The 2026 ADCC World Championship is from Sept. 12-13, and before the top submission artists hit the mats in Poland, now's a good time to take a look back at ADCC history.

Sao Paulo, Brazil hosted the games in 2023 that featured ADCC Hall Of Famers and BJJ greats. The tournament also featured shocking results and household names having their first taste of defeat.

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Let's take a look at the results and notable storylines from the 2003 ADCC World Championship. Here's five facts to know about the games from 23 years ago.

2003 ADCC World Championship Results

66 kg

• Gold: Leo Vieira (BRA)
• Silver: Baret Yoshida (USA)
• Bronze: Royler Gracie (BRA)

77 kg

• Gold: Marcelo Garcia (BRA)
• Silver: Otto Olson (USA)
• Bronze: Vitor Ribeiro (BRA)

88 kg

• Gold: Saulo Ribeiro (BRA)
• Silver: Ronaldo Souza (BRA)
• Bronze: David Terrell (USA)

99 kg

• Gold: Jon Olav Einemo (NOR)
• Silver: Alexandre Ferreira (BRA)
• Bronze: Roger Gracie (BRA)

+99 kg

• Gold: Marcio Cruz (BRA)
• Silver: Fabricio Werdum (BRA)
• Bronze: Alex Negão (BRA)

Absolute

• Gold: Dean Lister (USA)
• Silver: Alexandre Ferreira (BRA)
• Bronze: Fabricio Werdum (BRA)

Superfight

• Ricardo Arona defeats Mark Kerr

When Were The 2003 ADCC World Championships?

The ADCC World Championships 2003 was held on May 17.  

Where Were The 2003 ADCC World Championships?

The ADCC World Championships 2005 was held at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Roger Gracie Lost For The First Time

Roger Gracie is largely considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest BJJ athletes in the sport’s history, but in a career filled with gold medals and first place finishes, the 2003 ADCC World Championships offered a bit of humility.

Gracie suffered his first career loss in the tournament, losing to Norwegian BJJ practitioner Jon Olav Einemo in the semifinals. Gracie went on to win a bronze medal at the games, while Einemo won his first and only gold medal at the ADCC World Championships.

The Brazilian legend went on a tear following his first career loss, winning 21 of his next 23 fights and accumulating a record of 27-3 before losing to Ronaldo Souza in 2005.

Mark Kerr Was Dethroned In The Superfight

Mark Kerr is an ADCC legend, being inducted into the ADCC Hall Of Fame in 2022. However, 2003 marked the end of his decorated run.

At the previous 2001 ADCC World Championship, Kerr defeated back-to-back superfight winner Mario Sperry.

In 2003, Kerr would face Brazilian black belt Ricardo Arona in the superfight, losing by a decision. That would be his final time competing at the ADCC World Championships.

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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