The ADCC World Championship 2026 in Kraków, Poland has been dealt a significant blow. Two of the most anticipated names on the roster, Mica Galvao and Giancarlo Bodoni, will not be competing at Tauron Arena on September 12 and 13.
Mica Galvao’s absence is tied directly to the fallout surrounding the arrest of Melqui Galvao. The longtime BJJ instructor was taken into custody in Manaus on April 28 following allegations brought forward by three female students.
The investigation, led by the 8th Women’s Defense Police Station in São Paulo, was initiated after a 17-year-old athlete reported alleged misconduct that took place during a competition trip to Italy. As the inquiry expanded, investigators identified two additional individuals he allegedly targeted, including a girl who was 12 years old at the time of the alleged incidents.
Authorities say Galvao reportedly attempted to access the 17-year-old’s phone without her permission and later tried to discourage her parents from cooperating with investigators by offering professional and financial incentives, including a proposal to establish a gym abroad.
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu both responded with permanent bans, removing him from all sanctioned competition and participation under both organizations. Forensic analysis of seized devices remains pending, and the investigation continues under judicial confidentiality.
The damage to BJJ College has extended well beyond the organization’s leadership. Black belt competitor Diogo Reis, who had initially announced he would stay on to support the team during the crisis, ultimately reversed course.
In a ppublic statement, he explained his departure plainly. “At first, I had decided to remain at BJJ College so as not to abandon the team, since the leader had been removed,” Reis wrote. “However, the proportion of the facts makes my permanence in the team unbearable as they go totally against my principles and values, and for this reason I am withdrawing.”
Mica Galvao was among the most prominent athletes expected to compete in Kraków. His absence is a genuine loss for the event, and the circumstances that led to it make the situation all the more difficult to process.
Giancarlo Bodoni’s absence arrives through an entirely different set of circumstances. The Austin, Texas-based grappler had two separate surgeries in early 2026, roughly a month apart.
The first addressed his knee, a decision he explained on social media: “Been putting this off for a while but the last several months left me no choice. I was not able to train to the best of my ability and I certainly didn’t want to continue like this for 2026 season so we made the decision to get the surgery and move forward.”
The second procedure addressed his elbow, and he expressed optimism following both operations. “Looking forward to seeing the results as I heal. Road to recovery continues. Feeling great and cannot wait to be back on the mats doing what I love very soon.”
Despite that optimism, the timeline has not allowed him to return to full competitive form in time for September.
Together, the two withdrawals will have a major effect at ADCC 2026. Several divisions will now look considerably different from what fans had anticipated. Bodoni had been a compelling presence in the heavier brackets, and Mica Galvao carried the kind of name recognition that drives attention to the event well beyond core grappling audiences.
The competition itself continues to face other organizational questions. The FloGrappling crew recently raised concerns about an overflow of invitation emails being posted publicly on social media across multiple divisions, with the number of athletes claiming spots in certain brackets appearing to exceed the 16-competitor limit.
The crew was clear about what constitutes an actual official announcement. “A lot of those invites on Instagram going out that aren’t technically like the official announcement of someone. It has to be posted on the ADCC World account. That’s always it’s like, and you’ll see that same graphic they’ve been using. That’s the official invite.”
