Helena Crevar, Pawel Jaworski Make History With Gold Medal Performances At The 2026 ADCC World Championships
Representing ONE Championship at the 2026 ADCC World Championships in Krakow, Poland, Helena Crevar and Pawel Jaworski returned home as gold medalists in their respective brackets, delivering historic performances that will echo through the sport for generations.
Crevar undeniably conquered the +65KG title with a flawless, all-submission run, emphatically reinforcing her status as the undisputed pound-for-pound best female grappler alive.
In the men’s -88KG bracket, Jaworski became the first Polish grappler in history to win ADCC gold, achieving the feat in front of a roaring home crowd at the Tauron Arena and announcing himself as one of the most feared leg-lock specialists of the modern era.
Their dual triumph this weekend stands as a resounding declaration of the extraordinary depth and exceptional quality ONE Championship has built within its submission grappling roster.
Crevar Makes History As Youngest ADCC World Champion
Entering the biennial tournament as a massive favorite and the #1 seed, Crevar proved every bit of the hype was warranted while completely shattering expectations. The Texas-based grappler had already showcased her undeniable pedigree on the global stage on two previous occasions.
The 19-year-old prodigy emphatically announced her promotional debut with a scintillating Estima lock submission over Teshya Noelani Alo in under two minutes at ONE Fight Night 39. Then, she cruised to a remarkably one-sided unanimous decision at The Inner Circle 22 last July against Paige Ivette Clymer, the eventual ADCC bronze medalist in that same +65KG bracket.
Guided by the brilliant tactical minds of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu maestros John Danaher and Gordon Ryan, the New Wave athlete entered the loaded bracket like a hurricane of devastation, sweeping through all her matches with an astonishing 100 percent finishing rate.
Crevar was utterly dominant against Matilda Reid in the quarterfinals, racking up 10 points before securing a rear-naked choke at the 9:11 mark. In the semifinals, she advanced by effortlessly dispatching Elizabeth Mitrovic, utilizing a clean lower-body attack to force a tap via her signature straight ankle lock at 5:19.
The American phenom saved her most commanding performance for the gold medal match, controlling Anabel Lopez from start to finish before taking the back and sinking in a finishing short choke to secure the prestigious title at 6:04.
Crevar’s unprecedented dominance carried immense historical significance. At just 19 years old, she became the youngest female champion in ADCC World Championship history, carving her name into the record books as the very first woman to win all of her tournament matches by submission.
Jaworski Delivers Leg Lock Masterclass To Claim Landmark Gold
Jaworski is officially no longer Europe’s best-kept secret. The Polish star previously put up an valiant showing in his ONE debut, falling just short in a bid to dethrone ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo at ONE Fight Night 41 in March.
He rebounded six months later. The 22-year-old savant displayed modern leg-lock excellence to submit esteemed veteran Rafael Lovato Jr. via kneebar in under two minutes, earning a US$50,000 performance bonus at ONE Fight Night 47 earlier this month.
Carrying that enormous momentum into Krakow, he entered as the ninth-seeded dark horse but operated as the tournament favorite backed by his passionate compatriots. His triumphant run to the top of the podium featured his trademark leg-lock wizardry and strategic bottom-game mastery.
Jaworski faced veteran Felipe Costa in the opening round and showcased his signature lower-body prowess, securing a flawless inside heel hook victory. He then advanced past Gabriel Brod in the semifinals, once again relying on his world-class leg entanglements to lock up another inside heel hook and punch his ticket to the final.
In the grueling final against Sweden’s Marlon Tajik, the Warsaw native played from his back. Navigating a tactical, tightly contested bout, Jaworski clinched the victory via a single penalty to seal a historic triumph. Jaworski cemented his legacy as the first-ever Polish grappler to win gold at an ADCC World Championship, a monumental achievement for his country.
Together, these two superstars represent the present and future of submission grappling. With their ADCC credentials now secured, global fans can expect Crevar and Jaworski to create even more historic performances on ONE Championship’s global stage.
