Amanda Bruse shares her thoughts on exclusive contracts

While Amanda Bruse’s recent comments on exclusive contracts offer a contemporary perspective, the discussion around exclusivity in professional grappling is not new and, in fact, predates the modern era of professional circuits by several decades, tracing back to the foundational rivalries that shaped the sport's development in Brazil. For instance, the early competitive landscape of what would become Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was, by reputation, less about open-market competition and more about lineage-based affiliations and loyalty, particularly within the Gracie family and its various branches. The idea of athletes being "free agents" in the modern sense was largely nonexistent when competitive opportunities were often direct challenges or gym-affiliated tournaments, with the economic incentives being less about direct contract fees and more about reputation, student enrollment, and the establishment of a gym's dominance.

The first major shifts toward more formalized competitive structures, and by extension, the precursors to exclusive agreements, can arguably be seen with the establishment of organizations like the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) in 1994. While the IBJJF did not enforce exclusive athlete contracts, its ranking system and the prestige associated with its world championships created a de facto exclusivity for high-level competitors who often prioritized IBJJF events above others to secure their standing within the sport. This period saw athletes aligning themselves with specific teams and coaches, where loyalty, if not strictly contractual, carried significant social and competitive weight.

Later, the emergence of events like the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Fighting World Championship, first held in 1998, introduced a new dynamic where appearance fees and prize money became a more significant factor, attracting top talent and creating a parallel, though not mutually exclusive, competitive path. Even then, the concept of a promotional organization demanding exclusive rights to an athlete's competitive appearances was relatively uncommon, with most athletes being free to compete across different promotions as long as schedules allowed. It was arguably the rise of events with deeper financial backing and the increasing professionalization of grappling in the 21st century that brought the idea of exclusive contracts to the forefront, as promotions sought to secure their top talent and differentiate their rosters. This parallels the evolution seen in mixed martial arts, where early events featured fighters who would compete across multiple promotions, a practice that became increasingly rare as organizations like the UFC grew in dominance and formalized their athlete agreements.

The "economic reality" that @HoG Drama Desk references is thus a relatively recent development in the long history of grappling competition, evolving from informal allegiances to structured, legally binding agreements. The question, then, is not whether exclusive contracts are "going away," but rather whether the current structure of those contracts adequately balances the needs of the promotions with the evolving professional aspirations and financial needs of the athletes themselves, particularly given the historical lack of such structures in much of grappling's competitive past.

The "economic reality" HoG Drama Desk mentions only applies if you can afford to sit at that table in the first place. For most of us, talking about exclusive contracts is pretty far removed from our reality. I just shelled out $165 for IBJJF Dallas Open registration last month, not counting gas or the hotel. That’s a good chunk of my teacher's salary just to compete and maybe get some experience. The idea of getting paid to *only* grapple for one organization is pretty wild when most of us are scraping together cash for entry fees and trying to make our gis last another year. Bruse is talking about a different league, literally.

Eddie's right about the cost of just competing, it's a huge barrier. But this idea of exclusivity isn't just about modern pro circuits, as Mat Historian touches on. I think back to the early days of the Gracie challenges. While not formal contracts, there was certainly an understanding, almost an expectation, that if you were part of the Gracie Academy in Rio, you weren't off challenging other schools willy-nilly, especially if you were representing the family's style. Rolls Gracie, for instance, had a strong sense of loyalty to the system, even when he started exploring new techniques. It wasn't about a pay cheque, but about lineage and reputation. The idea of controlling who represents your art has always been part of the game, long before the UFC or even the early ADCC events in the 1990s.

It's easy for us on the outside to say athletes shouldn't sign exclusive deals, but the reality for most of them is different. An exclusive contract from a major organization like UFC BJJ offers a level of financial stability that few can achieve otherwise. I remember back in 2008, one of my students, a really talented brown belt, had to step away from serious competition because he couldn't justify the travel and training costs against his day job. He just couldn't make it work without some kind of sponsorship or salary. For every athlete who has the luxury to negotiate multiple deals, there are dozens more who would jump at the chance for a steady paycheck and benefits. The economics usually force their hand, and that's the part a lot of people overlook when criticizing these contracts.

Amanda’s situation highlights a lot of the issues with the direction BJJ is going. When I started at GB back in 2019, the vibe was about community and developing your game. Now, you see more and more discussion about athletes and their contracts, which is just a world away from what most people on the mats are doing. Eddie is right about the cost barrier for regular competitors. I'm a blue belt now, still going to fundamentals a couple of times a week, and even the cost of a new gi can make you think twice. Exclusive deals feel like they're for a different sport entirely, not the one I train in.