IBJJF, ADCC, and UFC BJJ reward different things. IBJJF counts points from the first second. ADCC hides the scoreboard for the first half, then takes points away for pulling guard. UFC BJJ has no points at all: judges score five-minute rounds on who came closest to finishing.
Below are the three professional rulesets side by side, then the local rules most of us actually compete under. Every number comes from each organization’s own rulebook, dated in the sources at the end.
The short version
IBJJF
Points from the first second. Advantages break ties.
- Match
- 10 min at black belt, 5 at white
- Points
- 2 takedown or sweep, 3 pass, 4 mount or back
- Heel hooks
- Adult brown and black belt, no-gi only
- Guard pull
- Allowed with a grip
- Uniform
- Gi and no-gi
ADCC Worlds
No points in the first half. Pulling guard costs a point.
- Match
- 10 min (finals 20), first half unscored, plus overtime
- Points
- 2 takedown or sweep (4 if clean), 3 pass or back, 2 mount
- Heel hooks
- Legal, and so is knee reaping
- Guard pull
- Minus a point once points are on
- Uniform
- No-gi
UFC BJJ
No points. Judges score each round, finishing attempts first.
- Match
- Three 5-minute rounds
- Points
- None. Each round scored 10-9, 10-8 or 10-7
- Heel hooks
- Not banned
- Guard pull
- Illegal unless it leads straight to action
- Uniform
- No-gi (grabbing clothing is illegal)
The biggest difference is how each one uses the clock:
- Points count
- No points
- Judged round
- Only if tied
Professional
IBJJF, black belt10 min
IBJJF, black belt: 10 minutes, all of it scored. No overtime.
ADCC World Championship, elimination10 min + 5 OT
ADCC World Championship, elimination: 5 minutes with no points, then 5 minutes with points, then 5 minutes of overtime if tied.
ADCC World Championship, final20 min + 2 × 10 OT
ADCC World Championship, final: 10 minutes with no points (negative points still count), then 10 minutes with points, then up to two 10-minute overtimes.
UFC BJJ3 × 5 min rounds
UFC BJJ: Three 5-minute rounds scored by judges, with 1 minute of rest between rounds. Title fights scored a draw add a 3-minute championship round after 2 minutes of rest.
Local
IBJJF Opens, blue belt6 min (white 5 to black 10)
IBJJF Opens, blue belt: 6 minutes, all of it scored. White belts get 5 minutes and black belts 10.
ADCC Opens, adult6 min + 3 OT
ADCC Opens, adult: 3 minutes with no points, then 3 minutes with points, then 3 minutes of overtime if tied.
NAGA, blue belt5 min + 2 OT
NAGA, blue belt: 5 minutes, all of it scored. The referee can add one 2-minute overtime if the match is still even.
Grappling Industries, adult5 min
Grappling Industries, adult: 5 minutes at every belt, all of it scored. No overtime.
Bars share one 40-minute scale. Dashed blocks only happen when the match is tied: overtime, or the UFC BJJ championship round (CR) in a title fight scored a draw.
IBJJF: points from the first second
You score a position by holding it for 3 seconds, and points stack as you move up. A pass straight into mount is worth 7.
- 2 points: takedown, sweep, knee on belly
- 3 points: guard pass
- 4 points: mount, back control with hooks
- Match length: 5 minutes at white belt, 6 at blue, 7 at purple, 8 at brown, 10 at black. Masters get 5 or 6, juveniles 5.
- Tied on points: most advantages wins, then fewest penalties, then the referee decides. There’s no overtime.
Advantages are near misses: a sweep that almost lands, a pass that doesn’t stabilize, a submission that nearly finishes. Penalties escalate. The second gives your opponent an advantage, the third gives them 2 points, and the fourth disqualifies you. Stalling earns penalties too.
IBJJF is the strictest about leg locks. Heel hooks and knee reaping are legal only for adult brown and black belts in no-gi, never for masters, and never in the gi. The legal techniques checker has the full grid by belt.
ADCC: no points until halftime
ADCC splits the clock. At the World Championship, an elimination match is 10 minutes: 5 with no points, then 5 with points, then 5 minutes of overtime if it’s tied. Finals and superfights are 20 minutes, scored in the second 10, with up to two 10-minute overtimes.
| Position | ADCC points |
|---|---|
| Takedown that lands in guard | 2 |
| Clean takedown, past the guard with their back on the mat | 4 |
| Sweep or reversal to guard | 2 |
| Clean sweep, ending past the guard | 4 |
| Knee on belly | 2 |
| Mount | 2 |
| Guard pass | 3 |
| Back mount, both hooks or a body triangle | 3 |
Points don’t stack: pass straight into mount and you get 3, not 5. And mount is worth less than a pass.
Negative points are what make ADCC feel different:
- Pull guard, or sit down from standing for 3 seconds, and you lose a point.
- Backing away to avoid engaging loses a point.
- Passivity gets two warnings, then a negative point every time.
- In elimination matches, negatives start when points do. In finals they count from the first second.
Almost every submission is legal, including heel hooks, knee reaping, can openers, and twisters. Neck cranks that trap both shoulders, like a full nelson, are banned. Slams are allowed only to escape a submission that’s already locked in.
UFC BJJ: judges, rounds, no points
UFC BJJ, the UFC’s grappling league since 2025, is built like an MMA fight: three five-minute rounds with a minute of rest between them. Title fights scored a draw get a three-minute championship round, judged on its own.
Three judges score every round on the 10-point must system, in this order of importance:
- Submission attempts that need real defense.
- Takedowns, passes, and sweeps that move toward a submission.
- Control of position and pace.
So a pass that threatens nothing ranks below a real armbar attempt from the bottom, and holding top position is the judges’ last consideration, not their first.
The rules ban strikes, grabbing clothing, slams except to escape a fully applied submission, and pulling guard without starting action. Heel hooks aren’t banned: Mikey Musumeci won his first UFC BJJ match with one. That’s why his match against Bryce Mitchell, with leg lock finishes ruled out by agreement, was so interesting.
Local rules: what you’ll compete under
Most of us never see an ADCC final. Here’s how the local events score:
| Position | IBJJF | ADCC | NAGA no-gi | NAGA gi | Grappling Industries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Takedown | 2 | 24 if clean | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Sweep | 2 | 24 if clean | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Knee on belly | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Guard pass | 3 | 3 | 2for side control | 3 | 3 |
| Mount | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Back control | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Submission attempt | Advantage | None | 1–2 | Advantage | 2if stopped out of bounds |
| Advantages | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Hold to score | 3 s | 3 s | 2 s | 3 s | 3 s |
| Event | Adult match length |
|---|---|
| IBJJF Opens | 5 to 10 minutes by belt (white 5, black 10) |
| ADCC Opens | 6 minutes, points in the last 3, plus 3 minutes of overtime |
| NAGA | 4 minutes at white belt, 5 at blue, 6 at purple and up |
| Grappling Industries | 5 minutes for every belt |
Leg locks are where local rules differ most:
| Ruleset | White | Blue | Purple | Brown | Black |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBJJF, gi | No | No | No | No | No |
| IBJJF, no-gi | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| ADCC Opens | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NAGA, no-gi | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NAGA, gi | No | No | No | No | No |
| Grappling Industries, no-gi | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grappling Industries, gi | No | No | No | No | No |
| ADCC World Championship | Yes, no belt divisions | ||||
| UFC BJJ | Not banned, no belt divisions | ||||
Masters can’t heel hook at IBJJF at any belt, and at ADCC Opens only at advanced (brown and black). Kids and teens can’t heel hook under any of these rulesets.
What the grids don’t show:
- IBJJF Opens use the same rule book as the Worlds. Wrist locks start at blue belt, knee bars and toe holds at brown.
- ADCC Opens are no-gi only and keep the unscored first half and the minus points for pulling guard. Divisions go by belt: beginner is white, intermediate is blue and purple, advanced is brown and black.
- NAGA no-gi is the only major ruleset that scores ordinary submission attempts, at 1 or 2 points. There are no advantages. A tie goes to the referee, who looks first at who initiated and attacked, and can add one 2-minute overtime as a last resort.
- Grappling Industries runs round robins, so you get several matches even if you lose one. Placement goes by most wins, then most submissions. A back body triangle doesn’t score back points.
How to adjust your game
| Ruleset | Play for | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| IBJJF | 3-second holds and stacking points. Real submission attempts earn advantages. | Pulling guard without a grip |
| ADCC | Submissions in the first half, then takedowns and sweeps that land past the guard (4 points) and the back with hooks | Pulling guard or backing away once points are on |
| UFC BJJ | Submission attempts that need real defense | Holding a position without threatening |
| NAGA no-gi | Constant attacks, since attempts score | Stalling: the referee rewards initiation in a tie |
| Grappling Industries | Submissions. They win the match and break ties for placement. | Counting on a body triangle for back points |
Preparing for an event? Map your game plan to its rules with the free BJJ game plan builder, run practice matches at the right length on the BJJ scoreboard and round timer, and check your division in the IBJJF and ADCC weight classes.
Sources
- IBJJF Rule Book, version 6.1 (2024)
- ADCC Rules and Regulations (October 2026) and Opens legal techniques grid (July 2026)
- UFC BJJ Rules and Scoring (June 2025)
- NAGA Rules (2023 rulebook)
- Grappling Industries Rules (February 2026 rulebook)
Rules checked November 2026. Event pages sometimes change match times, so check yours before you compete.
Common questions
What is the main difference between IBJJF and ADCC rules?
IBJJF scores points from the first second, uses advantages and penalties to break ties, and restricts heel hooks to adult brown and black belts in no-gi. ADCC is no-gi, gives no points in the first half of a match, takes a point away for pulling guard or stalling, and allows heel hooks and knee reaping at the World Championship.
How is UFC BJJ scored?
UFC BJJ has no points or advantages. A bout is three five-minute rounds, and three judges score each round on the 10-point must system. They look first at submission attempts that need real defense, then at takedowns, passes, and sweeps that move toward a submission, then at who controlled the position and pace.
Are heel hooks legal in UFC BJJ?
Heel hooks are not on the UFC BJJ list of illegal techniques, and Mikey Musumeci won his first UFC BJJ match with one. The list bans strikes, grabbing clothing, slams except to escape a fully applied submission, and pulling guard without immediately starting action.
How many points is a guard pass in IBJJF, ADCC, and NAGA?
Three points at IBJJF, ADCC, Grappling Industries, and NAGA gi. NAGA no-gi has no guard pass score as such: reaching side control is worth 2 points.
How long is an ADCC match?
At the ADCC World Championship, elimination matches are 10 minutes with points only in the second half, plus 5 minutes of overtime if needed. Finals and superfights are 20 minutes, with points in the second 10, then up to two 10-minute overtimes. ADCC Open adult matches are 6 minutes, with points in the last 3.
Is guard pulling allowed in ADCC?
You can pull guard, but sitting or pulling from standing and staying down for 3 seconds costs a negative point during points time and overtime, and for the whole of a final. At IBJJF, pulling guard is allowed once you have a grip; pulling without one is a penalty.
Does NAGA use advantages?
Only in the gi. NAGA no-gi has no advantages. If a no-gi match is tied, the referee decides on initiation and aggression, then pace, place, and position, then fewer penalties, and can give one 2-minute overtime as a last resort.
How do ties work at Grappling Industries?
There are no advantages. A tie on points goes to the competitor with fewer penalties, then to the referee, who looks mainly at threat of submission and positional dominance. In the round robin, placement goes by most wins, then most submissions, then head to head.
