Rejoice, grappling fans! IBJJF world champions will finally be getting paid. Well, the black belt world champions will. According to FloGrappling, the pay scale will be equal for both women and men. The dollar amount itself will be contingent on how many competitors register for a division (2-8 = $4,000, 9-16 = $5,000, 17-32 = $6,000, 33+ = $7,000) with the exception of the absolute division which will pay out $10,000 regardless of bracket size.
A step in the right direction
While the dollar amount may not be on par with what top athletes are receiving for competing in shows like Polaris or the prestigious ADCC tournament, this is undoubtedly a huge step in the right direction for the IBJJF.