A closer look at the UFC BJJ: Road to the Title competitors
We dive into each grappler competing on the upcoming UFC BJJ: Road to the Title reality show.
The UFC recently made waves in the grappling community by announcing its own BJJ organization, complete with titles, contenders, and a TUF-style reality show.
UFC BJJ: Road to the Title will feature two eight-man teams coached by multiple-time IBJJF world champion Mikey Musumeci and 2025 IBJJF Pans champion Rerisson Gabriel, respectively. Each team will consist of four lightweight (155-pound) and welterweight (170-pound) athletes competing head-to-head.
The finalists from each division will compete for the inaugural UFC BJJ belts in those weight classes, while Musumeci and Gabriel will square off for the inaugural UFC BJJ bantamweight title. That event will take place on June 25 and will air live on UFC Fight Pass, while the UFC BJJ: Road to the Title will air free on YouTube.
Below, we look at each cast member’s background and notable accomplishments in the world of grappling.
UFC BJJ: Road to the Title cast
Lightweight division
Keith Krikorian: Despite his relatively young age, 10th Planet black belt Keith Krikorian is one of the field’s most experienced competitors. The 27-year-old is a three-time ADCC veteran, the current Grapplefest 70kg champion, and the current Polaris 66kg champion. A true submission hunter with excellent finishing abilities, Krikorian’s game reflects a blend of elite back-taking and leg-locking skills, all backed up by a seemingly endless gas tank. With submission victories over fellow castmates Gianni Grippo and Josh Cisneros, he is, on paper, the divisional favorite.
Gianni Grippo: A long-time black belt who first made a name for himself as a berimbolo expert in the gi, Grippo is the cast’s most decorated and veteran grappler. Now training out of Bodega Jiu-Jitsu under fellow castmate Kyvann Gonzalez, Grippo is a three-time IBJJF no-gi world champion. While his primary skill set remains taking the back, he’s also developed a dangerous head-and-arm choke that’s become his trademark move. His wealth of elite experience makes him a serious threat against any athlete in the division.
Isaac Doederlein: A frequent training partner of Mikey Musumeci, Doederlein has spent practically his entire black belt career competing exclusively in the gi – where he’s found plenty of success. Indeed, he’s spent the past few years establishing himself as one of America’s top gi grapplers, winning gold at the IBJJF Worlds, Brasileiros, and Euros. Despite his lengthy list of accomplishments, it’s yet to be seen how Doederlein’s berimbolo and straight footlock-oriented game will translate to no-gi competition.
Josh Cisneros: ADCC bronze medalist Cisneros brings incredible pacing, a tenacious takedown game, and a tricky “black hole” submission chain that will give any grappler problems. Although he’s an IBJJF American National and Pans champion in the gi, Cisneros has spent the past few years focusing primarily on his no-gi career, where he’s established himself as an elite competitor. He is 1-1 against Krikorian and holds victories over fellow castmates Grippo and Carlos Henrique, making him one of the division’s favorites.
Carlos Henrique: Although he’s lesser-known by many North American fans, 2023 IBJJF No-Gi Pans champion Henrique looks to be the lightweight division’s dark horse contender. A black belt under top Dream Art athlete Isaque Bahiense, he is an extremely active competitor across both gi and no-gi, including IBJJF, ADCC Opens, and superfight events. And while he’s still in search of his breakout win in no-gi action, his elite technical prowess should take him far in this field.
Danilo Moreira: Ares Jiu-Jitsu representative Moreira hopes to establish himself as a no-gi star at UFC BJJ: Road to the Title. Never one to shy away from elite competition, Moreira is a mainstay of the IBJJF’s adult black belt divisions, boasting a pair of American Nationals gold medals in addition to a silver from the 2019 Brasileiros. Long and lanky for the division, he possesses a dynamic and well-rounded submission game.
Mauricio Rios: A brown belt under 10th Planet founder Eddie Bravo, Mexico’s Rios is a five-fight professional MMA veteran, a Combat Jiu-Jitsu Mexico champion, and an EBI and CJJ Worlds veteran. While he’s still relatively new to the elite no-gi scene, his heel hook victory over Kevin Dantzler earlier this year at EBI 23 proved he belongs at a high level.
Kyvann Gonzalez: New Jersey’s Gonzalez is perhaps better known as Grippo’s coach and the founder of Bodega Jiu-Jitsu than he is for his competitive accomplishments. Still, the popular internet personality is a proven black belt with no shortage of competition experience. If he’s able to take out any of the field’s significantly more decorated grapplers, he will have established himself as an elite competitor.
Welterweight division
Andrew Tackett: With victories over the likes of Tommy Langaker, PJ Barch, and Eoghan O’Flanagan, Tackett is one of the planet’s top welterweight grapplers and a heavy favorite to take home the inaugural UFC BJJ welterweight title. The 22-year-old black belt is an absolute buzzsaw of aggression and activity when he competes, typically chasing takedowns and back control, where he is arguably the sport’s most dangerous finisher. His 2024 battle against Kade Ruotolo at CJI 1 remains one of the best grappling matches in history, and he stands to grow his star power to new heights at UFC BJJ: Road to the Title.
Jason Nolf: Still relatively new to the sport of submission grappling, three-time NCAA national champion wrestler Nolf is one of the most exciting rising stars in BJJ. Now training under John Danaher, Nolf has plenty of potential and, considering his championship pedigree, likely has what it takes to defeat much more experienced grapplers. At last year’s CJI, he pushed pound-for-pound powerhouse Tye Ruotolo to the limit before ultimately succumbing to a knee bar late in the match.
Andy Varela: Varela is known for his dynamic takedowns, explosive back-takes, and gritty approach to grappling. The 10th Planet Las Vegas representative has seen mixed results against elite opposition, losing to the likes of Tackett, Jozef Chen, and Dante Leon, while also owning impressive wins over PJ Barch, fellow castmate Davis Asare, and ADCC silver medalist Jay Rodriguez.
Davis Asare: Still just 23 years old, Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu (formerly New Wave) product Asare is one of the sport’s most talented rising stars. With his solid, well-rounded game and dangerous leg locks, he has proven himself to be an elite competitor who can hang with world-class opposition. He boasts an ADCC European Trials silver medal.
Elijah Carlton: PGF standout Carlton is an ultra-aggressive leg-locking and triangle specialist who has the ability to take out some of the field’s better-known and more accomplished grapplers. He holds an impressive victory over CJI veteran Adam Bradley in addition to a mountain of competition experience under the PGF’s submission-only ruleset.
Aaron Wilson: As an EBI, CJJ Worlds, and UFC Fight Pass Invitational veteran, Wilson is no stranger to the no-gi competition scene. Training alongside ADCC world champion Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes at Soul Fighters, Wilson is a skilled takedown artist, and this show will be his opportunity to break into the elite ranks.
Austin Oranday: Oranday is one of the most active adult black belt competitors on the scene today, regularly competing in IBJJF events in both gi and no-gi. His most dangerous skill set is undoubtedly his leg lock game, and he’ll be looking to upset the field’s more established elite grapplers.
Nathan Haddad: UFC FPI and PGF veteran Haddad is another athlete hoping to break into the elite ranks. While he possesses a relatively traditional, meat-and-potatoes style of grappling, that certainly doesn’t mean he’s not entertaining, as he typically grapples at an incredibly high pace. That pacing will be key if he hopes to score victories over some of the cast’s better-known grapplers.
How to watch: UFC BJJ: Road to the Title premieres on June 16, 2025, and will air free on YouTube. The finale, which includes the title match between Mikey Musumeci and Rerisson Gabriel, airs on June 25, 2025, on UFC Fight Pass (subscription required).
