RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is set to make history as it is to host its first official Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) event through the ADCC Indonesia Open Jakarta 2026, offering national athletes a rare chance to compete on the world stage without leaving home.

The tournament is scheduled for September 27, 2026, at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Senayan Multipurpose Hall in Jakarta. Organizers chose the capital city in recognition of the rapid growth of the grappling community in Indonesia.

“The presence of ADCC in Jakarta is a moment we have long awaited. We want young Indonesian athletes to no longer view the world stage from afar or feel they must go abroad to compete in ADCC,” ADCC Indonesia Open Jakarta 2026 organizer, Fara, said in an official statement on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Fara added that Senayan, as the country’s sporting hub, is a fitting venue for submission grappling to stand alongside other major sports. The competition will use the official ADCC ruleset in a no-gi format, recognized internationally.

Categories will be open to participants from age seven through professional level, with athletes from both Indonesia and abroad expected to take part. Indonesia’s inclusion in the official ADCC calendar strengthens its position as one of the fastest-growing grappling markets in Asia.

Previously, Indonesian grapplers had to travel overseas to gain exposure under ADCC standards. With Jakarta now hosting, access to elite-level competition is significantly expanded.

Indonesian athlete and coach Verontino FG, who won the ADCC SEA Champion Absolute Professional division in Thailand, highlighted the importance of this milestone.

“So many enthusiasts and athletes in Indonesia may not have had the chance to compete in ADCC events usually held abroad,” he said, expressing confidence that ADCC’s presence in Indonesia will inspire a new generation of grapplers and elevate the sport’s profile nationally.

Founded in 1998 by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, ADCC has become the world’s most prestigious submission grappling organization.

Its competitions bring together practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, judo, sambo, and MMA under a unified submission fighting format. Legendary names such as Royler Gracie, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, and Gordon Ryan have all left their mark on ADCC history.

Athlete registration for the Jakarta event is open via Smoothcomp, with updates available through the official Instagram accounts of ADCC Indonesia and ADCC Official. ***