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UFC BJJ 3: Musumeci vs. Carrasco full card lineup and preview

Ben Coate

Below is the full card lineup and preview of UFC BJJ 3, which takes place on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

Decorated American star Mikey Musumeci is set to defend his UFC BJJ bantamweight title for the first time this Thursday in the main event of UFC BJJ 3. The event takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the UFC Apex, and in addition to Musumeci’s title defense, the card will also see reigning UFC BJJ lightweight champion Carlos Henrique put his gold on the line for the first time.

Mikey Musumeci vs. Keven Carrasco

After claiming the inaugural UFC BJJ bantamweight title earlier this year with a dominant submission victory over Rerisson Gabriel, Musumeci now returns to action against UFC BJJ and UFC Fight Pass Invitational veteran Keven Carrasco. The champion will be a sizable favorite.

With a total of five IBJJ world titles, a Who’s Number One world title, and a ONE submission grappling world title, Musumeci has firmly established himself among the best pound-for-pound grapplers to ever compete in BJJ. The 29-year-old comes into this contest on a lengthy winning streak that dates back to 2021 and includes victories over top talent like ADCC silver medalist Gabriel Sousa, no-gi world champion Osamah Almarwai, and accomplished veteran Bruno Malfacine.

For his part, Carrasco’s accomplishments pale in comparison. A black belt under Osvaldo “Queixinho” Moizinho, Carrasco’s most significant career achievement to date remains a third-place finish at the 2024 IBJJF Worlds. Still, he’s looked dominant in his pair of matches under the UFC banner, winning each by submission.

On paper, this is Musumeci’s match to lose. While he’s perhaps best known for his dangerous and creative leg lock game in no-gi, Musumeci is a true technical master who is elite in all areas, whether it’s back-takes or guard passing. Carrasco is undeniably a talented, explosive athlete and a well-rounded grappler, but even surviving against Musumeci for 15 minutes would be a major accomplishment for the 26-year-old.

Carlos Henrique vs. Matheus Gabriel

The evening’s co-main event between defending champion Carlos Henrique and three-time gi world champion Matheus Gabriel looks to be much more competitive.

Henrique earned his shot at the inaugural UFC BJJ lightweight crown by defeating veterans Isaac Doederlein and Gianni Grippo on the UFC BJJ: Road to the Title reality show. In the tournament final, he submitted Danilo Moreira with an armbar late in the match. An IBJJF no-gi Pans champion and IBJJF no-gi Worlds silver medalist, Henrique seems to be hitting his athletic peak at the right time.

Gabriel, meanwhile, has long been regarded among the planet’s top lightweight grapplers. The Checkmat representative turned in a phenomenal performance at the 2025 IBJJF Worlds where he took out top stars like Andy Murasaki and Fabyury Khrysthyan to capture his third world title in the gi.

The clash between Henrique and Gabriel has all the makings of a technical battle, with each athlete possessing his own unique approach to grappling. Henrique is a frantic submission hunter with a knack for finding the armbar, while Gabriel is a skilled tactician who focuses on positional dominance and back-takes on his way to the submission.

The rest of the card at UFC BJJ 3

Before that, a number of intriguing matchups highlight the supporting card at UFC BJJ 3.

ADCC silver medalist and no-gi world champion Kennedy Maciel returns for his second appearance on the UFC BJJ stage to take on all-action gi world champion Samuel Nagai. Maciel impressed in his promotional debut against Ademir Barreto, but his high-paced decision win wasn’t enough to impress UFC BJJ executives. He’ll have an exciting dance partner in Nagai, who is a true buzzsaw of activity.

Also, young black belt phenom Cassia Moura hopes to further establish herself among the sport’s top pound-for-pound competitors when she squares off with no-gi world champion Alex Enriquez. Given each woman’s propensity for explosive takedowns on the feet and relentless pursuit of the finish, fans can expect a barnburner for as long as this bout lasts.

Lower still on the card, gi world champion Jansen Gomes will face fellow world champion Gustavo Batista in what looks to be the match of the night. Gomes is a superb athlete and creative submission hunter, while Batista is one of the sport’s most respected and accomplished veterans, setting the stage for an intriguing clash of styles.

View the full lineup of matches below.

UFC BJJ 3 full card lineup

  • Mikey Musumeci (c) vs. Keven Carrasco (UFC BJJ bantamweight title)
  • Carlos Henrique (c) vs. Matheus Gabriel (UFC BJJ lightweight title)
  • Kennedy Maciel vs. Samuel Nagai (middleweight)
  • Cassia Moura vs. Alex Enriques (featherweight)
  • Jansen Gomes vs. Gustavo Batista (middleweight)
  • Kris Olivio vs. Andy Murasaki (welterweight)
  • Andy Varela vs. Daniel Sathler (middleweight)
  • Shye Lilly vs. Ana Mayordomo (flyweight)
  • Jalen Fonacier vs. Pedro Nkano (bantamweight)

How to watch: UFC BJJ 3 takes place on Thursday, October 2, 2025, and will air live on the UFC YouTube channel beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

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 holds the rank of black 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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