What is the difference between ADCC and the Abu Dhabi Pro JiuJitsu Champioinships? We explain here…

By Christie Sullivan / August 20, 2011

This September will mark the beginning of the season for two of the most coveted BJJ and grappling tournaments in the world: the ADCC Championships on September 24 and 25, 2011, and the commencement of the Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu Jitsu Championship 2012 (WPJJC) Trials.

The two competitions are commonly confused for one another due to their common Middle Eastern origins in the United Arab Emirates. The confusion could lie between their regional roots, but is also due to their often similar competitor rosters.

To make matters more confusing, the Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu Jitsu Championship 2012 (WPJJC) has two nicknames: The Abu Dhabi Pro and World Pro Cup.

The major difference between the two is that ADCC includes all grappling styles, whereas the Abu Dhabi World Pro is Jiu-Jitsu rules focused. A second difference is that the ADCC is no-gi, where the Abu Dhabi World Pro holds both gi and no-gi divisions.

What they do have in common is their highly coveted nature and high caliber of roster talent. Each of the championships see some of the most recognizable players in the sport Jiu-Jitsu and grappling world and are known for having some of the largest pay purses. With prizes sometimes reaching the tens of thousands of dollars.

A handful of the world’s top Jiu-Jitsu competitors across all weight classes and belt ranks, just gathered this April in Abu Dhabi to compete at the 2011 Abu Dhabi World Pro JiuJitsu Championship. Rodolfo Vieira, Claudio Calasans, Augusto Mendes, Gabi Garcia and Luanna Alzuiguir are a few notable winners from earlier this year.

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Now the sharpest echelon of BJJ competitors throughout the world can eagerly set their eyes on a chance to qualify for next year’s 2012 Abu Dhabi World Pro finals. The trials will begin September 2011 and carry through March 2012 at various cities worldwide. (See trials schedule below)

Separate from the Abu Dhabi World Pro, The ADCC World Submission Fighting Championships, was created in 1998 as a way for competitors of different grappling arts to compete with a neutral set of rules. The main event takes place every two years in different cities throughout the world, with the trials conducted in the off years. The latest event was held in Barcelona, Spain in 2009.

The 2011 ADCC Championships will take place in Nottingham, England September 24^th and 25^th. The roster of competitors, thus far, can be found at the end of the article or at the ADCC Facebook Page.

To see who came out on top at last year’s Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu Jitsu Championships 2011, click here. And for the ADCC 2009 winner’s list, click here.

Trial Dates 2011/2012 – Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu Jitsu Championships 2012

SEPTEMBER

Stockholm, Sweden

September 10-11, 2011

Shanghai, China

September 10-11, 2011

Natal, Brazil

September 17-18, 2011

Buenos Aires, Argentina

September 24-25, 2011

OCTOBER

Moscow, Russia

October 1-2, 2011

Tokyo, Japan

October 8-9, 2011

Bucheon, South Korea

October 15-16, 2011

San Diego, USA

October 15-16, 2011

Warsaw, Poland

October 22-23, 2011

Kuala Lampur, Malaysia

October 29-30, 2011

NOVEMBER

New York, USA

November 5-6, 2011

Auchland, New Zealand

November 12-13, 2011

Manaus, Brazil

November 19-20, 2011

Houston, USA

November 26-27, 2011

DECEMBER

Paris, France

December 3-4, 2011

Kabat, Morocco

December 10-11, 2011

Amman, Jordan

December 17-18, 2011

Mexico, Mexico

December 17-18, 2011

JANUARY

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

January 21-22, 2012

FEBRUARY

Cape Town, South Africa

February 4-5, 2012

Bucharest, Romania

February 11-12, 2012

Sydney, Australia

February 18-19, 2012

Lisbon, Portugal

February 18-19, 2012

Montreal, Canada

February 25-26, 2012

MARCH

London, United Kingdom

March 3-4, 2012

Gramado, Brazil

March 11-12, 2012

APRIL

Abu Dhabi, UAE

April 13-15, 2012

ADCC 2011, September 24-25, Nottingham, England

Roster:

-65.9kg

1. Rafael Mendes. Brazil (2009 World Champion)

2. Greger Forsel. Finland (2010 European Champion)

3. Marko Ramos. USA (2010 North-American Champion)

4. David Marinakis. Australia (2011 South Pacific Champion)

5. Tetsu Hadairo. Japan (2011 Asian Champion)

6. Jeff Glover. USA (2011 North-American Champion)

7. Bruno Frazzato. Brazil (2011 South-American Champion)

8. Timo-Juhani Hirvikangas. Finland (2011 European Champion)

9. Ryan Hall. USA

10. Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles. Brazil

11. Tom Barlow. U.K

12. Barret Yoshida. USA

13. Rani Yahya. Brazil

14. Robson Moura. Brazil

15. Denny Prokopos. USA

16.

-76.9kg

1. Jorge Britto. Portugal (2010 European Champion)

2. Vagner Rocha. USA (2010 North-American Champion)

3. Davis Hart. Australia (2011 South Pacific Champion)

4. Gomi Takanori. Japan (2011 Asian Champion)

5. Enricco Coco. USA (2011 North-American Champion)

6. Murilo Santana. Brazil (2011 South-American Champion)

7. Daniel Strauss. U.K (2011 European Champion)

8. Leo Viera. Brazil

9. Gunnar ‘viking’ Nelson. Iceland

10. Marcelo Garcia. Brazil

11. Kron Gracie. Brazil

12. JT Torres. USA

13. Augusto Mendes. Brazil

-87.9kg

1. Andre Galvao. Brazil (2009 2nd World championships, Estima go to Superfight vs Jacare)

2. Marko Helen. Finland (2010 European Champion)

3. Rustam Chsiev. Russian (2010 North-American Champion)

4. Cameron Rowe. Australia (2011 South Pacific Champion)

5. Jeon Doo Kwang. Korea (2011 Asian Champion)

6. JJ Holmes. USA (2011 North-American Champion)

7. Claudio Calasans. Brazil (2011 South-American Champion)

8. Zbigniew Tyszka. Poland (2011 European Champion)

9. Rafael Lovato. USA

10. Rousimar Palhares. Brazil

11. Romulo Barral. Brazil

12. Sergio Moraes. Brazil

13. Paulo Filho. Brazil

14. Pablo Popovitch (2009 ADCC champion, 77kg)

15.

16.

-98.9kg

1. Xande Ribeiro. Brazil (2009 Champion)

2. Kari Peltola. Finland (2010 European Champion)

3. Joseph Lee Baize. USA (2010 North-American Champion)

4. Igor Praporshchikov. Australia (2011 South Pacific Champion)

5. Animal Anzai. Japan (2011 Asian Champion)

6. James Poupolo. USA (2011 North-American Champion)

7. Renato Ferreira. Brazil (2011 South-American Champion)

8. Kamil Uminski. Poland (2011 European Champion)

9. Roger Gracie. Brazil

10. Rudolfo Viera. Brazil

11. Dean Lister. USA

12. Robert Drysdale. USA

13. Joao Assis. Brazil

14. Radek Turek. Poland

15. Dan Schon. Mexico

16.

+99kg

1. Fabricio Werdum. Brazil (2009 Champion)

2. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen. Finland (2010 European Champion)

3. Mario Rinaldi. USA (2010 North-American Champion)

4. Mick Wilson. Australia (2011 South Pacific Champion)

5. Sekine Hideki. Japan (2011 Asian Champion)

6. Jared Rosholt. USA (2011 North-American Champion)

7. Gabriel Vella. Brazil (2011 South-American Champion)

8. Mateusz Juskowiak. Poland (2011 2nd European Championships)

9. Jeff Monson. USA

10. Roberto ”Cyborg” de Abreu. Brazil

11. Bruno Bastos. Brazil

12. Antonio ”bigfoot” Silva. Brazil

13. Jose Fereira Junior. Brazil

14. Gerardi Rinaldi. USA

15. Vinny Magalhaes. Brazil

16. Alexander Trans. Denmark

-60kg

1. Luanna Alzuguir. Brazil (2009 World Champion)

2. Lara Jayne Ng. Australia (2011 South Pacific Champion)

3. Hashi Takayo. Japan (2011 Asian Champion)

4. Cathilee Albert. USA (2011 North-American Champion)

5. Michele Nicolin. Brazil (2011 South-American Champion)

6. Sara Svensson. Sweden (2011 European Champion)

7. Kyra Gracie. Brazil

8. Rosi Sexton U.K.

+60kg

1. Hannette Staack. Brazil (2009 World Champion)

2. Fiona Muxlow. Australia (2011 South Pacific Champion)

3. Penny Thomas. South Africa (2011 North-American Champion)

4. Talita Nogueira. Brazil (2011 South-American Champion)

5. Devi Ahuja. Norway (2011 European Champion)

6. Gabrielle Garcia. Brazil

7. Christe Cyborg. Brazil

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