NO GI Challenge Novi Sad

NO GI Challenge Novi Sad Story

What started as a simple idea — bringing a grappling tournament to Novi Sad — has grown into a sports event shaped by passion, teamwork, and a growing local scene. Launched in 2023, the tournament introduced a special highlight: a superfight, a submission-only match featuring highly skilled and experienced competitors, including masters and elite-level athletes. Designed to showcase technique, strategy, and experience, the superfight added a new dimension of excitement to the event.

Continued in 2024 and 2025, each edition welcomed more competitors, stronger divisions, bigger awards, and increased international participation. The tournament brings together athletes from Serbia and the wider region, featuring men’s and women’s divisions across all weight categories and skill levels. Kids and junior divisions were introduced in the second year and have continued since, creating space for younger generations to step onto a major competition stage.

NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament medals

Why Tournament In Novi Sad

With multiple clubs and an expanding BJJ community, Novi Sad lacked a grappling competition. Supported by the city’s iconic SPENS, the idea quickly turned into action.

NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament photo showing referees and team members in front of the mats

From Practitioners To Organizers

A group of BJJ practitioners, grappling and BJJ experienced competitors, enthusiasts and supporters came together to create a tournament they would want to compete in themselves.

Competitors, referees and couches gathered in a circle on the mats during the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament

A Community That Supports

With consistent sponsors, long-term partners, community support and their positive feedback, ADCC referees, and coverage from major local media, the tournament earned trust and recognition year after year.

NO GI Challenge Tournament History

Since its launch, NO GI Challenge Novi Sad has grown into the tournament that has become a regular destination for competitive athletes, drawing competitors who return year after year.

The tournament was first held in September 2023 at SPENS as the first grappling event of its kind in Novi Sad, bringing together competitors from Serbia and the region. Introducing a submission-only superfight immediately distinguished the tournament and set the tone for future editions.

NO GI Challenge Novi Sad 2024 Grappling match

Close-up of medals with blue ribbon at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad grappling tournament

Two competitors engaging from a seated position during a match at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad 2024

Referee observing athletes grappling on the ground during a match at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament

NO GI Challenge Novi Sad referees sitting at the table

No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad grappling tournament with multiple mats and spectators in an indoor arena

Two athletes competing in a no-gi grappling match at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad tournament

Female grappler receiving a medal at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad tournament ceremony

Crowd of spectators cheering and clapping at an indoor grappling tournament

Competitor maintaining top control while a referee observes during a match

Grappler posing in front of official No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad event backdrop after competition

Two female athletes smiling and posing together at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad event backdrop

Two athletes in scramble position during a no-gi grappling match at Novi Sad tournament

Referee observing matches at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad no-gi grappling competition

Competitor receiving a medal and handshake

Grappler controlling opponent from top position during super fight no-gi match at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad

Two competitors in a standing clinch position during a grappling match

Female competitors from girls divisions grappling

Referee speaking with female grapplers between matches at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad event

Athlete controlling opponent on the ground during no-gi grappling match at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad

Superfight athletes sitting and posing in front of No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad event backdrop

Two competitors facing off in standing position during no-gi grappling match in Novi Sad

Female holding a medal at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad tournament backdrop

Organizers, referees, and team members posing together at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament

Two athletes in standing position during superfight grappling match at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad

Medal winners posing with awards at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad tournament backdrop

Athlete executing takedown during no-gi grappling match at No-Gi Challenge Novi Sad

Super fight competitors grappling on the ground during the 2024 NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament

Super fight competitors executing a takedown during the 2025 NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament

Competitor controlling opponent from a top position during a grappling match

Female competitors grappling on the ground during a match

Athlete lifting and throwing an opponent during a match at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament

Group of referees and team members gathered around a table at a grappling event

Female competitor controlling opponent on the ground during a match

Athlete lifting an opponent for a takedown at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament 2025

Medal winners posing at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament 2024

Two super fight competitors smiling at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad grappling tournament 2023

Athletes engaged in a standing takedown exchange

Competitor receiving recognition at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad grappling tournament 2024

Medal winners posing at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad grappling tournament 2025

Match scoreboard displaying points and time for a final match 2025

Medal winners and a team member posing at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad grappling tournament 2024

Event staff and organizers managing matches at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament 2025

Wide view of matches at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament 2025 with multiple mats and spectators

The Beginning: NO GI Challenge 2023

The first NO GI Challenge Novi Sad was held in September 2023 at SPENS, marking the first grappling tournament of its kind in Novi Sad. The event brought together competitors from Serbia and the region and immediately stood out by introducing a submission-only superfight.

Digital scoreboard tracking match points at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament

Welcoming Youth: NO GI Challenge 2024

Building on the success of its debut, the second edition expanded to include kids and junior divisions, alongside men’s and women’s categories across all weight classes and skill levels. The tournament attracted a significantly larger number of competitors and clubs.

Crowd gathered around competition mats at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament 2025

Community Growth: NO GI Challenge 2025

The tournament had established a recognizable identity. Continued expansion of youth categories, growing competitive momentum, free entry for spectators, superfight promotion, and a strong focus on community and athlete development reinforced its goal of becoming a traditional annual event.

Female competitor applying top control during a match at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad 2025

Kid athlete driving forward in a takedown attempt at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad tournament 2025

Female competitors grappling on the ground during a match at the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad

Superfight Spotlight

The submission-only superfight between Dragan Djakon Djakonovic (Rio Grappling Club Novi Sad) and Guillaume Gile Huni (Kimura BJJ) introduced a distinctive, high-quality competitive element to the tournament. With athletes from 10 countries, the event established itself as a serious competitive platform from its very first edition.

Building Competitive Momentum

The second edition expanded in both size and participation, welcoming competitors from 45 clubs. A submission-only superfight between Lazar Zlatanovic (Rio Grapling Club Belgrade) and Nemanja Lekovic (Da Luta) provided a notable moment and contributed to the ongoing development of the superfight format within the event.

From Momentum to Continuity

The 2025 edition expanded further with strong participation from Serbia and the wider region. The centerpiece was once again the attractive superfight, this time in the heavyweight division, featuring Nikola Pavlovic (ViN BJJ Belgrade) and Obrad Nedic (Old School BJJ Belgrade), reinforcing the superfight as one of the defining element of the tournament.

Relive the Action

Watch matches from last year’s NO GI Challenge Novi Sad on our YouTube channel and relive the action from the tournament. Browse full fights across different divisions, study techniques, and see how competitors performed on the mats. Subscribe to stay updated as we continue to add more content from future events.

Athletes engaged in a fast-paced scramble during a match

NO GI Challenge Novi Sad 2026

Register now for the NO GI Challenge Novi Sad and secure your place. The tournament takes place at SPENS, Novi Sad, on June 14, 2026, with divisions available for all ages and experience levels. Sign up online via Smoothcomp, complete your registration, and get ready to test your skills on the mat.

NOVI SAD NO GI CHALLENGE 4