(via: GrapplersPlanet.com) The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) and Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championships have become a source of confusion for some. Both are tournaments held worldwide, and both have “Abu Dhabi” in the title, but that’s where the similarities end.
Established in 1998, the ADCC is a No Gi submission fighting tournament. While the Gi is optional, most competitors opt not to wear one. Created by Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the son of then U.A.E. leader Sheik Zayed, the tournament pits all grappling styles together without favor. The ADCC follows its own unique set of tournament rules.
[social][/social][einset][/einset]Held every 2 years, the ADCC World Championships have been hosted in different countries. Fighters are invited to compete or qualify by winning one of the many trials held worldwide. This year the championships are slated for England in September.
“When you hear Joe Rogan speak about a fighter’s grappling level in the UFC, you will hear the words “ABU DHABI” and the ADCC is what he is referring to,” says the secretary for ADCC North America, Canadian ADCC representative and co-organizer for one of the U.S. Abu Dhabi World Pro trials, Riccardo Ammendolia. “Many of the top ADCC champions have now gone on to MMA stardom such as Renzo Gracie, Mark Kerr, Jeff Monson, Fabricio Werdum, Demian Maia, Ronaldo Jacare and Roger Gracie.”
The Abu Dhabi World Pro was strictly a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament until this year. Established in 2009, this year is the third annual tournament. The tournament was Gi only, but a new No Gi division has been added this year. Both Gi and No Gi divisions adhere to the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 
Federation (IBJJF) rules.
“The No Gi division of the World Pro has absolutely nothing to do with ADCC, but was added to give more opportunities for the athletes of Jiu Jitsu,” says Ammendolia.
Like the ADCC, the Abu Dhabi Pro trials are also held worldwide, however the championships are held every year in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Trials qualifiers win an expenses paid trip to compete in the Abu Dhabi finals. This year the Abu Dhabi World Pro No Gi championships are April 8th and 9th, followed by the Gi Championships, April 14thto 16th.
“Some of the top grapplers compete in both . But it is hard to be champion in both,” says Ammendolia. “Since the world pros inception in 2009, only Rafael Mendes was able to be a champion in both competitions.”
Addition by BJJ Legends:
The Abu Dhabi World Pro held their tournament this past Saturday/Sunday as trials for the their world championships in the U.A.E. Results of the event are posted here. Consequently, the ADCC NA trials are this coming Saturday for their World Championship in September in the UK.
The ADWP has been puttng money where the prize is, here are the prizes for their past San Diego event as listed on their site:
San Diego Trial Prizes:
US$8,100.00 total will be given to winners of the following categories:
$4,000.00 to 1st place Adult Male Gi Brown/Black Absolute division
$1,000.00 to 2nd place Adult Male Gi Brown/Black Absolute division
$500.00 to 1st place Masters Gi Purple/Brown/Black Absolute Light division
$500.00 to 1st place Masters Gi Purple/Brown/Black Absolute Heavy division
$250.00 to 2nd place Masters Gi Purple/Brown/Black Absolute Light division
$250.00 to 2nd place Masters Gi Purple/Brown/Black Absolute Heavy division
$200.00 to 1st place Adult Male No-Gi Advanced division under 143 lbs.
$200.00 to 1st place Adult Male No-Gi Advanced division under 163 lbs.
$200.00 to 1st place Adult Male No-Gi Advanced division under 183 lbs.
$200.00 to 1st place Adult Male No-Gi Advanced division under 202 lbs.
$200.00 to 1st place Adult Male No-Gi Advanced division over 202 lbs.
$200.00 to 1st place Adult Female No-Gi Advanced division under 140 lbs.
$200.00 to 1st place Adult Female No-Gi Advanced division over 140 lbs.
$100.00 to 1st place Adult Female No-Gi Intermediate division under 140 lbs.
$100.00 to 1st place Adult Female No-Gi Intermediate division over 140 lbs.
13 total Travel Packages will be given to 1st place winners of the following categories:
Adult Male Gi Brown/Black division (all weight categories)
Adult Male Gi White/Blue and Purple Absolute divisions (Light and Heavy)
Adult Female Gi White/Blue and Purple/Brown/Black Absolute divisions (Light and Heavy)
1 Air Ticket to the 1st place winner of the following category:
Adult Male No-Gi Advanced Absolute division
39 total Gis will be given to 1st place winners of the following categories:
Adult Male Gi White, Blue, and Purple divisions (all weight categories)
Adult Female Gi White/Blue and Purple/Brown/Black divisions (all weight categories)
Masters Gi White/Blue and Purple/Brown/Black divisions (all weight categories)
Masters Gi White/Blue Absolute divisions (Light and Heavy)
88 total Clothes Kits will be given to 1st place winners of the following categories:
All Adult Male and Female No-Gi divisions
All Senior Gi divisions
All Kids divisions (Gi and No-Gi)
All Teens divisions (Gi and No-Gi)
Regardless of the apparent competition, it’s good to see that there is enough room for two world class competitions besides the IBJJF competitions that are set to take center stage in the next few weeks.
Special thanks to Grappler’s Planet (GrapplersPlanet.com) for providing the source article, and Lisa Sabatini. Great work.
