Quick answer: Ffion Davies is a Welsh Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and submission grappler known for becoming the first British/Welsh ADCC world champion and one of the most accomplished European competitors in modern BJJ. She is a world champion in both gi and no-gi, with a style built around pressure, passing, back takes, and relentless pace.
Last updated: 2026-06-17
Davies matters because she changed what high-level European and British grappling could look like at the top of the sport. She is not just a successful women’s competitor; she is one of the best examples of a judo-to-BJJ athlete who became elite across several formats.
Ffion Davies quick facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ffion Eira Davies |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Primary sport | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling |
| Rank | BJJ black belt; public profiles also list a judo black belt |
| Known for | ADCC title, IBJJF world titles, pressure passing, back takes, and pace |
| Major ADCC result | 2022 ADCC -60kg champion |
| Recent context | UFC BJJ 6 women’s bantamweight title challenger in 2026 |
Who is Ffion Davies?
Ffion Davies is a Welsh grappler who became one of the most decorated non-Brazilian women in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She came from a judo background, developed into a high-level BJJ competitor, and won major titles across gi, no-gi, and professional grappling.
Her 2022 ADCC title is one of the cleanest ways to understand her importance. ADCC is the highest-profile no-gi tournament in grappling, and Davies became the first British/Welsh ADCC world champion by winning the women’s -60kg division.
Career snapshot
| Year | Milestone | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after a youth background in judo and an introduction through MMA training. | The judo base helps explain her balance, gripping confidence, and comfort in standing exchanges. |
| 2018 | Received her black belt from Darragh O’Conaill. | The promotion came shortly before her breakthrough run at the highest level. |
| 2022 | Won the ADCC under-60kg championship. | The title made her the first European athlete to win ADCC gold. |
| 2023 | Won her weight and the absolute division at the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds. | Double gold showed that her game scaled beyond her regular division. |
| 2024 | Defeated Mackenzie Dern by armlock at CJI. | The win paired a major stage with a finish against one of the best-known BJJ-to-MMA athletes. |
Ffion Davies’ grappling style
Davies’ style is pressure-heavy and technically sharp. She is dangerous from the top because she can pass, force back exposure, and turn positional pressure into submission threats. Her judo background also gives her a standing-grappling base that many pure guard players do not have.
- Passing pressure: Davies is known for making opponents carry weight while she clears frames and wins angles.
- Back attacks: Many of her best sequences lead toward back exposure and choking threats.
- Judo influence: Her stand-up background helps her compete confidently in no-gi and professional rulesets.
- Competition pace: She can push matches hard without turning them into sloppy scrambles.
Related grapplers and pages
Davies connects naturally to profiles for Brianna Ste-Marie, Cassia Moura, Adele Fornarino, Mayssa Bastos, and Bia Mesquita. Her career also pairs well with the BJJ weight classes guide, the IBJJF no-gi rules guide, and ADCC results history.
Why Ffion Davies is worth studying
Ffion Davies became a defining athlete in modern women’s grappling by winning across gi, no-gi, ADCC, and professional events. Her matches are especially valuable for studying how judo-based balance, compact passing, and back attacks can work without depending on one ruleset.
Davies often turns a standing exchange into immediate passing pressure rather than treating the takedown and guard pass as separate phases. Her balance allows her to land with her hips organized, while compact elbows and head position limit the frames an opponent can build. From there she advances without giving back the space created by the takedown. Her submission wins tend to arrive after this control has forced a predictable turn, making her game a useful model for athletes who want their stand-up choices to lead directly into their strongest top positions.
What to study in Ffion Davies’s game
| Match | What to watch | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Gabrielle McComb vs. Ffion Davies, 2023 No-Gi Worlds absolute final | Watch Davies turn top pressure and positional control into back exposure and a rear-naked choke. | The match completed a double-gold event and shows her game working in the open-weight bracket. |
| Mackenzie Dern vs. Ffion Davies, 2024 CJI | Study the hand fighting and positional control leading to the armlock. | The finish highlights how Davies can attack decisively without abandoning control. |
| Adele Fornarino vs. Ffion Davies, 2025 UFC Fight Pass Invitational | Watch how Davies manages pace and position against a newer ADCC champion with a dangerous leg-lock game. | The matchup is useful for comparing generations and contrasting control with rapid submission entries. |
Training takeaways
Davies shows how takedown balance and passing can be trained as one sequence: win the standing exchange, land past the strongest guard frames, and keep the hips pinned during the transition.
Her open-weight success is also a lesson in position selection. Compact control and back exposure can reduce the amount of strength needed against larger opponents.
Sources and further reading
- Ffion Davies biography and match record.
- FloGrappling athlete profile.
- Ffion Davies entity and title reference.
FAQ
What is Ffion Davies known for?
Ffion Davies is known for winning ADCC, becoming a British/Welsh BJJ world champion, and using pressure passing, back attacks, and high pace across gi and no-gi competition.
Did Ffion Davies win ADCC?
Yes. Davies won the women’s -60kg division at the 2022 ADCC World Championship.
Is Ffion Davies from Wales?
Yes. Ffion Davies is Welsh and is widely described as the first British/Welsh ADCC world champion.
{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@graph”:[{“@type”:”BlogPosting”,”headline”:”Ffion Davies: Career, Style, and Grappling Achievements”,”description”:”A GrapplerHQ profile of Ffion Davies, covering her ADCC title, IBJJF achievements, judo background, grappling style, and UFC BJJ context.”,”dateModified”:”2026-06-17″,”author”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”GrapplerHQ”},”publisher”:{“@type”:”Organization”,”name”:”GrapplerHQ”},”mainEntityOfPage”:”https://www.grapplerhq.com/profiles/ffion-davies-grappler-profile/”},{“@type”:”Person”,”name”:”Ffion Davies”,”nationality”:”Welsh”,”jobTitle”:”Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and submission grappler”,”sameAs”:[“https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ffion_Davies”]},{“@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Did Ffion Davies win ADCC?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Yes. Davies won the women’s -60kg division at the 2022 ADCC World Championship.”}}]}]}
