 'Scooby' Ribeiro, after losing the super-heavyweight final to teammate Vinicius Liberati.
- Gabi Pessanha of Infight took double gold, at super-heavyweight and in the open class, beating Tayane Porfirio in both finals.
- Art of Jiu Jitsu (AOJ) athletes won several titles, including Diego Pato, Cole Abate and Tainan Dalpra among the men and Mayssa Bastos and Ashlee Funegra among the women.
- Jansen Gomes of CheckMat won medium-heavyweight with a lapel choke; Seif-Eddine Houmine won ultra-heavyweight.
At black belt, the margins are tiny: a single advantage or two points can separate a world champion from a silver medal.
ADCC World Championship, Kraków (12 to 13 September)
The submission-grappling world championship, held every two years, came to the Tauron Arena in Kraków, the first ADCC in Europe since 2017. It is fought without the gi, and it rewards wrestling, leg locks and pace as much as classic jiu-jitsu.
- Felipe Pena won the absolute for a second time, submitting Roosevelt Sousa with a rear-naked choke in the final.
- Luke Griffith won -99 kg, choking out defending champion Kaynan Duarte in the final.
- Pawel Jaworski won -88 kg against Marlon Tajik, to the delight of the home crowd; Helena Crevar won women's +65 kg by rear-naked choke against Anabel Lopez.
- Yuri Simões beat Kaynan Duarte in the superfight, his fourth ADCC title.
What it means for the rest of us
Watch the finals with an eye for the basics: posture, grips and patience decide most black-belt matches long before a submission does. Every event mentioned here is streamed, and watching a few finals is one of the best free lessons in the sport.
Key takeaways
- Gabi Pessanha won super-heavyweight and open class gold at the 2026 IBJJF Worlds.
- Erich Munis won the male open class at Worlds, beating Marcus 'Scooby' Ribeiro on points.
- Felipe Pena won the ADCC absolute in Kraków for a second time.
- Luke Griffith beat defending champion Kaynan Duarte in the ADCC -99 kg final.
FAQ
Who won the open class at the 2026 IBJJF Worlds?
Erich Munis won the male open class and Gabi Pessanha won the female open class.
Where was ADCC 2026 held?
At the Tauron Arena in Kraków, Poland, on 12 and 13 September 2026.
Who won the ADCC 2026 absolute?
Felipe Pena, who submitted Roosevelt Sousa in the final to win the absolute for a second time.
See Man Target events: the tournaments and seminars worth travelling for.
ExploreShare this story
The Sunday Brief.
Fight results, training ideas and the culture of the mat, every week. Join free.
Keep reading
The BJJ Gear Guide: Gis, Rashguards, Hygiene and Staying Injury-Free
Shoyoroll or Fuji, mouthguard or ear guards, and the hygiene rules your training partners will thank you for.
MAN TARGET Editors · 4 min read
Jiu-Jitsu for the Busy Man: Why It Works and How to Start
One hour on the mat, and the inbox disappears. Belts, gi or no-gi, and how to find the right academy without wasting a month.
MAN TARGET Editors · 4 min read
Martial Arts for Adults: BJJ, Muay Thai or Judo, Which One Fits You?
It's never too late to step on the mats. Here's how to choose the discipline that matches your body, goals and schedule.
MAN TARGET Editors · 3 min read