How the 2026 ADCC no-gi rankings shakeup can upgrade your BJJ

New ADCC champions just reshuffled Jits Magazine’s no-gi rankings, with fresh names at the top of multiple weight classes. Here is what that means for your own training, whether you roll in Las Vegas or just stream the highlights from home.

What changed in the 2026 no-gi rankings after ADCC, and why it matters

The 2026 ADCC World Championships in Kraków did not just hand out medals. It effectively redrew the map of elite no-gi grappling. Shortly after the finals wrapped, Jits Magazine updated its no-gi rankings and several new champions immediately landed at or near the top of their divisions. That kind of instant shakeup is a sign that the community views these ADCC results as more than a one-off tournament. It treats them as a snapshot of who currently sets the standard in the sport.

According to coverage of the ranking changes, champions like Luke Griffith in the men’s -99 kg division, Victor Hugo at +99 kg, and Helena Crevar in the women’s +65 kg category all secured number-one spots in their brackets. Another big story was Kennedy Maciel, who surged into the number-two featherweight position after earning his first ADCC title. For recreational grapplers or newer competitors training in places like Las Vegas, updates like this are a reminder that the game never stops evolving. The way top athletes win in Kraków quickly filters into the drills and positional sparring rounds that happen on mats all over the world.

Who are the new no-gi leaders and what do they actually do on the mat

The names that climbed in the rankings are not just champions on paper. Their styles point toward where modern no-gi is heading. Luke Griffith’s run in the -99 kg division, highlighted in the rankings update, came from a mix of strong positional control and clear finishing sequences once he reached dominant spots. He is part of a trend of heavier grapplers who move with a middleweight pace, which makes traditional “stall and squeeze” top games less viable at the highest level.

Victor Hugo reaching the top of the +99 kg rankings reinforces a similar message for ultra-heavy competitors. Size is not enough anymore, especially against opponents who understand modern leg entanglements and back exposure. Hugo’s success reflects a blend of precise guard work, intelligent wrestling entries, and a willingness to chase submissions rather than accept small point leads. On the women’s side, Helena Crevar’s new number-one ranking at +65 kg came after a historic ADCC performance where she submitted every opponent in her division, as covered by ONE Championship. That level of finishing percentage shows how dangerous a well-rounded submission hunter can be in modern no-gi.

• They combine traditional pressure passing with modern leg entanglement awareness.
• They treat wrestling as a scoring tool and a way to force scrambles, not just a takedown contest.
• They emphasize back exposure and back control as the safest high-percentage finishing route.
• They attack submissions in combinations instead of relying on a single "A-game" move.

What do ADCC 2026 technical trends tell you about training priorities

When you look at the athletes who climbed the rankings after ADCC 2026, there are a few shared patterns worth copying in day-to-day training. The first is the importance of solid wrestling, even if you consider yourself a guard player. The updated rankings highlighted champions across weight classes who used takedowns or snap-downs to dictate where the match started. That does not mean pulling guard is dead. It only means that if you treat wrestling as an optional extra, you are limiting your growth, especially in no-gi.

Another clear theme is the centrality of the back. Crevar’s all-submission run at +65 kg, documented in event coverage, leaned heavily on transitions that exposed the back and then converted to chokes. Across divisions, new and established champions looked most dangerous once they latched onto the back with hooks or body triangles. This reflects a long-running trend at ADCC-level events: leg locks are still important, but the back remains the highest percentage finishing position. For anyone training in the Las Vegas scene, drilling back takes and back retention with the same intensity you give guard passing may be the simplest way to make your rounds more effective.

Finally, you can see that the best competitors prepared for long, grueling matches in a rule set that rewards positional dominance and clean scores. Conditioning is not just about running or lifting. It shows up in how calmly a competitor can re-guard, re-shoot, or re-attack after a scramble. When you plan your training week, that suggests a balance of technical rounds, focused positional sparring, and a few conditioning sessions tailored to explosive scrambles rather than just steady-state cardio.

• Train basic wrestling entries every week, even if you prefer guard.
• Prioritize back attack systems over collecting more random submissions.
• Build leg lock defense so you can safely use leg entries as back exposure tools.
• Structure conditioning around short, intense scrambles instead of only long jogs.

How should everyday grapplers in Las Vegas react to global rankings shifts

It is easy to look at ADCC champions and no-gi rankings and think those stories only apply to full-time professionals who travel the world. In reality, they can function as a blueprint for hobbyists, competitors, and MMA cross-trainers who roll a few nights a week in Las Vegas. Start by noticing what successful games have in common, then ask how to scale those patterns down to your level. For example, you might not be drilling eight hours a day, but you can still decide that for the next eight weeks, your main project is learning to wrestle up from guard instead of accepting bottom position.

Another productive way to react is to treat major ranking updates as checkpoints to reassess your own skill set. When you see that an athlete like Kennedy Maciel jumped to second at featherweight after earning his first ADCC title, you can dig into how he imposes his style: constant grip fighting, off-balancing from guard, and sharp timing on back takes. Then you can ask your coaches which parts of that game match your body type and preferences. In a city like Las Vegas where there are multiple gyms and cross-training options, you can even use these trends to guide where you drop in for specific sessions, like a no-gi wrestling night or an advanced leg lock class.

What lessons does Helena Crevar’s historic ADCC run hold for your no-gi

Helena Crevar’s performance in Kraków was historic on multiple levels. She became the youngest female ADCC champion and the first woman to win all of her matches in a single ADCC tournament entirely by submission in the +65 kg division, according to ONE Championship’s recap. That is impressive from a record standpoint, but it is even more valuable when you look at what it says about training priorities. A perfect submission rate suggests that she built a complete system that leads from takedown or guard pull to control and then to multiple finishing options.

For your own no-gi, the main takeaway is to stop thinking in isolated techniques and start thinking in chains. Crevar’s success points to a game where each position flows into several predictable follow-ups. For example, if your opponent defends your front headlock, you transition to their back. If they fight the hooks, you switch to leg entanglements or change sides. That style can be practiced at any belt level. During open mats in Las Vegas, pick a small slice of her approach, like going from front headlock to back control, and drill it until you can hit it in live rounds. Over time, those chains can turn even short rounds into real submission opportunities instead of sloppy scrambles.

1. Ask your coach to add one dedicated wrestling-focused no-gi round per class so you get regular reps in entries, sprawls, and stand-ups.
2. Spend the next month prioritizing back takes and back retention in sparring, starting from turtle and seated guard, since that position remains the most reliable finishing hub.
3. Choose two or three ADCC 2026 matches from athletes who rose in the rankings and break them down with a notebook, focusing on grips, setups, and transitions you can copy.
4. During open mat in Las Vegas, run short positional rounds starting from common ADCC-style scenarios like front headlock, double underhooks, or single-leg finishes against the wall.
5. Improve your leg lock defense by drilling standard escapes from outside ashi and cross ashi so you can safely counterattack to the back when partners hunt your feet.
6. Structure one conditioning session each week around intervals that mimic ADCC scrambles, such as 20 to 30 second explosive efforts followed by brief rest.
7. Pick a single submission chain, such as rear naked choke to armbar to triangle, and commit to hunting only that chain for a full month of no-gi rounds.
8. If you are in the Las Vegas area, visit a reputable academy for a trial no-gi class and tell the instructor you want to build a training plan inspired by current ADCC trends.

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