The absolute division at the ADCC World Championship is where the best of the best compete.

It’s the de-facto pound-for-pound competition, where grapplers regardless of weight compete against each other for the title of the best.

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All athletes have the opportunity to compete in the absolute division. The reigning champion from the 2024 ADCC World Championship is Kaynan Duarte, the current No. 9 ranked heavyweight in FloGrappling’s rankings.

As a possible new absolute division champion awaits, let’s take a look back at every absolute division winner in ADCC World Championship history.

ADCC World Championship Absolute Division Winners

• 1998 – Mario Sperry (Brazil)
• 1999 – Roberto Traven (Brazil)
• 2000 – Mark Kerr (United States)
• 2001 – Ricardo Arona (Brazil)
• 2003 – Dean Lister (United States)
• 2005 – Roger Gracie (Brazil)
• 2007 – Robert Drysdale (United States)
• 2009 – Braulio Estima (Brazil)
• 2011 – André Galvão (Brazil)
• 2013 – Roberto Abreu (Brazil)
• 2015 – Claudio Calasans (Brazil)
• 2017 – Felipe Pena (Brazil)
• 2019 – Gordon Ryan (United States)
• 2022 – Yuri Simões (Brazil)
• 2024 – Kaynan Duarte (Brazil)

FloGrappling's Pound-For-Pound No-Gi Rankings

1. Dante Leon — Pedigo Submission Fighting & Adamas Jiu-Jitsu (CAN) — Previous: 5
2. Diogo Reis — Agora Jiu-Jitsu (BRA) — Previous: 2
3. Diego Pato — Art of Jiu-Jitsu (BRA) — Previous: 3
4. Mica Galvao — Mika Jiu-Jitsu (BRA) — Previous: 1
5. Tye Ruotolo — Roots of Jiu-Jitsu (USA) — Previous: 4
6. Dorian Olivarez — Team Olivarez & Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu (USA) — Previous: 6
7. Mikey Musumeci — Cobrinha BJJ (USA) — Previous: 8
8. Andrew Tackett — Syndicate MMA (USA) — Previous: 10
9. Rafael Lovato Jr. — Six Blades Jiu-Jitsu (USA) — Previous: 13
10. Deandre Corbe — Standard Jiu-Jitsu (CAN) — Previous: 11
11. Fabricio Andrey — Alliance (BRA) — Previous: 9
12. Roberto Jimenez — Unity Jiu-Jitsu (ECU) — Previous: 12
13. Luke Griffith — Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu (RSA) — Previous: 16
14. Levi Jones-Leary — Absolute MMA (AUS) — Previous: 7
15. Giancarlo Bodoni — Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu (USA) — Previous: 14
16. Cole Abate — Art of Jiu-Jitsu (USA) — Previous: 18
17. Felipe Pena — Gracie Barra (BRA) — Previous: 17
18. Vagner Rocha — Vagner Rocha Martial Arts (BRA) — Previous: 20
19. Jozef Chen — Nomadic Grappling (RSA) — Previous: NR
20. Nick Rodriguez — Simple Man Martial Arts (USA) — Previous: 15

Weight Classes At 2026 ADCC World Championship

Men's Professional

• -65.9kg
• -76.9kg
• -87.9kg
• -98.9kg
• +99kg
• Absolute

Women's Professional 

• 55kg
• -65kg
• +65kg

When Is The 2026 ADCC World Championship?

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