Krugersdorp’s Luke Griffith has continued his rise in the world of submission grappling, earning an invitation to compete at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) World Championship in Poland in September.

Griffith’s invitation comes after an impressive run that has seen him become the Who’s Number One (WNO) Heavyweight Champion in Las Vegas in December, defeating Felipe Pena from Brazil via rear-naked choke submission in the main event of WNO 31.

Watch the fight here.

The WNO heavyweight division features athletes weighing over 205 pounds (92kg). The championship belt is regarded as one of the most prestigious titles in No-Gi grappling and is managed by FloGrappling.

Before Griffith’s victory, the title was held for years by some of the sport’s most dominant athletes, including a lengthy reign by Gordon Ryan. Ryan vacated the title in May 2025 due to health issues, leading to the vacant title match between Pena and Griffith.

Before this achievement, Griffith won a gold medal at the 2023 Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi World Championships.

The world championships featured some of the best athletes in the world, showcasing their skills and talent. Griffith walked away with the biggest honour after finishing first and becoming an International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation black belt world champion.

Since winning the WNO Heavyweight Championship, Griffith has continued to climb the FloGrappling rankings and is now recognised as the number one heavyweight grappler in the world.

The ADCC World Championships are widely regarded as the most prestigious tournament in submission grappling and No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Held every two years, the event brings together the world’s finest grapplers to compete for what many consider the sport’s highest honour.

According to Griffith’s mother, Michelle, this will mark the first time the championships are hosted in Poland, highlighting the tremendous growth of grappling throughout Europe.

The event is expected to attract thousands of spectators from around the world, along with elite athletes representing dozens of nations. Athletes qualify for the World Championships by winning highly competitive ADCC Trials events held across different continents, returning as defending champions, or receiving invitations based on exceptional performances.

For Griffith, the goal is to claim gold in this year’s edition after narrowly missing out in the final and finishing as runner-up in his previous appearance.