ADCC gold medalist Giancarlo Bodoni believes the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) should offer prize money comparable to the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) World Championships to incentivize top competitors in gi jiu-jitsu.
Speaking on The Grapplers Perspective Podcast, Bodoni advocated for financial reforms in gi competitions, suggesting that the IBJJF has the resources to create a more professional circuit with better compensation.
“I just wish that they could develop like a professional circuit in the gi that was a little bit more like what we have in no-gi, like a professional superfight circuit,” Bodoni said. “At least IBJJF adult black belt grand slam should have prize money that’s at least equivalent to ADCC. I think that’s 100% doable and that would incentivize more people to do both.”
Bodoni, who built his foundation in gi before becoming an ADCC champion in no-gi competition, highlighted the financial calculations many elite competitors make when deciding which events to prioritize.
“I would win and I’d probably get a lot of opportunity to go teach seminars,” he explained about competing in major gi tournaments. “But it’s like the entire year training for this one event where I may or may not win… I could probably make the same amount of money doing a superfight, spend the same amount of time training, and make that.”
The discussion comes at a time when no-gi jiu-jitsu is experiencing rapid growth in popularity and profitability. Recent revelations from grappling star Craig Jones claimed that some ADCC competitors receive “six-figure show money” despite the official prize being only $10,000 for winners. The rivalry with Jones even got ADCC to pony up and provide all competitors with $2500.
Bodoni also addressed the viewing experience differences between gi and no-gi competitions, noting that gi matches can be less engaging for casual viewers.
“Even me, if I watch some matches from Pans, I’m like, ‘man, some of these matches are hard to watch.’ And it would be even worse for somebody who doesn’t know jiu-jitsu,” Bodoni said.
He pointed out that gi competitions often feature more static positions and tactical approaches that casual viewers find difficult to follow:
“With a gi, because it’s so static, and a lot of times you have too many guys that are just fighting to win, you get these matches that are like an advantage, 50/50, back and forth. It’s very hard from a spectator perspective.”
Despite these challenges, Bodoni expressed respect for the IBJJF’s long-standing contribution to the sport while suggesting that financial incentives could help bridge the growing gap between gi and no-gi competition.
The timing of Bodoni‘s comments is particularly relevant as the grappling landscape continues to evolve with new high-stakes events like the Craig Jones Invitational offering unprecedented prize money, reportedly reaching $1 million for the winning team at CJI 2.
For now, many elite competitors face practical decisions about where to focus their efforts, with financial incentives playing an increasingly important role in those calculations.
