Earlier this year, allegations of sexual misconduct against Atos head coach Andre Galvao surfaced, leading to a mass exodus of the team’s numerous elite competitors. According to rising purple belt talent Alexa Herse, Galvao had made inappropriate comments and touched her in a sexual manner during training sessions. Herse claims that she attempted to raise concerns with Galvao’s wife and Atos co-owner, Angelica Galvao, but was met with resistance and efforts to silence her.

Shortly after those allegations were made public, Galvao stopped teaching at Atos HQ and separated himself from the gym.

On Wednesday, Galvao released a statement on social media in which he explained that he is cooperating with local law enforcement and that he has now returned to full-time teaching at Atos HQ. While he failed to explicitly claim his innocence, Galvao insinuated that the allegations of sexual misconduct – made by a young purple belt competitor – were somehow related to controversial business decisions.

Watch the full statement below.

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Prior to making the above statement, Galvao had denied what he called “false rumors” and that the allegations were made by individuals with a “personal vendetta,” but he has yet to describe in any detail what business decisions led to these allegations.

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Herse’s allegations against Galvao – one of the most influential figures in the sport of jiu-jitsu – have brought about major discussions of sexual misconduct and abuses of power in BJJ. ADCC champion and former Atos competitor Adele Fornarino has been one of the most prominent and vocal athletes to explicitly condemn Galvao’s behavior and the gym’s handling of the situation.

Although the vast majority of Atos’ top athletes left the gym in recent months, the team has continued to run classes and field competitors. Most notably, Galvao’s daughter, top-ranked black belt Sarah Galvao, has remained active on the competition scene and still represents Atos.

The sixth installment of UFC BJJ goes down this Thursday in Las Vegas, and the event is arguably the best offering from the promotion yet. Topped by a pair of title bouts, the card also features the promotional debuts of a number of elite grapplers looking to make a statement in the organization.

Below, we take a closer look at UFC BJJ 6.

Mason Fowler vs. Pedro Machado

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The main event will see reigning UFC BJJ 6 light heavyweight champion Mason Fowler put his belt on the line for the first time against experienced gi competitor Pedro Machado.

Fowler has made a name for himself competing on the UFC Fight Pass platform. After a dominant unbeaten run through Submission Underground from 2020 through 2021, the Caio Terra black belt would go on to amass an impressive 6-1 record on the now-defunct UFC Fight Pass Invitational, losing only to heavyweight juggernaut Nick Rodriguez. Throughout that run, Fowler picked up victories over the likes of Pedro Marinho, Luke Griffith, and Patrick Gaudio.

Fowler captured the inaugural UFC BJJ light heavyweight crown late last year with a submission win over David Garmo.

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Standing across from him will be 25-year-old Brazilian Pedro Machado. Notably, the vast majority of Machado’s career accomplishments have come in the gi, where he is an IBJJF Worlds, Pans, Euros, and Brasileiros silver medalist. In his lone UFC BJJ appearance, he scored a submission victory against fellow gi standout Felipe Pimental.

On paper, this match is Fowler’s to lose. As a multiple-time ADCC veteran an mainstay of the elite no-gi scene, the titleholder boasts a mountain of top-level no-gi experience compared to Machado’s sparse no-gi record. Stylistically, Fowler is dangerous from all positions, whether he’s attacking from his dynamic rubber guard or looking to pass and take the back. For Machado, an upset win over Fowler would be a massive upset and would mark a major turning point in his career.

Ffion Davies vs. Cassia Moura

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Before that, decorated Welsh star Ffion Davies will square off with young phenom Cassia Moura for the inaugural UFC BJJ bantamweight world title. The clash marks one of the biggest matches in grappling today.

As an ADCC champion and multiple-time IBJJF world champion in both gi and no-gi, Davies is the most accomplished European grappler ever. The 31-year-old owns victories in practically every major organization and is still considered by many to be the sport’s pound-for-pound best. She’ll come into this contest riding a winning streak that dates back to 2023 and includes wins over ADCC champions Adele Fornarino and Mackenzie Dern.

Moura, meanwhile, has blazed her way to the top of BJJ in record time. Still just 20 years old, the Brazilian was promoted from blue to black belt in under one year after winning IBJJF world titles at every belt level. And, since receiving her black belt from Bruno Bastos in June 2024, she’s already claimed a pair of IBJJF no-gi world titles – most recently moving up several weight classes to win gold at heavyweight.

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Both athletes grapple at a torrid, relentlessly aggressive pace. With her background in judo, Davies is an excellent takedown artist and superb guard passer, often preferring to look for her trademark knee-cut pass from the headquarters position. And while she’s perhaps at her most dangerous when she’s applying pressure from the top position, Davies is no slouch when attacking from her back, and she may even opt to pull guard against the younger, more athletic Moura.

For her part, Moura is an explosive athlete who is among the sport’s best passers. She typically takes top position with her arm drag takedown before employing high-paced outside passing to take the back or secure side control. When she works from her guard, Moura leans heavily on her meat-and-potatoes closed guard, which has proven to be a difficult puzzle to solve.

The rest of the card at UFC BJJ 6

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Lower on the card, two-time ADCC silver medalist and CJI champion Nick Rodriguez will make his UFC BJJ debut against two-time IBJJF no-gi world champion Elder Cruz. Considering that both men are talented wrestlers and dangerous guard passers, fans can expect a battle for top position on the feet in this heavyweight clash.

Also, two-time gi world champion Meyram Maquine will continue his foray into the world of no-gi with an intriguing featherweight showdown with current IBJJF no-gi world champion Marco Mendes. Maquine has looked great in no-gi action so far, boasting wins over the likes of Owen Jones and Gabriel Sousa. Mendes, meanwhile, is coming off a breakout year in 2025 after winning gold at both no-gi Worlds and Pans.

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Also, ADCC veterans Ana Rodrigues and Jasmine Rocha will meet in a bantamweight bout. A multiple-time gi world champion, Rodrigues already owns a pair of wins of Rocha.

Other notable competitors at UFC BJJ 6 include former no-gi world champion Devhonte Johnson, as well as decorated veterans Joao Miyao and Manuel Ribamar.

UFC BJJ 6 full card

• Mason Fowler (c) vs. Pedro Machado (UFC BJJ light heavyweight title)
• Ffion Davies vs. Cassia Moura (UFC BJJ bantamweight title)
• Nick Rodriguez vs. Elder Cruz (heavyweight)
• Meyram Maquine vs. Marco Mendes (featherweight)
• Ana Rodrigues vs. Jasmine Rocha (bantamweight)
• Devhonte Johnson vs. Lucas Norat (heavyweight)
• Jussier Formiga vs. Joao Miyao (bantamweight)
• Manuel Ribamar vs. Caio Viniciaus (middleweight)

How to watch: UFC BJJ 6 takes place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, and will air live on the UFC BJJ YouTube channel beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

After a wild ending to their hotly anticipated wrestling match, Arman Tsarukyan and Georgio Poullas will now run it back under submission-only rules.

This past Saturday, at Real American Freestyle (RAF) 6, Tsarukyan picked up a closely-contested victory over Poullas after a match that was filled with drama, slaps, and shoves from each competitor that forced the referee to step in. When the match ended, Tsarukyan – who is currently the #2-ranked UFC lightweight contender – threw a punch at Poullas, setting off a massive brawl that brought dozens to the mat.

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On Tuesday, Moscow-based promotion Hype Fighting announced that Tsarukyan and Poullas will meet in a submission-only grappling bout on March 11 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, at the Farmasi Arena. The contest is slated for 10 minutes.

Tsarukyan is widely recognized as one of the planet’s top lightweight MMA fighters. The 29-year-old Armenian star boasts a 10-2 record in the UFC and is currently riding a five-fight winning streak that has positioned him close to a UFC title shot.

Considering Tsarukyan’s grappling-heavy style of fighting, it’s perhaps no surprise that he has recently branched out into competitive grappling. With his points victory over Poullas at RAF 6, he now owns a 2-0 freestyle wrestling record, having defeated former PFL champion Lance Palmer by technical fall in January at RAF 5. Tsarukyan is also undefeated in submission grappling, with victories over former UFC champion Benson Henderson and former Bellator champion Patricky “Pitbull” Freire.

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For his part, Poullas was a state champion wrestler in high school who briefly went on to wrestle in college before turning his efforts to becoming a social media star. Poullas has used a popular “take me down, win $1,000” gimmick to amass a significant following across multiple social media platforms. Notably, he claims to have never once been taken down during this challenge.

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How to watch: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Georgio Poullas will air live on the Hype Fighting Kick channel on March 11, 2026.

After a nearly five-year hiatus, Submission Underground (SUG) will return this May. On Wednesday, SUG president Chael Sonnen announced on social media that the next SUG event is set to take place in Brazil on May 17.

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“Florianopolis, Brazil. Submission Underground is coming back. May 17. This is going to be no-gi grappling, tournament-style. More details to follow.”

Currently, no other details regarding the return of SUG have been made public, including the ruleset, potential competitors, or where the event will be broadcast.

SUG held its first event in 2017, and over the next several years, would employ a blend of professional grapplers and top-level MMA fighters to become one of the sport’s most prominent and popular promotions. Early SUG events saw intriguing matchups such as Jake Shields versus Gilbert Burns, Craig Jones versus Anthony Johnson, and Gordon Ryan versus Gabriel Gonzaga. All SUG events took place in Portland, Oregon.

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, SUG was one of the few grappling promotions that continued to produce events. During that time, elite competitor Mason Fowler rose to prominence as the promotion’s top star, as he would defeat Craig Jones and enjoy a dominant winning streak as the SUG absolute champion. Now the reigning UFC BJJ light heavyweight champion, Fowler also owns SUG victories over Kyle Chambers, Vinny Magalhaes, and Roberto Jimenez, among others.

In the main event of the last SUG event in December 2021, ADCC and CJI veteran Andy Varela submitted former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.

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Previous SUG events were broadcast on UFC Fight Pass and employed a modified EBI ruleset, using a five-minute regulation period.

After several days of rumors swirling, direct allegations of sexual misconduct have now been made against Atos head coach Andre Galvao.

On Monday, rising young talent and recent purple belt European champion Alexa Herse made public her troubling and abusive experiences with Galvao. In a post on Instagram, Herse explains that Galvao made her “very uncomfortable on many occasions… touched [her] inappropriately during training sessions… commented on [her] body and appearance… made sexual moaning sounds… and licked [her] ear” during a training session.

Herse also states that Galvao’s wife and Atos co-owner, Angelica Galvao, advised Herse against raising concerns about Andre’s behavior.

Herse had been a long-time member of Atos, spending the entirety of her accomplished juvenile career under the Atos banner. Following this experience, she is no longer with the team.

View Herse’s full statement below.

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Herse’s allegations – along with rumors of other instances of sexual misconduct – have led to a mass exodus of grapplers from the Atos team, as well as a number of Atos affiliates breaking ties with Galvao and Atos. Grapplers who have officially left the Atos banner include ADCC champions Adele Fornarino and Rafaela Guedes, black belt instructor Rose Miller, and accomplished competitor Nikki Sullivan, among many others.

Prominent affiliates who have left Atos include JT Torres and Essential Jiu-Jitsu, Michael Liera Jr’s Logos Jiu-Jitsu, Kristian Woodmansee’s Logic BJJ, and former world champion Lucas Pinheiro.

According to a statement from Pinheiro, he personally confirmed the veracity of the allegations against Galvao and shared that Herse has already filed a police report.

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A multiple-time ADCC and world champion who heads up one of jiu-jitsu’s largest affiliations and arguably its most prominent competition academy, Galvao is a massive figure in the sport. Before Herse had released her allegations publicly, but after rumors had surfaced of misconduct, Galvao categorically denied any wrongdoing.

According to the 43-year-old, the exodus of athletes is a result of “administrative and financial changes.”

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The biggest no-gi event on the IBJJF calendar goes down on December 11-13, 2025, in Las Vegas, with black belt athletes competing on Friday and Saturday.

This year’s No-Gi Worlds are particularly packed with top talent and well-known names. Before the action gets underway, let’s take a closer look at eight grapplers poised for standout performances.

#1 Cole Abate

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Young Art of Jiu-Jitsu phenom Cole Abate will return for his first appearance in no-gi competition since capturing gold at the 2024 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds.

A master technician who’s equally dangerous hunting for leg locks from his back as he is passing guard and taking the back from the top position, Abate hasn’t competed at a high rate during his black belt career. Still, he’s seen plenty of success at the highest level. While he’s already claimed multiple golds in the gi at IBJJF majors, he is likely to do his best work in no-gi.

Abate will be the favorite in the lightweight division, and not only because he’s the returning champion. He could run into some stiff competition in the form of his AoJ teammate Daniel Sathler, no-gi Pans and Euros champion Julian Espinosa, and no-gi Euros champion Yigit Hanay.

#2 Pawel Jaworski

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Polish submission ace Pawel Jaworski turned in a nearly flawless performance at the no-gi Pans, and he’ll look to do the same in his return to the medium-heavy division.

Jaworski is one of the tournament’s most dangerous leg lockers, who has proven himself to be a threat in both his division and the absolute division. In addition to no-gi Euros and Pans titles to his name, he boasts ADCC Trials gold, as well as experience at CJI and Polaris.

If Jaworski wants to keep his impressive momentum going, he’ll have to get through stiff competition like former no-gi world champions Sebastian Rodriguez and Wallisson Oliveira, young rising star Logan Smith, and experienced no-gi specialist David Garmo.

#3 Javier Barter

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Panama’s Javier Barter is quietly emerging as one of the sport’s best talents – and he’s poised for a true breakout performance this weekend.

A black belt since 2022, Barter seems to have hit his stride in 2025 with a second-place finish at the no-gi Brasileiros and gold at no-gi Pans. Notably, his performance at Pans included submission victories over Sean Yadimarco and Jose Jurema, and a 12-0 domination of Dante Leon. Barter is a true submission hunter with a penchant for finding the back and rear-naked choke.

Barter will face nothing but elite opposition in the talent-packed heavyweight division. In addition to possible rematches with Leon, Jurema, and Yadimarco, he could square off with the likes of 2024 no-gi world champion Faris Benlamkadem and accomplished veteran Charles Negromonte.

#4 Mia Funegra

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After dominating the colored belt ranks and winning a world title in the gi just days after earning her black belt, Art of Jiu-Jitsu prodigy Mia Funegra will now look to capture a black belt world title in no-gi.

The 19-year-old light-feather standout possesses the classic AoJ style that emphasizes solid outside passing, an active and practically impassable guard, and an ever-evolving leg lock game. Funegra beat some big names to win gold in the gi, and she’ll have to do the same here.

Fans can look forward to potential matchups for Funegra against Brasileiros champion Brenda Larissa, Essential BJJ representative Jessica Crane, or European standout Josefine Modig.

#5 Adele Fornarino

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Reigning ADCC champ-champ and perennial pound-for-pound star Adele Fornarino will aim for her first no-gi world title at the black belt level in the featherweight division.

Simply put, the Australian is a superb guard player and a ruthless finisher, both when she’s attacking arms from her closed guard or the legs from her open guard. With submission wins over the likes of Brianna Ste-Marie, Rafaela Guedes, and Jasmine Rocha, Fornarino has done plenty to establish herself near the top of the women’s pound-for-pound list. Her lone losses in the past couple of years have been razor-thin decisions against fellow pound-for-pound elites Ffion Davies and Helena Crevar.

Fornarino will be the favorite in a jam-packed featherweight division, where she could square off with young phenoms like Thaynara Victoria or Ana Mayordomo.

#6 Helena Crevar

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Top pound-for-pound no-gi competitor Helena Crevar will be a significant favorite to take home gold in the medium-heavy division.

Outside of a 90-second decision loss at a Polaris Squads event, Crevar is undefeated in no-gi action since coming up short in the final at ADCC 2024. Since then, she’s picked up victories over Fornarino, Sarah Galvao, and Elisabeth Clay to surpass the rest of the women’s division and erase any doubt that she’s the sport’s top pound-for-pound grappler.

As always, fans can look forward to an offensive-minded guard and picture-perfect finishing mechanics from the young Kingsway product. While her toughest competition in the medium-heavy division will likely come from returning no-gi world champion Salla Simola, Crevar could make plenty of noise in the absolute division if she decides to go that route.

#7 Cassia Moura

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Perhaps the most intriguing athlete on this list is returning no-gi world champion Cassia Moura, who will move up several weight classes to compete in the heavyweight division.

With her explosive takedowns and dynamic guard passing, Moura has already cemented herself as an elite talent, boasting victories over Sarah Galvao, Alex Enriquez, and Tammi Musumeci. Winning gold against significantly larger opponents will stamp her place among the sport’s pound-for-pound best.

Despite the size she’ll be giving up, the Bruno Bastos product is likely the favorite in the heavyweight division. She’ll undoubtedly lean on her speed, pacing, and athleticism against established heavyweights like Nia Blackman and Erin Harpe.

#8 Gabi Pessanha

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Finally, the sport’s most dominant competitor – Gabi Pessanha – will look to extend her run into the no-gi world as she shoots for another double-gold performance.

Pessanha has been practically untouchable over the past several years, racking up double-gold after double-gold in gi competion, and is now doing the same in no-gi action. The Brazilian is a superb athlete with a knack for finding the straight ankle lock finish.

Pessanha will be the favorite in both the super-heavy and absolute divisions. In fact, her tasting defeat this weekend would likely be an even bigger story than her taking home two more gold medals at jiu-jitsu’s most prestigious no-gi tournament.

How to watch: The 2025 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships take place December 11-13, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required).

A trio of title belts will be on the line this Friday evening when FloGrappling’s Who’s Number One (WNO) returns to action in Round Rock, Texas.

The card has undergone a significant number of changes. A lightweight title bout between Diego “Pato” Oliveira and Deandre Corbe was scrapped just two days prior to the event. Also, a hotly anticipated clash between Andy Murasaki and Dante Leon was postponed, and decorated veteran Xande Ribeiro received a new opponent.

In the main event, familiar foes Felipe Pena and Luke Griffith will square off for the vacant WNO heavyweight crown. Before that, pound-for-pound star Helena Crevar will put her featherweight belt on the line against veteran black belt Julia Boscher.

Felipe Pena vs. Luke Griffith

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The evening’s headlining attraction will see Pena and Griffith each look to stake their claim as the sport’s top heavyweight competitors.

Pena is one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of grappling. With notable career wins over the likes of Gordon Ryan, Nick Rodriguez, and Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, he’s firmly solidified himself among the all-time greats. And although he’s 34 years old and seemingly in the twilight of his career, he hasn’t lost a step against the best competition available, having claimed his second ADCC world title just a little over a year ago.

For his part, Griffith has spent the past few years evolving from one of the sport’s top prospects to a bona fide elite talent. After a disappointing first-round exit at ADCC 2022, the Kingsway product bounced back two years later to capture silver at ADCC 2024. He would subsequently score an impressive win over Victor Hugo to secure himself a crack at WNO gold.

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Notably, this will be the third meeting between these two heavyweight juggernauts. The pair first collided in the final of the +99kg division at ADCC 2024, where Pena employed his veteran savvy and world-class back-taking game to weather an early storm to ultimately secure a rear-naked choke finish.

They met one year later at CJI 2. Pena dominated the entirety of the match before locking in an armbar finish, but it’s worth noting that Griffith had just competed in a match against Diego “Pato” Oliveira, while Pena came into the contest fresh and rested.

The third match between Pena and Griffith promises an interesting clash of styles. While both athletes are dangerous from any position, Pena does his best work attacking from his guard and looking for the back, while Griffith is an excellent takedown artist and guard passer who will employ pressure to expose the back.

Helena Crevar vs. Julia Boscher

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Young phenom Helena Crevar looks to be the sport’s top pound-for-pound competitor at the moment, and she’ll come into her featherweight title defense as a significant favorite against Julia Boscher.

Still just 18 years old, Crevar employs an aggressive closed guard game and dangerous leg locks that complement her ever-evolving pressure passing. After earning silver at the 2024 ADCC World Championships, she firmly established herself as a pound-for-pound powerhouse when she defeated Adele Fornarino and Sarah Galvao to win the six-figure prize at CJI 2. Outside of a 90-second decision loss at Polaris Squads, the Kingsway product hasn’t tasted defeat in no-gi competition in well over a year.

Boscher, meanwhile, will be looking for a breakout win. A black belt since 2019, the 30-year-old’s biggest and best accomplishments have come in the gi, where she is a Brasileiros absolute champion.

The rest of the card at WNO 31

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Elsewhere on the card, Xande Ribeiro will continue his late-stage comeback tour when he takes on 2024 IBJJF no-gi world champion Faris Benlamkadem, who represents a serious challenge for the veteran fan-favorite.

Also, super-heavyweight standout Gabi Pessanha will square off with Paige Ivette Clymer. Pessanha has been practically unstoppable over the past few years, absolutely dominating the IBJJF circuit in both gi and no-gi action, but Clymer, with her elite athleticism and ample experience in no-gi competition, poses a real threat to upset the Brazilian star.

Finally, a late-notice match between leg lock experts Chris Wojcik and Oliver Taza promises plenty of action in a cross-town clash between Simple Man Martial Arts and Kingsway.

WNO 31 full card lineup

Main card

• Felipe Pena vs. Luke Griffith (WNO heavyweight title)
• Helena Crevar (c) vs. Julia Boscher (WNO featherweight title)
• Xande Ribeiro vs. Faris Benlamkadem (light heavyweight)
• Gabi Pessanha vs. Paige Ivette Clymer (heavyweight)
• Felipe Costa vs. Abraham La Montagne (light heavyweight)
• Chris Wojcik vs. Oliver Taza (middleweight)

Undercard

• Joslyn Molina vs. Katie Bochenek (heavyweight)
• Grayson Henley vs. Michael Bannack (featherweight)
• Sean Magnus vs. Nick Fritz (middleweight)

How to watch: WNO 31 takes place on Friday, December 5, 2025, and will air live on FloGrappling (subscription required) beginning at 8:00 PM EST.

UFC BJJ 3 took place this past Thursday at the UFC APEX, and the athletes absolutely brought the heat. From the first bout of the night all the way through Mikey Musumeci’s main event domination, submissions were flying, and statements were made.

View the full results from the event here. Watch a replay of UFC BJJ 3 here.

#1 Mikey Musumeci needs a willing dance partner

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The face of UFC BJJ, Mikey Musumeci, scores another dominant win in the evening’s main event. He made quick work of Keven Carrasco, earning the submission via a very quick leg lock submission. With that, he successfully defended his belt for the first time.

Musumeci has stated he would like to defend his title four times next year. He stated in an interview with Grappling Insider that he would like to face “Baby Shark” Diogo Reis. Other big names that could be paired with Mikey are Gabriel Sousa, who holds a submission victory over Musumeci, or Junny Ocasio. After the bout, Musumeci called for a match with his prior foe Joao Miyao.

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Mikey has clearly solidified himself as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound grapplers. There are some big names out there for Musumeci to tangle with, and he needs a willing dance partner to step up to the challenge. 

#2 Carlos Henrique is emerging as a star

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In the evening’s co-main event, UFC BJJ lightweight champion Carlos Henrique made the first defense of his title by out-pointing Matheus Gabriel. Henrique is a physical force in the weight class. His game is highlighted by heavy guard passing while being able to comfortably attack both the upper and lower body.

Henrique has strung together elite wins on his way to this title defense. On the “Road to UFC BJJ” show, he submitted both Gianni Grippo and Isaac Doederlein. He also has a 2025 win over rising BJJ phenom Landon Elmore. 

A bout with Samuel Nagai, who also won on this card, could be a tantalizing matchup to look forward to.

#3 Varela and Murasaki are on a collision course

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UFC BJJ 3 may have produced a dynamite #1 contender’s bout for Andrew Tackett’s welterweight title. Andy Varela and Andy Murasaki were two of the biggest winners at UFC BJJ 3 and may be destined for a future date. 

Andy Varela is a merchant of chaos and one of the most exciting grapplers to have entered the bowl. He scored a beautiful “submission of the night” victory over Daniel Sathler after hitting a pass-by to a jumping back-take and finishing with his patented rear-naked choke. 

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Andy Murasaki made a statement in his UFC BJJ debut, submitting Kris Olivo in the third round via Kimura. Murasaki, who made a name for himself in the gi, was comfortable everywhere against a dangerous opponent. His passing was clinical. After the victory, he had one name in mind: Andy Varela.

#4 Cassia Moura is must-see TV

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19-year-old Jiu-Jitsu phenom Cassia Moura has cemented herself as one of the top female contenders in the UFC BJJ organization. Cassia went from blue belt to black belt in under a year, winning everything in between and on her way to the UFC bowl.

Now, she is 2-0 in the organization after winning an impressive unanimous decision over experienced grappler and world champion Alex Enriquez. Her ultra-aggressive style is a treat for fans to watch. A possible future bout with Tammi Musumeci could be a lot of fun. 

#5 UFC BJJ is investing in top Brazilian talent

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Through three UFC BJJ events, Claudia Gadhelia and company have made it a point to look to sign top Brazilian talent to the roster. Looking up and down on this card, there were big names that made their mark IBJJF scene, such as Jansen Gomes, Kennedy Maciel, Samuel Nagai, and Andy Murasaki.

It is always fascinating to see the top gi players crossover to compete in high-level no gi events. The way points are scored under the IBJJF ruleset could transition very well to the three-round 10-point must format that the UFC BJJ uses.

No-gi season is officially underway. The 2025 IBJJF No-Gi Pans went down over the weekend in New York, marking the first no-gi major of the year. Per usual, the event drew a number of the sport’s top competitors from around the world.

Below, we take a look at some of the standout performances from the adult black belt divisions.

Gabi Pessanha extends her run of dominance

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Gabi Pessanha is gradually establishing herself as one of the most dominant athletes to ever compete in the IBJJF. The 25-year-old phenom is already a 10-time world champion in the gi, and after winning her first no-gi world championship title last year and now adding a no-gi Pans title to her jam-packed trophy case, she looks poised to fully take the no-gi scene by storm.

Pessanha’s athleticism and ever-evolving leg lock game carried her to gold in both the super-heavyweight and open class divisions over the weekend – and she rarely seemed threatened across five total matches.

While she’s likely to face stiffer competition at No-Gi Worlds, Pessanha will be the odds-on favorite to score another double-gold performance later this year.

Roosevelt Sousa continues a dominant 2025

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On the men’s side, Fight Sports representative Roosevelt Sousa impressed with a double-gold performance of his own.

Sousa battled hard all weekend, employing his well-rounded game and deep gas tank to earn hard-fought wins over the likes of ADCC Trials winner Inacio Santos, reigning no-gi absolute champion Elder Cruz, and decorated veteran Patrick Gaudio to take home gold in both the ultra-heavyweight and absolute divisions.

With a podium finish at the 2022 ADCC World Championships and a no-gi world title to his name, Sousa had already done plenty to solidify himself as an elite talent, but he’s enjoying a true breakout year in 2025. On top of his no-gi Pans double-gold, he claimed his first gi world title and scored a solid submission win over Igor Tanabe at Who’s Number One.

Marco Mendes scores 100 percent finishing rate

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In the men’s featherweight division, Marco Mendes turned in a career-defining performance and earned his first IBJJF major title.

Still just 22 years old, Mendes submitted each of his four opponents, all while displaying an impressive variety of finishing skills. In addition to his lightning-fast armbar finish over Cameron Mellott in the divisional final, he also earned submissions via rear-naked choke, kneebar, and calf-slicer.

Mendes’ performance announced him as a real threat in one of the sport’s deepest divisions and set the stage for another breakout showing at no-gi Worlds.

Elder Cruz impresses

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Elder Cruz seems to have finally found his stride and is living up to expectations in IBJJF competition.

The 31-year-old leaned heavily on his high-paced wrestling and relentless guard passing to win gold in the super-heavyweight division and a third-place finish in the absolute division. Now training alongside Dante Leon and Max Hanson at Adamas Jiu-Jitsu under the Pedigo Submission Fighting banner, Cruz has hit his stride and will be a difficult puzzle to solve for any grappler, regardless of weight class.

Anabel Lopez overcomes elite opposition

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Spanish standout Anabel Lopez Beard is quickly establishing herself as one of Europe’s top competitors. The reigning no-gi world champion went through an incredibly stiff lineup of Yara Soares, Sula-Mae Loewenthal, and Erin Harpe en route to gold in the heavyweight division.

After a dominant colored belt career and now a solid start to her black belt campaign, Lopez has all the makings of a pound-for-pound powerhouse with seemingly no holes in her all-around game.

Sarah Galvao wins first IBJJF major

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Rookie black belt Sarah Galvao continues to live up to the lofty expectations surrounding her. Fresh off an impressive performance at Ocean BJJ Pro and a solid showing at CJI 2 earlier this year, Galvao was largely dominant against elite competition, winning gold in the talent-laden middleweight division.

She took out top European grapplers Gamila Kanew and Injana Goodman to pick up her first IBJJF major at black belt – surely the first of many for the young prodigy.

Check out the full adult black belt results from the 2025 IBJJF No-Gi Pans below

2025 IBJJF No-Gi Pans adult black belt results

Women’s

Rooster

• 1st – Mariana Rolszt
• 2nd – Thais Loureiro Felipe
• 3rd – Faye Lynn Cherrier
• 3rd – Mara Kelly

Light-feather

• 1st – Mayssa Bastos
• 2nd – Andrea Jordan
• 3rd – Erika Fernanda Jesus Machado

Feather

• 1st – Ana Mayordomo
• 2nd – Thaynara Victoria Soares da Silva
• 3rd – Beatriz Campos
• 3rd – Lauren Sognefest

Light

• 1st – Caroline Brunacio Vinhaes
• 2nd – Zara Di Tofano
• 3rd – Amanda Bruse
• 3rd – Julia Maele

Middle

• 1st – Sarah Galvao
• 2nd – Injana Goodman
• 3rd – Gabriela de Faria Matos Barreto
• 3rd – Gamila Kanew

Medium-heavy

• 1st – Salla Simola
• 2nd – Fernanda Yukari Makiyama Cristo
• 3rd – Gabriela de Mirand Barroso
• 3rd – Maria Pia Barriga Monge

Heavy

• 1st – Anabel Lopez Beard
• 2nd – Erin Harpe
• 3rd – Karoline Silva Caramori
• 3rd – Sula-Mae Loewenthal

Super-heavy

• 1st – Gabi Pessanha
• 2nd – Maria Victoria Barboza de Santiago
• 3rd – Lauren Rojas

Open class

• 1st – Gabi Pessanha
• 2nd – Injana Goodman
• 3rd – Gamila Kanew
• 3rd – Maria Victoria Barboza de Santiago

Men’s

Rooster

• 1st – Osamah Almarwai
• 2nd – Lucas de Souza Castro
• 3rd – Christopher Tran
• 3rd – Relter Lima Silva Filho

Light-feather

• 1st – Vinicius Gomes Inacio
• 2nd – Leonardo Martins
• 3rd – Junny Ocasio
• 3rd – Jacob Semsem

Feather

• 1st – Marco Mendes
• 2nd – Cameron Mellott
• 3rd – Marco Antonio Gomes Guedes
• 3rd – Steven Gomez

Light

• 1st – Julian Espinosa
• 2nd – Max Hanson
• 3rd – Gianni Grippo
• 3rd – Joao Assonitis

Middle

• 1st – Marcelo Fausto
• 2nd – Mahmoud Mazen Jabr
• 3rd – Eduardo Avelar de Carvalho
• 3rd – Mateus de Moraes Coelho

Medium-heavy

• 1st – Pawel Jaworski
• 2nd – Locan Smith
• 3rd – David Garmo
• 3rd – Wallisson Oliveira Souza

Heavy

• 1st – Javier Barter
• 2nd – Jose Jurema
• 3rd – Anthony Robinson
• 3rd – Dante Leon

Super-heavy

• 1st – Elder Cruz
• 2nd – Lucas Norat Lopes
• 3rd – Austin Morris
• 3rd – Thomas Bracher

Ultra-heavy

• 1st – Roosevelt Sousa
• 2nd – Helder Jose
• 3rd – Anderson Kauan Gomes Marinho
• 3rd – Jose Inacio

Open class

• 1st – Roosevelt Sousa
• 2nd – Patrick Gaudio
• 3rd – Elder Cruz
• 3rd – Pawel Jaworski

The third installment of UFC BJJ took place on Thursday night, and a pair of title bouts topped the card.

Musumeci breezes through Carrasco

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In the main event, reigning UFC BJJ bantamweight champion Mikey Musumeci looked just like the massive favorite that he was, making quick work of Ares BJJ representative Keven Carrasco.

After inviting the takedown on the feet, Musumeci opted to pull guard where he immediately went to work on achieving a leg entanglement. While Carrasco was cagey and hesitant to engage from the top position, Musumeci was able to eventually employ his trademark K-guard to wrap up Carrasco’s legs. From there, the champion chained his leg attacks together before finding the finish with a Mikey lock – a modified inside heel hook.

With the first-round submission victory, Musumeci has successfully defended his UFC BJJ gold for the first time and has further solidified himself among the planet’s top pound-for-pound competitors. In a recent interview with Grappling Insider, the New Jersey Native explained that he expects to compete four times next year under the UFC BJJ banner.

Henrique outpaces Gabriel

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In the evening’s co-main event, UFC BJJ lightweight champion Carlos Henrique put his gold on the line against multiple-time IBJJF world champion Matheus Gabriel.

Henrique came out aggressively from the opening bell, and for much of the 15-minute match, he utilized a blend of pressure and outside passing to consistently force Gabriel on the defensive. While Gabriel’s guard proved to be practically impossible to pass, it was Henrique’s solid work from the top position and several near-submissions that earned him the clear-cut unanimous decision win.

Like Musumeci, Henrique has now defended his UFC BJJ belt for the first time. He remains undefeated in UFC BJJ competition and is quickly asserting himself as one of the sport’s best 155-pound grapplers.

The rest of the card at UFC BJJ 3

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Lower on the card, IBJJF world champion Samuel Nagai made a splash in his promotional debut, scoring an entertaining, back-and-forth victory over former foe Kennedy Maciel. Considering that performance and his all-action approach to grappling, Nagai has positioned himself well for a crack at Henrique’s lightweight title.

Also, young phenom Cassia Moura continued her meteoric rise with a dominant victory over IBJJF no-gi world champion Alex Enriquez. Moura displayed excellent wrestling and guard passing on her way to a unanimous decision win that may have moved her close to the front of the line for a shot at UFC BJJ gold.

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Other standout performances came from 10th Planet veteran Andy Varela, Atos standout Andy Murasaki, and IBJJF world champion Jalen Fonacier.

Check out the full event results below.

UFC BJJ 3 results

• Mikey Musumeci (c) def. Keven Carrasco via submission (Mikey lock) (UFC BJJ bantamweight title)
• Carlos Henrique (c) def. Matheus Gabriel via unanimous decision (UFC BJJ lightweight title)
• Samuel Nagai def. Kennedy Maciel via unanimous decision
• Cassia Moura def. Alex Enriquez via unanimous decision
• Jansen Gomes def. Gustavo Batista via unanimous decision
• Andy Murasaki def. Kris Olivo via submission (kimura)
• Andy Varela def. Daniel Sathler via submission (rear-naked choke)
• Ana Mayordomo def. Shye Lilly via submission (armbar)
• Jalen Fonacier def. Pedro Nakano via submission (heel hook)

Watch the full replay of UFC BJJ 3 below.