Gabi Pessanha Steps In for Rafaela Guedes at ADCC 2026

The ADCC Worlds 2026 has just experienced one of its biggest pre-event shake-ups in recent memory. With the unexpected withdrawal of defending +65 kg champion Rafaela Guedes, the grappling world held its breath, until FloGrappling confirmed that Gabi Pessanha steps in for Rafaela Guedes at ADCC Worlds 2026, bringing a 12-time IBJJF world championship résumé into one of submission grappling’s most prestigious arenas [1][3]. The event takes place 12-13 September 2026 at Tauron Arena in Kraków, Poland, and the division just got a whole lot more compelling.

Key Takeaways

🏆 Rafaela Guedes, the defending ADCC +65 kg champion, has officially withdrawn from ADCC Worlds 2026 [3][5].
🇧🇷 Gabi Pessanha, a 12-time IBJJF world champion affiliated with InFight Jiu-Jitsu, has been confirmed as her replacement in the women’s +65 kg division [1][2].

🎯 Pessanha is chasing a rare “Super Grand Slam”, adding ADCC gold to her already complete gi championship résumé [1].
📅 ADCC Worlds 2026 runs 12-13 September at Tauron Arena, Kraków, Poland [1][2].
⚡ The +65 kg bracket now features a dramatically altered competitive landscape, with Pessanha immediately viewed as a title contender [3][5].

The Withdrawal That Changed Everything: Rafaela Guedes Steps Aside

Rafaela Guedes entered 2026 as the automatic invite for the +65 kg division, having claimed gold at ADCC 2024 [8]. Her defending-champion status made her the centerpiece of the bracket, the athlete every contender was measured against. That changed dramatically in late August 2026.

Around 20-21 August 2026, ADCC updated its official competitor list, removing Guedes from the roster [5]. The Yahoo Sports fight-card overview confirmed that the reigning champion was no longer listed, placing her alongside other notable withdrawals, including Jacob “Jay Rod” Rodriguez, who stepped away to compete at UFC BJJ 11 [5]. These back-to-back exits signaled that ADCC 2026 was undergoing multiple high-profile lineup changes just weeks before the opening bell [5].

FloGrappling’s “Grappling Bulletin,” published on 24 August 2026, described the situation bluntly as a “big shakeup” affecting the −66 kg, −88 kg, and +65 kg divisions simultaneously [3]. The bulletin specifically called Pessanha’s entry into the +65 kg field a “huge development for that division”, language that underscores just how significant the swap is perceived to be within the grappling community [3].

“Returning +65 kg champion Rafaela Guedes has dropped out and 12-time IBJJF champion Gabi Pessanha has entered the +65 kg field, a huge development for that division.”, FloGrappling Grappling Bulletin [3]

Gabi Pessanha Steps In for Rafaela Guedes at ADCC Worlds 2026: Who Is She?

Gabi Pessanha is not a newcomer to elite competition, she is, by almost any measure, the most decorated active gi competitor in women’s heavyweight grappling. Her 12 IBJJF world championship titles place her among the sport’s all-time greats [1][2]. Representing InFight Jiu-Jitsu and competing for Brazil, Pessanha has built her reputation on a relentless, pressure-heavy style that combines powerful takedowns with suffocating top control [1][5].

What Makes Her Style Dangerous at ADCC

ADCC rules reward submission attempts and takedowns, a ruleset that aligns well with Pessanha’s strengths:

Attribute	Why It Matters at ADCC
Pressure Passing	Exhausts opponents; creates submission openings
Takedown Offense	Scores points early; dictates pace
Top Control	Limits opponent’s escape and counter-attack options
Experience vs. Elite Heavies	Battle-tested against the world’s best

The key question analysts are asking: how does her gi-dominant game translate to the no-gi environment of ADCC? Rankings and preview content from earlier in 2026 already listed Pessanha among the top-rated female grapplers in ADCC-relevant weight ranges, suggesting her skills carry over effectively [1][5]. Her pressure-based approach is widely considered format-agnostic, it works with or without a gi.

The Super Grand Slam: Pessanha’s Historic Ambition

What elevates this story beyond a simple roster swap is the narrative stakes. Pessanha is not competing at ADCC 2026 merely to test herself in no-gi competition. According to FloGrappling’s exclusive, she is pursuing a “Super Grand Slam”, a term used to describe winning every major grappling title available, including ADCC gold, to complement her already complete gi résumé [1].

No female competitor has completed this achievement in the modern era of the sport. If Pessanha wins in Kraków, she would stand alone at the summit of competitive grappling history. That context transforms every match she competes in from a bracket fight into a chapter of a potential legacy-defining run.

Brazilian newspaper O Dia confirmed her entry on 21 August 2026, calling her “oficialmente confirmada” (officially confirmed) and noting she would be one of the main attractions at the Tauron Arena event [2]. By 28 August 2026, FloGrappling’s updated official invite list also reflected her inclusion as a confirmed Brazilian representative [4].

How the +65 kg Bracket Looks Now

With Gabi Pessanha steps in for Rafaela Guedes at ADCC Worlds 2026 now official, the division’s competitive map has shifted. Here is a snapshot of the key names in the bracket:

🟢 Gabi Pessanha (Brazil), 12-time IBJJF champion; Super Grand Slam contender [1][4]
🟡 Gabi Garcia (Brazil), Multi-time ADCC champion; always a threat at heavyweight

🔵 Yara Soares (Brazil), Listed on the official ADCC 2026 competitors page [10]
🔵 Anabel Lopez, Also confirmed on the official competitors page [10]
⚪ Helena Crevar, Emerging talent cited by analysts as a potential dark horse [3]

Analysts who had previously modeled Guedes as one of the statistical favorites in the bracket are now recalibrating [3][5][11]. While detailed updated ELO-based rankings for Pessanha’s specific bracket position have not yet been published, the consensus expectation among commentators is that she enters as an immediate contender, possibly the favorite, given her dominance in gi competition and her physical attributes at heavyweight [3][5].

Potential Marquee Matchups to Watch 🔥

Pessanha vs. Garcia: A clash of Brazilian heavyweight legends, two athletes who have defined the division across different eras.
Pessanha vs. Crevar: Youth vs. experience; a stylistic test of Pessanha’s no-gi adaptability.

Pessanha vs. Soares: A potential all-Brazilian final that would generate enormous buzz back home.

What to Watch For on September 12-13

A few storylines will define how this division plays out at Tauron Arena:

Pessanha’s no-gi adaptation, Can her gi-built game transfer seamlessly? Early analyst consensus says yes, but ADCC will be the definitive test.

The Super Grand Slam chase, Every win brings her closer to history; every loss resets the narrative.
Remaining roster updates, As of late August 2026, the official ADCC website still showed several “TBD” slots in the +65 kg division [10]. Additional changes before September 12 remain possible.
The Guedes factor, Her absence removes the defending champion storyline but opens the door for a new name to claim the title.

Conclusion

The decision to confirm Gabi Pessanha as the replacement for Rafaela Guedes is far more than a logistical fix, it is a narrative upgrade for one of grappling’s most watched divisions. A 12-time IBJJF world champion chasing a Super Grand Slam, competing in a stacked bracket at a sold-out arena in Kraków: this is the kind of storyline that defines an era.

Actionable next steps for fans and followers:

✅ Follow FloGrappling for the latest official roster updates ahead of September 12 [3][4].
✅ Check the ADCC 2026 official website (adcc2026.com) as the competitors page is expected to update closer to the event [10].

✅ Watch Pessanha’s recent competition footage to understand her pressure-passing style before the event.
✅ Mark your calendar: Tauron Arena, Kraków, Poland, 12-13 September 2026.

The +65 kg division at ADCC Worlds 2026 just became unmissable. 🏆