Nova GP 2026: First Premium Event by CFJJB

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Charpy Hall at Stade Charléty in Paris will host the very first edition of the Nova GP, a new competition format launched by the French Confederation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CFJJB).

Designed as a premium evening event, the competition features three Grand Prix tournaments, bringing together 24 of the most promising figures in French Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. On the program: over €3,000 in guaranteed prizes, a short and intense 7-minute match format, and a stated commitment to delivering a technically clear spectacle for the audience.

With a tight format, significant cash prizes, and a selection of athletes chosen based on their recent performances, the Nova GP aims to establish itself as a major annual fixture on the national calendar.

Why is the CFJJB Launching the Nova GP?

For several years, the French Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu circuit has been structured around regional and national competitions but lacked a “premium” format capable of showcasing the best athletes in a media-friendly setting.

The Nova GP answers this demand: a unique evening, an iconic venue (Stade Charléty), and a carefully curated selection of athletes based on their recent performances.

The stated ambition? To create an unmissable annual event, halfway between traditional competition and entertainment spectacle, while showcasing France’s new generation of high-level athletes.

A Clear, Intense, and Spectacle-Oriented Grand Prix Format

Each Nova GP tournament brings together 8 athletes, selected from the most successful profiles on the French circuit. The choice of a Grand Prix format implies a strong constraint: winning multiple matches in the same evening, with limited recovery time.

7-Minute Matches to Promote Intensity

Matches last 7 minutes, a short format that promotes:

• Immediate engagement
• Taking initiative from the first seconds
• Active pursuit of submissions

This approach reduces prolonged observation phases and pushes athletes to quickly impose their game, or risk finding themselves in difficulty on the scoreboard or rhythm. In a Grand Prix, where each competitor may face up to 3 opponents in the same evening, energy management becomes as crucial as pure technical ability.

Three Tournaments, Three Different Dynamics

Men’s Grand Prix – Heavyweight Division

The heavyweight tournament promises to be one of the most physical of the evening. In such a short format, managing the initial grips, controlling the pace, and capitalizing on any mistake will be decisive.

In the heavyweight division, every poorly executed transition can lead directly to a finishing situation. This bracket could well be where the fastest submission of the evening occurs, a factor reinforced by the associated €1,000 prize.

🥋 The 8 Heavyweight Competitors:

• Henrique Soares
• Bilel Bouzidi
• Alexandre Kron
• Malik Abdouraguimov
• Bilal Akhmedov
• Nicolas Schwinninger
• Freddy Lele Talla
• Claudino Pereira

Format: 8 athletes → quarterfinals → semifinals → final

Men’s Grand Prix – Lightweight Division

Traditionally, lightweight categories offer the most dynamic and audience-friendly matchups. Fast sequences, technical scrambles, repeated submission attempts: this bracket is naturally built for spectacle.

In a Grand Prix context, the ability to maintain a high technical volume across multiple consecutive matches will be a key element. Cardio, tactical clarity, and effort management could make the difference as much as pure technical skill.

🥋 The 8 Lightweight Competitors:

• Youness Bennouali
• Djabrail Khapizov
• Timerlan Kurbanov
• Florian Chapelain
• Bilel Bensaid
• Laid Guedouari
• Lucas Gaffet
• Stanislas Pestel

Format: 8 athletes → quarterfinals → semifinals → final

Women’s Grand Prix

By integrating a Women’s Grand Prix with the same format as the men’s tournaments, the CFJJB clearly demonstrates its commitment to showcasing the French female BJJ elite in a demanding and media-friendly setting.

Same match duration (7 minutes), same recovery constraints, same financial stakes: this bracket represents a strong visibility opportunity for the competing athletes and reflects a genuine sports equality approach, far from a mere symbolic addition.

🥋 The 8 Women Competitors:

• Anna Wodicka
• Soledade Leroux
• Mathilde Moreau
• Sawsana Benameur
• Maeva Aiachi
• Ines Guidicelli
• Noémie Gluck
• Clara Galludec

Format: 8 athletes → quarterfinals → semifinals → final

Prize Money That Changes Strategic Approach

To reward athletic performance and engagement, several cash prizes will be awarded throughout the evening:

• €1,000 for each Grand Prix winner
• €500 for each finalist
• €1,000 for the fastest submission
• €500 per fighter for “Fight of the Night”
• €1,000 for the best fighter of the event

A System That Rewards How You Win

These prizes radically change match dynamics:

An athlete can finish 2nd in their tournament but earn more money than a winner if they secure the fastest submission or fight of the night. The pursuit of finishes becomes even more central: waiting for the judges’ decision is no longer the most profitable option.

The best fighter of the evening can come from any bracket, creating a cross-tournament competition among the three divisions. This incentive system pushes athletes to take calculated risks and seek finishes rather than simple points victories.

Practical Information: Schedule, Tickets, and Access

Venue and Schedule

• Venue: Charpy Hall – Stade Charléty, Paris 13th
• Doors open: 6:00 PM
• First matches: 7:00 PM
• Seating: Open seating in the stands

Ticketing

• Presale: €20 (until December 31, 2025, limited quantity) ✅ ENDED
• Standard rate: €30 (from January 1 to February 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM)

⚠️ No on-site sales – online reservations only via cfjjb.com

Access to Stade Charléty

• Metro: Line 7, Porte d’Italie station (10-minute walk)
• RER: RER B, Cité Universitaire (15-minute walk)
• Tram: T3a, Stade Charléty stop

Nova GP 2026: See You at 7 PM for the First Edition

With this unprecedented format, the CFJJB is taking the risk of a demanding model: 7-minute matches, a tight selection of 24 athletes, and over €3,000 in prizes to reward pure performance.

If the experiment succeeds, the Nova GP could well become the annual event that French BJJ has been waiting for to showcase its new generation of high-level athletes, in a premium format halfway between traditional competition and entertainment spectacle.

Answers tonight from 7 PM, Charpy Hall.

➡️ Complete results, technical analysis of the matches, and detailed rankings will be published on BJJ-Rules tomorrow morning.