Indonesia will host the official Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) event for the first time, the ADCC Indonesia opening up wider opportunities for national athletes to compete at the international level.
The organizer of the ADCC Indonesia Open , Fara, said the event is scheduled to take place at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Senayan Multipurpose Building, Jakarta, on September 27, 2026. According to him was chosen as the host because the development of the grappling community in Indonesia in recent years has shown rapid growth.
"The arrival of the ADCC is a long-awaited moment. We want young Indonesian athletes to no longer have to view the world stage from afar or travel abroad to compete in the ADCC," Fara said in an official statement receive.
He added that the Senayan area, as a national sports center, is considered worthy of being a stage for submission grappling to appear on a par with other major sports.
The event will use a no-gi format with the official, internationally recognized ADCC Ruleset. Competition is open to all age groups, from seven years old to professional, and will feature athletes from both Indonesia and abroad.
Indonesia's inclusion in the official ADCC calendar also strengthens Indonesia's position as one of the fastest-growing grappling markets in the Asian region.
Until now, Indonesian grappling athletes have had to compete in tournaments abroad to gain experience and exposure below the ADCC competition standards. With the arrival of an official tournament access to elite global competition has become even more open.
Indonesian grappling athlete and coach Verontino FG said many national athletes have great potential, but still have limited opportunities to compete in international events.
"There are so many activists and athletes in Indonesia who might not have the opportunity to participate in the ADCC competitions, which are usually held abroad," said Verontino, who is also the ADCC SEA Champion in the Absolute Professional division in Thailand.
According to him, the presence of ADCC in Indonesia can trigger the birth of a new generation of grappling athletes and increase attention to the sport.
ADCC was founded in 1998 by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates and is now known as the most prestigious submission grappling organization in the world.
