ADCC India is returning to Delhi on 17 October 2026, and according to Siddharth Singh, the upcoming event is set to be bigger, more ambitious and closer to an international-level grappling experience than ever before.
In a new interview with The Locker Room India, Siddharth Singh, the man behind ADCC India, opened up about the preparation for the upcoming event, the lessons from previous tournaments, the growth of Indian grappling, the new ₹6.5 lakh cash pool and the importance of competition for Indian athletes.
With a team of around 35 people working on the event and a new three-mat setup, ADCC India 2026 is being designed to handle the growing number of athletes entering the competition.
The upcoming ADCC India event is scheduled for 17 October 2026 in Delhi.
One of the biggest changes this time is the move to a much larger venue and the introduction of three simultaneous competition areas.
Siddharth explained that the previous national event in Goa attracted around 350 participants, which created both an exciting opportunity and an operational challenge for the organisers.
The response showed just how much Indian grappling has grown.
ADCC India has traditionally operated with two competition areas.
For the upcoming event, that number is increasing to three mats.
This will allow three matches to happen simultaneously and help the organisation handle larger participation.
But Siddharth also explained that a larger event requires more trained officials. ADCC uses both mat referees and table referees, with different responsibilities for each.
The goal is not simply to fit more matches into a day.
It is to create a competition environment that can gradually move toward the standards seen at major international grappling events.
One of the biggest announcements discussed in the interview is the cash pool for the upcoming event.
ADCC India is putting up a ₹6.5 lakh cash pool, which Siddharth described as the biggest cash pool ever in the sport of grappling in India.
The money will be distributed across categories, with categories having more than eight participants eligible for a cash prize.
That means the opportunity extends across different age and weight divisions, including kids and adult categories.
This gives athletes another reason to enter, compete and test themselves against the best grapplers in the country.
Siddharth also spoke openly about the challenges faced during the previous ADCC national event in Goa.
Despite the operational difficulties, the event produced a record 350 participants and ultimately became a successful competition.
One of the biggest lessons was the need to build an infrastructure capable of handling large participation numbers without compromising the athlete experience.
That experience has directly influenced the planning for ADCC India 2026.
The upcoming Delhi event will be held at JP Atlantic Sports Complex, a facility described in the interview as approximately 20,000 square feet and specifically designed for sports.
The venue gives organisers enough space to operate three mats and potentially expand to four if participation grows significantly.
Siddharth explained that the longer-term ambition is to gradually move toward the kind of competition infrastructure seen at major events such as IBJJF and ADCC Worlds, where multiple competition areas operate simultaneously.
The objective is clear: build Indian grappling events to a world-class standard.
The interview also highlighted Krish Gupta, who recently produced an impressive international result by winning gold in No-Gi and silver in Gi.
Siddharth pointed out that Krish has been competing at ADCC events since he was around 10 years old.
According to Siddharth, that long competition experience has helped Krish develop the confidence to compete internationally against strong opponents.
For him, ADCC India is not only a tournament.
It can also become part of an athlete’s development pathway.
One of Siddharth’s strongest points in the interview is that Indian grappling already has significant depth.
He believes the best way to understand the real level of Indian grappling is to watch the country’s strongest athletes compete at ADCC India.
The tournament gives athletes an opportunity to fight strong domestic competition before taking that experience onto international stages.
His argument is simple: athletes need to compete against the best available competition at home before they can establish themselves internationally.
The interview also explored an interesting pathway for traditional combat sports athletes.
Siddharth believes wrestlers and Judo athletes are already grapplers, and that ADCC can provide a useful transition between their existing discipline and MMA.
Rather than moving directly from wrestling or Judo into MMA, competing under ADCC’s grappling rules can help athletes develop additional skills such as guard work, leg locks and submission grappling.
It can also help them experience the physical and competitive demands of fighting without immediately having to deal with striking.
Siddharth described ADCC as a useful midpoint between grappling disciplines and MMA.
Siddharth also believes MMA fighters can benefit significantly from competing in ADCC.
He pointed out that MMA athletes and grapplers respond differently in ground situations. For example, an MMA fighter may look to wrestle back to their feet rather than remain in guard.
Competing in ADCC gives fighters another opportunity to develop their reactions, competition experience and grappling decision-making.
His view is straightforward: MMA athletes should compete whenever they get the opportunity because competition experience is difficult to replicate through training alone.
The interview also touched on the possibility of grappling super fights becoming part of future ADCC India events.
Siddharth said he is open to creating more super fights but wants to make sure the production and distribution are strong enough for the matches to reach a much larger audience.
He also mentioned that an international project is being planned for a future announcement.
For Indian grappling, the possibility of more high-profile matchups could provide another way to bring the sport to a wider audience.
The upcoming event has also attracted support from brands and partners.
Siddharth discussed JP coming on board in connection with the venue and The Whole Truth returning as a sponsor.
He explained that The Whole Truth supported the previous Goa event by providing protein bars to the participants and prizes for winners.
The continued interest from brands, according to Siddharth, reflects the growing understanding of grappling and the value that events can provide to sponsors.
Towards the end of the interview, Siddharth delivered a direct message to athletes who are still unsure about competing.
He shared his own experience of spending a year focused heavily on competition and described it as one of the most enjoyable periods of his life as an athlete.
His message is that athletes should compete while they are in their prime rather than staying comfortable inside their academies.
He wants Indian grapplers to first prove themselves at the national level, then move to the Asian level and eventually compete successfully at the world level.
ADCC India 2026 is expected to bring together some of the country’s strongest grapplers across multiple divisions.
With a ₹6.5 lakh cash pool, a larger sports venue, three competition mats and a growing number of registered athletes, the event represents another major step for Indian grappling.
At the time of the interview, around 150 athletes had already registered.
But for Siddharth Singh, the most important part is not simply the number of registrations.
It is finding out who is actually the best.
The best beginner.
The best intermediate athlete.
The best professional.
The best in each weight class.
That is what competition is supposed to reveal.
The upcoming ADCC India event is about more than a single tournament.
It is part of a larger attempt to develop Indian grappling through regular high-level competition, stronger event infrastructure, better athlete opportunities and greater international exposure.
From young grapplers and traditional wrestlers to experienced BJJ competitors and MMA fighters, ADCC provides a platform where different combat sports backgrounds can come together.
And on 17 October 2026, the mats in Delhi will provide another opportunity for Indian athletes to prove themselves.
Compete. Test yourself. Represent your academy. Build your name.
Watch Siddharth Singh’s full conversation with The Locker Room India to hear more about ADCC India 2026, the growth of Indian grappling, the new cash pool and the future of combat sports in India.
ADCC India is returning to Delhi on 17 October 2026, and according to Siddharth Singh, the upcoming event is set to be bigger, more ambitious and closer to an international-level grappling experience than ever before.
In a new interview with The Locker Room India, Siddharth Singh, the man behind ADCC India, opened up about the preparation for the upcoming event, the lessons from previous tournaments, the growth of Indian grappling, the new ₹6.5 lakh cash pool and the importance of competition for Indian athletes.
With a team of around 35 people working on the event and a new three-mat setup, ADCC India 2026 is being designed to handle the growing number of athletes entering the competition.
The upcoming ADCC India event is scheduled for 17 October 2026 in Delhi.
One of the biggest changes this time is the move to a much larger venue and the introduction of three simultaneous competition areas.
Siddharth explained that the previous national event in Goa attracted around 350 participants, which created both an exciting opportunity and an operational challenge for the organisers.
The response showed just how much Indian grappling has grown.
ADCC India has traditionally operated with two competition areas.
For the upcoming event, that number is increasing to three mats.
This will allow three matches to happen simultaneously and help the organisation handle larger participation.
But Siddharth also explained that a larger event requires more trained officials. ADCC uses both mat referees and table referees, with different responsibilities for each.
The goal is not simply to fit more matches into a day.
It is to create a competition environment that can gradually move toward the standards seen at major international grappling events.
One of the biggest announcements discussed in the interview is the cash pool for the upcoming event.
ADCC India is putting up a ₹6.5 lakh cash pool, which Siddharth described as the biggest cash pool ever in the sport of grappling in India.
The money will be distributed across categories, with categories having more than eight participants eligible for a cash prize.
That means the opportunity extends across different age and weight divisions, including kids and adult categories.
This gives athletes another reason to enter, compete and test themselves against the best grapplers in the country.
Siddharth also spoke openly about the challenges faced during the previous ADCC national event in Goa.
Despite the operational difficulties, the event produced a record 350 participants and ultimately became a successful competition.
One of the biggest lessons was the need to build an infrastructure capable of handling large participation numbers without compromising the athlete experience.
That experience has directly influenced the planning for ADCC India 2026.
The upcoming Delhi event will be held at JP Atlantic Sports Complex, a facility described in the interview as approximately 20,000 square feet and specifically designed for sports.
The venue gives organisers enough space to operate three mats and potentially expand to four if participation grows significantly.
Siddharth explained that the longer-term ambition is to gradually move toward the kind of competition infrastructure seen at major events such as IBJJF and ADCC Worlds, where multiple competition areas operate simultaneously.
The objective is clear: build Indian grappling events to a world-class standard.
The interview also highlighted Krish Gupta, who recently produced an impressive international result by winning gold in No-Gi and silver in Gi.
Siddharth pointed out that Krish has been competing at ADCC events since he was around 10 years old.
According to Siddharth, that long competition experience has helped Krish develop the confidence to compete internationally against strong opponents.
For him, ADCC India is not only a tournament.
It can also become part of an athlete’s development pathway.
One of Siddharth’s strongest points in the interview is that Indian grappling already has significant depth.
He believes the best way to understand the real level of Indian grappling is to watch the country’s strongest athletes compete at ADCC India.
The tournament gives athletes an opportunity to fight strong domestic competition before taking that experience onto international stages.
His argument is simple: athletes need to compete against the best available competition at home before they can establish themselves internationally.
The interview also explored an interesting pathway for traditional combat sports athletes.
Siddharth believes wrestlers and Judo athletes are already grapplers, and that ADCC can provide a useful transition between their existing discipline and MMA.
Rather than moving directly from wrestling or Judo into MMA, competing under ADCC’s grappling rules can help athletes develop additional skills such as guard work, leg locks and submission grappling.
It can also help them experience the physical and competitive demands of fighting without immediately having to deal with striking.
Siddharth described ADCC as a useful midpoint between grappling disciplines and MMA.
Siddharth also believes MMA fighters can benefit significantly from competing in ADCC.
He pointed out that MMA athletes and grapplers respond differently in ground situations. For example, an MMA fighter may look to wrestle back to their feet rather than remain in guard.
Competing in ADCC gives fighters another opportunity to develop their reactions, competition experience and grappling decision-making.
His view is straightforward: MMA athletes should compete whenever they get the opportunity because competition experience is difficult to replicate through training alone.
The interview also touched on the possibility of grappling super fights becoming part of future ADCC India events.
Siddharth said he is open to creating more super fights but wants to make sure the production and distribution are strong enough for the matches to reach a much larger audience.
He also mentioned that an international project is being planned for a future announcement.
For Indian grappling, the possibility of more high-profile matchups could provide another way to bring the sport to a wider audience.
The upcoming event has also attracted support from brands and partners.
Siddharth discussed JP coming on board in connection with the venue and The Whole Truth returning as a sponsor.
He explained that The Whole Truth supported the previous Goa event by providing protein bars to the participants and prizes for winners.
The continued interest from brands, according to Siddharth, reflects the growing understanding of grappling and the value that events can provide to sponsors.
Towards the end of the interview, Siddharth delivered a direct message to athletes who are still unsure about competing.
He shared his own experience of spending a year focused heavily on competition and described it as one of the most enjoyable periods of his life as an athlete.
His message is that athletes should compete while they are in their prime rather than staying comfortable inside their academies.
He wants Indian grapplers to first prove themselves at the national level, then move to the Asian level and eventually compete successfully at the world level.
ADCC India 2026 is expected to bring together some of the country’s strongest grapplers across multiple divisions.
With a ₹6.5 lakh cash pool, a larger sports venue, three competition mats and a growing number of registered athletes, the event represents another major step for Indian grappling.
At the time of the interview, around 150 athletes had already registered.
But for Siddharth Singh, the most important part is not simply the number of registrations.
It is finding out who is actually the best.
The best beginner.
The best intermediate athlete.
The best professional.
The best in each weight class.
That is what competition is supposed to reveal.
The upcoming ADCC India event is about more than a single tournament.
It is part of a larger attempt to develop Indian grappling through regular high-level competition, stronger event infrastructure, better athlete opportunities and greater international exposure.
From young grapplers and traditional wrestlers to experienced BJJ competitors and MMA fighters, ADCC provides a platform where different combat sports backgrounds can come together.
And on 17 October 2026, the mats in Delhi will provide another opportunity for Indian athletes to prove themselves.
Compete. Test yourself. Represent your academy. Build your name.
Watch Siddharth Singh’s full conversation with The Locker Room India to hear more about ADCC India 2026, the growth of Indian grappling, the new cash pool and the future of combat sports in India.