ONE Championship Stars Helena Crevar and Pawel Jaworski Win Gold at 2026 ADCC Worlds
ONE Championship has reason to celebrate after the 2026 ADCC World Championships in Krakow, Poland.
American grappling prodigy Helena Crevar became the youngest ADCC champion in history and the only woman to record a perfect submission rate through the finals, while Polish sensation Pawel Jaworski claimed his country's first-ever ADCC gold. The prestigious tournament took place from September 12 through September 13.
Crevar won the women's +65KG category with three consecutive submission victories, and Jaworski took gold in the men's -88KG division. Two ONE Championship athletes sharing an ADCC podium at the same tournament underlines the depth of talent the promotion has assembled across its submission grappling roster.
Both fighters have recent ONE Championship appearances to their names, and their ADCC performances will only heighten the anticipation around what they bring back to the ring next.
Helena Crevar Becomes Youngest ADCC Champion Ever
Crevar's run through the 2026 ADCC World Championships was as dominant as it was efficient. The 19-year-old from Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, who trains under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu maestros John Danaher and Gordon Ryan, submitted every opponent she faced on the way to the gold without a single match going to the judges.
She opened with a rear-naked choke of Matilda Reid at the 9:11 mark in the first round before forcing Elizabeth Mitrovic to tap via ankle lock in under six minutes in the semifinal. In the final, Anabel Lopez was finished by rear-naked choke at just 6:04, sealing the most complete championship run the women's division produced at the tournament.
The achievement places Crevar's name in ADCC history alongside the sport's greatest competitors. She had already made the podium at 17 years old with a silver medal at the 2024 ADCC World Championships, making the 2026 gold the natural next chapter of a career trajectory that shows no signs of slowing.
Pawel Jaworski Becomes Poland's First ADCC World Champion
Jaworski's gold in the men's -88KG category carries a significance that extends well beyond the 22-year-old's personal achievement. The Academia Gorila product became the first Polish grappler to win ADCC gold, placing his name in the history of a tournament that represents the pinnacle of no-gi submission grappling competition.
His path through the bracket was built on his signature heel hook game. A victory over Felipe Costa via inside heel hook in the opening round was followed by the same technique against Gabriel Brod in the semifinal, sending Jaworski to the final with momentum firmly established. Against Marlon Tajik in the gold medal match, a single penalty proved the difference, earning the Polish grappler the title in one of the tournament's most closely contested finals.
The victory establishes Jaworski as the finest grappler his country has produced and adds the sport's most prestigious team tournament title to a resume that is rapidly becoming one of the most impressive in European grappling.
Inside the ONE Championship Records of New ADCC World Champions
Both athletes have been active in ONE Championship's grappling matches.
Crevar made her ONE debut in January at ONE Fight Night 39, submitting compatriot Teshya Noelani Alo via Estima lock in just 100 seconds. She returned six months later to defeat Paige Ivette Clymer via unanimous decision in a 10-minute war at The Inner Circle 22.
Jaworski's journey began with an ambitious debut at ONE Fight Night 41, where he challenged ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion Tye Ruotolo and pushed the American for the full 10 minutes before losing via unanimous decision.
He returned at ONE Fight Night 47 just a few weeks ago to defeat Rafael Lovato Jr. via kneebar in under two minutes, one of the most impressive submission performances since the promotion launched its submission grappling branch.
