Submission Grappling (ONE Championship)·Combat Sports

ONE Championship

🏛️Official — ONE Championship

ONE Championship Submission Grappling Rules· 2026 ONE Championship Submission Grappling Rules — pro-grappling super-fight format featuring 10-15 min matches, all submissions legal, judge-decision allowedOpen source

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Indoor

Environment

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Section 1: Introduction

ONE Championship's Submission Grappling division is a professional grappling super-fight format launched in 2021 to provide elite BJJ + grappling competitors with sustained pay scale, regular event coverage, and a globally televised platform alongside ONE's MMA + Muay Thai + Kickboxing divisions. ONE Submission Grappling uses long-format matches (10-15 minutes), all submissions legal, with judge-decision permitted if no submission occurs. Notable competitors: Mikey Musumeci, Shinya Aoki, Garry Tonon. ONE's format complements the ADCC biennial championship + UWW Grappling federated competition by establishing a sustained professional circuit. See sibling ADCC Rules and UWW Grappling Rules entries for related organizations.

Section 4: Players & Officials

Two competitors per match (super-fight or title-fight format)

Weight classes follow ONE's MMA-aligned schedule: Atomweight, Strawweight, Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight

Officials: 1 mat referee + 3 judges + medical observer + commission inspector

Section 5: Rules of Play

Match Length

Super fight: 10 minutes (single period)

Title fight: 12 minutes (single period)

If tied: judge decision (no overtime golden-score)

Permitted Submissions

All joint locks (arms + legs)

All chokes

Heel hooks fully legal at all weight classes (atomic-grappling-style permissive ruleset)

Twisters + neck cranks permitted

Pulling Guard

Pulling guard is permitted (not penalized as in ADCC); ONE values active offense from any position

Stalling is penalized regardless of position

Win Conditions

Submission via tap = total victory

Time expiration → judge decision based on aggression, dominance, submission attempts, control time

Section 8: Safety Considerations

All-submissions-legal format including heel hooks places ONE's grappling division at the higher-risk end of competitive grappling. Mandatory comprehensive pre-event medical screening (cardiac, neurological, ophthalmological). On-site team physician + EMT + ambulance + AED. Concussion protocol per ONE medical guidelines. Slamming prohibited. Skin-infection screening before mat use. ONE's hydration testing + day-of-fight weight policy applies to grappling as well as MMA — IV-fluid use prohibited. Judges have stoppage-recommendation authority for safety even before referee acts.

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Full Rulebook(11 sections)

Overview

How to win

The game

Section 1: Introduction

Section 2: Equipment

Section 3: Playing Area

Section 4: Players & Officials

Section 5: Rules of Play

Match Length

Permitted Submissions

Pulling Guard

Win Conditions

Section 6: Scoring

Section 7: Violations & Penalties

Section 8: Safety Considerations

Playing the ball

Fouls & penalties

Equipment

Version History(1)

Variations of Submission Grappling(1)

More from ONE Championship(1)

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