Creation of Professional Leagues

The rise of professional BJJ leagues marked a turning point in the sport’s evolution. While traditional tournaments like the IBJJF Worlds were prestigious, they offered little to no financial reward for athletes. Leagues such as ACBJJ (Absolute Championship Berkut Jiu-Jitsu), Polaris in the UK, and FloGrappling’s “Who’s Number One” (WNO) emerged to fill this gap, offering prize money, contracts, and global streaming audiences.

These organizations created new opportunities for athletes to make a living from BJJ while also experimenting with different rulesets and event formats. Superfight cards, submission-only events, and high-production value broadcasts helped transform BJJ into a spectator-friendly sport. Professional leagues continue to shape the careers of athletes and the strategies seen at the highest levels of competition.