This week has seen ADCC 2026 suffer yet another significant blow, with another reigning champion no longer set to compete. In the promotion’s latest update, Adele Fornarino has been removed from the official competitor list. The reigning double gold medalist has been replaced in the women’s -55kg division by ADCC Trials silver medalist Valerie Wong Hamilton.
Fornarino’s withdrawal means four reigning ADCC champions will no longer return to defend their titles at the 2026 event.
The timing comes shortly after Fornarino was announced as a participant in UFC BJJ’s flyweight tournament. She is scheduled to face Carol Brunacio in the semi-finals at UFC BJJ 10 on August 20, while reigning UFC BJJ bantamweight champion Cassia Moura takes on Bre Tikk in the opposite semi-final.
The tournament final will be held at a later date to determine the inaugural UFC BJJ flyweight champion. That scheduling could potentially overlap with ADCC 2026, which takes place on September 12-13. UFC BJJ executives have also stated that they intend to strictly enforce the promotion’s exclusive contracts, and currently no UFC BJJ champions are listed among the confirmed competitors for ADCC 2026.
Previously, Adele Fornarino made history at the 2024 ADCC World Championship by winning double gold—capturing both the women’s -55kg division and the women’s absolute division. She became the first Australian to win an ADCC world title, and the first woman since 2007 to win double gold at ADCC.
A freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on delivering accurate, engaging, and well-researched reporting. He studied at the University of Birmingham, where he developed a strong foundation in journalism and communications. Martin is a 10th Planet BJJ brown belt and has been training for approximately 10 years and a keen follower of submission grappling.
