SUG 27: Mason Fowler vs. Gabriel Checco Full Card Line-Up and Preview

Submission Underground (SUG) 27 will take place on Sunday, October 10, and will be headlined by a title match between reigning SUG champion Mason Fowler and Gabriel Checco. In the co-main event, Bellator MMA veteran Ian Butler will take on former SUG title challenger Andy Varela.

View the full SUG 27 line-up below.

A brown belt representing Caio Terra Academy, Mason Fowler captured the SUG title in 2020 when he defeated Craig Jones, and hasn’t looked back since. Fowler has successfully defended his title seven times, defeating the likes of Jones (again), Vinny Magalhaes, and Richie Martinez during that span. He is coming off a win over Giancarlo Bodoni at the Who’s Number One Championships — a tournament he was forced out of due to injury.

Gabriel Checco is a 16-fight pro MMA veteran and a frequent SUG competitor. He is a BJJ black belt and is currently riding a two-match SUG win streak with wins over Philip Rowe and Danilo Marques. Checco is filling in for an injured Kyle Boehm, who was originally slated to face Fowler after winning a one-night SUG tournament.

The co-main event will feature 10th Planet standout Andy Varela as he continues his quest to once again challenge for the SUG title. Since his loss to Fowler at SUG 22, Varela has wins over Rafael Domingos and Kevin Casey, sandwiched around a submission loss to Pedro Marinho. Varela steps in on short notice to replace Carlos Condit, and he will face SUG newcomer Ian Butler.

How to watch: SUG 27 takes place on Sunday, October 10, and will air live on UFC Fightpass (subscription required) at 6 PM EST.

Ben Coate

Ben has been involved with grappling, whether through wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, essentially his entire life. After wrestling throughout his childhood, Ben found Brazilian jiu-jitsu as a young adult and quickly fell in love. He has been training for over ten years and currently holds the rank of brown belt, and remains involved in both the MMA and BJJ scene. Ben has been writing about combat sports since 2017. He has interviewed and profiled some of MMA's biggest stars, including multiple UFC champions.

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