At least four reigning ADCC World Champions will not be defending their titles in Kraków, and that number keeps climbing. ADCC Worlds 2026: Key Withdrawals Shake Up Brackets This Week has become the defining story of the lead-up to the September 12-13 event, as a cascade of high-profile exits reshapes every prediction made earlier this year.
Key Takeaways
- 🏆 Four reigning champions, Diogo Reis, Mica Galvão, Giancarlo Bodoni, and Adele Fornarino, have been removed from the 2026 ADCC roster.
- ⚖️ Izaak Michell was quietly dropped from the -77 kg division due to legal issues involving multiple arrest warrants.
- 💸 Craig Jones withdrew a pledged $48,000 pay-equalization contribution after the Michell arrest warrant story broke.
- 🥋 UFC BJJ is actively pulling top talent away from ADCC, with Fornarino’s departure being the most prominent example.
- 📅 The official bracket reveal is set for September 11, 2026, one day before competition, meaning further changes are still possible.
How the Champion Exodus Unfolded
When ADCC sent out its first round of invites in February 2026, the plan looked straightforward: all reigning champions would return to defend their gold. That plan has since fallen apart. [1][8]
The exits span multiple divisions and involve very different circumstances. Some champions chose competing opportunities. Others were removed by the organization itself. The cumulative effect is a 2026 field that looks dramatically different from what was announced just months ago.
Here is a quick breakdown of the confirmed departures:
| Athlete | Division | Reason for Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis | Men’s -66 kg | Withdrawn from roster |
| Mica Galvão | Men’s -77 kg | Withdrawn from roster |
| Giancarlo Bodoni | Men’s -88 kg | Withdrawn from roster |
| Adele Fornarino | Women’s -55 kg | Signed with UFC BJJ |
| Izaak Michell | Men’s -77 kg | Legal issues / arrest warrants |
| Ffion Davies | Women’s -60 kg | Not on competitor list |
| Beatriz Mesquita | Women’s absolute | Not on competitor list |
[1][3][4]
Fornarino Chooses UFC BJJ Over ADCC Title Defense
Adele Fornarino’s exit carries the most strategic weight. The reigning double ADCC champion and 2024 women’s -55 kg gold medalist accepted a spot in UFC BJJ’s upcoming flyweight tournament, effectively choosing the rival promotion over defending her title. [2][9]
“UFC BJJ is directly pulling top champions away from ADCC, and Fornarino’s departure is the clearest signal yet that promotion competition is reshaping elite no-gi grappling.”
Her replacement in the -55 kg bracket is trials runner-up Valerie (Wong) Hamilton, confirmed in updated rosters published in late July and August 2026. [6][7] For Hamilton, this is a career-defining opportunity that would not have existed without the vacancy.
Michell Removed After Legal Controversy
The removal of Australian standout Izaak Michell from the men’s -77 kg division was handled quietly but became public knowledge fast. Reports of multiple arrest warrants surfaced, and Flograppling’s competitor list was updated in June to reflect his absence. [5][10]
The fallout extended beyond the bracket. In March 2026, Craig Jones publicly withdrew a pledged $48,000 intended to equalize pay between men and women at ADCC 2026, citing his refusal to support an event featuring a competitor subject to two separate arrest warrants. [5][10] That decision drew widespread attention to ADCC’s roster vetting process and raised questions about how future invitations are handled.
Michell’s slot in the -77 kg division has since been filled by British grappler Taylor Pearman, per updated rosters from late July and August 2026. [6][7]
ADCC Worlds 2026: Key Withdrawals Shake Up Brackets, What It Means for Competitors
The departures are not just a PR headache for ADCC. They fundamentally change the competitive landscape in at least four weight classes.
Divisions Now Considered “Wide Open”
Expert commentary following the roster changes consistently points to the same conclusion: the divisions most affected by withdrawals are now the most unpredictable on the card. [1][3][4][6][7]
Divisions with significantly shifted outlooks:
- 🔵 Men’s -66 kg, Reis’s absence removes the defending champion entirely. Trials qualifiers and invitees now have a legitimate path to gold.
- 🔵 Men’s -77 kg, Both Galvão and Michell are gone. Taylor Pearman enters as a late replacement with far less pressure than the departed favorites.
- 🔵 Men’s -88 kg, Bodoni’s withdrawal opens the division to athletes who might have faced an uphill battle against the reigning champ.
- 🔵 Women’s -55 kg, Fornarino’s move to UFC BJJ hands Valerie Hamilton and other competitors a dramatically improved title shot.
For trials winners and late invitees, this is an unprecedented opportunity. In prior years, dominant defending champions were widely expected to repeat. That expectation is gone in these four divisions.
Star Power Losses Go Beyond Champions
The champion exits are the headline, but the broader loss of star power is just as significant. Additional notable absences include:
- Ffion Davies (2022 women’s -60 kg champion), not on the 2026 competitor list [4]
- Beatriz Mesquita (2024 women’s absolute champion), absent from the roster [4]
- The Ruotolo brothers, not currently listed [3][9]
- Nick Rodriguez, absent from the current lineup [3][9]
- West Coast Trials winner Elder Cruz, removed from the card [3][9]
- All five reigning UFC BJJ champions, none appear on the current roster [9]
This is a significant thinning of the returning-champion presence, particularly in the women’s divisions.
Who Is Still Competing
Despite the withdrawals, the structural integrity of the event remains intact. Updated fight-card lists from July, August 2026 confirm that all six men’s divisions remain capped at 16 competitors and all three women’s divisions at 8. [1][8]
Champions still confirmed to compete include:
- ✅ Kaynan Duarte, Men’s -99 kg
- ✅ Felipe “Preguiça” Pena, Men’s +99 kg
- ✅ Ana Carolina Vieira, Women’s -65 kg
- ✅ Rafaela Guedes, Women’s +65 kg
[1][8][12][14]
These returning champions give the event legitimate marquee value, even as other divisions enter uncharted territory.
The UFC BJJ Factor
The Fornarino situation is not an isolated incident, it is part of a broader competitive dynamic. Coverage of ADCC’s evolving roster consistently highlights that UFC BJJ is actively recruiting top grappling talent, and the 2026 cycle has made that competition visible. [2][9]
Analysts argue that professional no-gi grappling is entering a period of promotion rivalry that could further fragment elite talent across events. If UFC BJJ continues to offer lucrative tournament spots to ADCC-caliber athletes, future championship rosters may face similar attrition. [2][9]
Brackets Still Being Finalized Ahead of Kraków
The official bracket reveal show for the 2026 ADCC World Championships is scheduled for September 11, 2026, just one day before competition begins in Kraków. [11][15] That tight timeline means additional late adjustments remain possible.
Given the ongoing roster scrutiny and the pattern of replacement invites seen throughout June, July, and August 2026, fans and analysts should treat the current lineup as provisional until the official reveal confirms final brackets. [6][7]
The country-by-country composition of the field has already shifted noticeably. Michell’s removal in favor of Taylor Pearman changed national representation in the -77 kg division, and Fornarino’s replacement by Valerie Hamilton altered the -55 kg landscape, increasing the share of trials qualifiers and newer invitees across both divisions. [7]
Conclusion
ADCC Worlds 2026: Key Withdrawals Shake Up Brackets This Week is not just a news story, it is a structural shift in how the 2026 World Championships will be remembered. Four defending champions are gone. Additional marquee names are absent. UFC BJJ is pulling talent away from the sport’s most prestigious no-gi event.
Actionable next steps for fans and followers:
- 📺 Watch the bracket reveal on September 11, 2026, this is when final matchups become official and last-minute changes will be confirmed.
- 🔍 Reassess predictions in -66 kg, -77 kg, -88 kg, and women’s -55 kg, these divisions are genuinely open, and trials qualifiers deserve serious consideration.
- 📲 Follow updated roster lists on Flograppling and BJJ news outlets, changes have been happening through August, and more could follow.
- 🎯 Watch Valerie Hamilton and Taylor Pearman closely, both enter as replacements but with legitimate paths to the podium in wide-open brackets.
The chaos in the brackets may actually produce the most competitive ADCC World Championships in years. With no dominant favorite in several key divisions, Kraków 2026 could deliver some of the biggest upsets in the event’s history.
References
[1] Adcc 2026 Suffers Serious Setback Mica Galvao Giancarlo Bodoni Are Out – https://bjjdoc.com/2026/06/30/adcc-2026-suffers-serious-setback-mica-galvao-giancarlo-bodoni-are-out/
[2] Adcc 2026 Fornarino Ufc Bjj Michell Removed – https://boxingnews.com/news/adcc-2026-fornarino-ufc-bjj-michell-removed
[3] Adcc 2026 Roster Changes Wanted Suspect – https://boxingnews.com/news/adcc-2026-roster-changes-wanted-suspect
[4] Adcc 2026 Announces Yet Another Champion Isnt Interested In Defending Title – https://bjjdoc.com/2026/07/13/adcc-2026-announces-yet-another-champion-isnt-interested-in-defending-title/
[5] Craig Jones Reveals Izaak Michell Has A Second Warrant Out For His Arrest – https://bjjdoc.com/2026/03/28/craig-jones-reveals-izaak-michell-has-a-second-warrant-out-for-his-arrest/
[6] Adcc 2026 Fight Card List 145527121 – https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/adcc-2026-fight-card-list-145527121.html
[7] Whos Repping Who A Country By Country Breakdown Of Adcc 2026 – https://bjjtribes.com/whos-repping-who-a-country-by-country-breakdown-of-adcc-2026/
[8] Adcc 2026 Heads To Krakow First Champion Invites Go Out As The Road To Poland Heats Up – https://vfcomunica.com/en/adcc-2026-heads-to-krakow-first-champion-invites-go-out-as-the-road-to-poland-heats-up/
[9] Adcc 2026 Loses More Star Power To Ufc Bjj – https://www.jiujitsumag.com/adcc-2026-loses-more-star-power-to-ufc-bjj/
[10] Flograppling Quietly Removes Izaak Michelle From Adcc 2026 Competitors List – https://bjjdoc.com/2026/06/22/flograppling-quietly-removes-izaak-michelle-from-adcc-2026-competitors-list/
