UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Set to Debut During International Fight Week

LockerRoom Team

09 Jun 2025

The UFC is expanding its global martial arts footprint with the launch of UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a new premier live event series set to debut this summer. The announcement was made Monday by UFC officials, who confirmed that the inaugural event, UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1, will take place Wednesday, June 25, as part of UFC’s International Fight Week in Las Vegas. The event will stream live exclusively on UFC Fight Pass®.

In the lead-up to the debut event, the organization will premiere an eight-episode docuseries titled UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Road to the Title, starting Monday, June 16, at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT. The series will air for free on UFC’s official YouTube channel and will follow two teams of elite grapplers coached by multiple-time world champion Mikey Musumeci and rising Brazilian star Rerisson Gabriel as they compete in tournament brackets to determine finalists in the lightweight (155 lbs.) and welterweight (170 lbs.) divisions.

The main event of UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1 will feature a high-stakes showdown between Musumeci and Gabriel themselves, as the coaches go head-to-head for the inaugural bantamweight (135 lbs.) championship.

“This is one of the true building blocks of martial arts,” said UFC CEO and President Dana White. “The athletes and competition in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are on another level. This new series is going to elevate the sport and I could not be more excited.”

Joining White in support of the project is former UFC strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha, who now serves as Senior Director of Jiu-Jitsu Strategy & Business Development.

“I believe that our ruleset, athletes, and promotional power will make UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the go-to event series for fans around the world,” Gadelha said. “I’m so excited for people to see what we’re building.”

UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1 will feature three title bouts to crown inaugural champions at bantamweight, lightweight, and welterweight. The promotion also plans to introduce multiple male and female divisions with rankings and official champions for each weight class. Matches will follow a unique format of three five-minute rounds and will be scored using MMA’s 10-point must system, within a newly designed competition space tailored to encourage nonstop action and protect athlete safety.

Lightweight Tournament Cast:

• Keith Krikorian
• Gianni Grippo
• Kyvann Gonzalez
• Carlos Henrique
• Danilo Moreira
• Mauricio Rios
• Isaac Doederlein
• Josh Cisneros

Welterweight Tournament Cast:

• Andrew Tackett
• Jason Nolf
• Andy Varela
• Davis Asare
• Elijah Carlton
• Aaron Wilson
• Austin Oranday
• Nathan Haddad

UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Road to the Title premieres June 16 on UFC’s YouTube channel.
UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 1 airs live June 25 exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.