They’ve hosted grappling matches before, but UFC BJJ 1 officially marked the MMA world leader’s coming out party and investment in the sport jiu-jitsu. With a reality show build up, a new ruleset and “bowl” surface, they put on this event for free on YouTube, and crowned three inaugural UFC BJJ champions.
Mikey Musumeci, Andrew Tackett, and Carlos Henrique are now the first three UFC BJJ champions, but one of them shined brighter and stole the show.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Mikey Musumeci wins bantamweight title at UFC BJJ 1
The UFC has put their marketing machine heavily behind Mikey Musumeci for their efforts to enter Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). Against a relatively unheralded prospect, the five-time IBJJF world champion had everything to lose, but he took care of business and dominated the UFC BJJ 1 main event.
Rerisson Gabriel is still a new black belt, and since heel hooks aren’t really focused on in the gi, going against a leg lock wizard was no easy task. Musumeci took advantage of that inexperience in no gi, and sucked Gabriel into his game from the opening bell.
Gabriel defended well and fended off what seemed like an endless stream of leg locks for over two rounds, but he was never able to mount any offense of his own. Eventually, Musumeci was able to chain attempts to make Gabriel defend, before timely switching his grips to finish the heel hook.
Musumeci did his job and won the inaugural UFC BJJ bantamweight title in dominant fashion. As a fan though, I hope he gets much better competition next time around, than his first two appearances in the UFC.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Andrew Tackett, Carlos Henrique win inaugural UFC BJJ titles
Andrew Tackett vs. Andy Varela was always a very promising match up with their highly entertaining styles clashing, and it absolutely stole the show at UFC BJJ 1.
The bout was bound to deliver action no matter how it unfolded, and we got just that. Tackett got an early takedown by the bowl wall (ramp?), and showcased that high pace passing game. He eventually got Varela’s back and finished with a modified head and arm choke from the back — somewhat similar to the Ruotolotine popularized by his CJI 1 rival.
With the win, Andrew Tackett became the inaugural welterweight champion. With his skill and wild, fan-friendly style, the UFC also gets a perfect ambassador and face as their first champion.
Tackett also likely got his first title defense already set, facing off after the match with Renato Canuto, who is 3-0 in UFC FPI.
Renato Canuto entered the bowl to face off against new UFC BJJ champion Andrew Tackett. Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
On the third title bout on the card, Carlos Henrique became the first UFC BJJ lightweight champion by beating Danilo Moreira. Henrique secured a brutal armbar to make it to this final, making it fitting that he also got the same submission to win the title as well.
Frank Mir’s daughter Bella Mir got a win at UFC BJJ 1 Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Keith Krikorian, Bella Mir and Cassia Moura take big wins at UFC BJJ 1
Apart from the three new champions, three other grapplers shined earlier in the card.
Outside of the finalists, Polaris champ Keith Krikorian was the only one from the “Road to the Title” cast to secure a spot on this card. He made good use of that opportunity, putting on a show and eventually locking up a pretty nasty face crush over Joao Assonitis.
Bella Mir, the daughter of UFC legend Frank Mir, got an impressive win earlier in the card. The collegiate wrestler and 3-0 MMA prospect got a darce choke finish, submitting a pure grappler in Carol Joia, who is a brown belt IBJJF Pans champion.
Mir, 21, signed the UFC’s first ever NIL deal back in 2023.
Frank Mir’s daughter, Bella Mir got to north south then transitioned to a darce choke to get the second round finish. The wrestler and MMA fighter submitted a brown belt Pans champion. #UFCBJJ1 pic.twitter.com/LdXhJHHeGm
— Anton Tabuena (@antontabuena) June 26, 2025
Teen prodigy Cassia Moura, who was the youngest IBJJF no gi world champion, beat Talita Alencarandabsolutely dominated from bell to bell. Moura showcased elite level passing and had some pretty slick arm-drag to takedown finishes, out-classing the UFC fighter and four-time IBJJF world champ.
Check here for full results from UFC BJJ 1.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Competition is good and borrowing ideas worked
We already knew this from CJI’s pit, but UFC copying that idea for their “bowl” helped push the action and eliminate all the awkward and goofy looking resets typically seen in jiu-jitsu matches — and all the previous UFC FPI events. We can talk about ethics and how it’s weird they’re pretending the pit and 10-point must system was their idea, but the results were good for the fans. Those were two really good ideas for grappling, and it worked well again here.
While Craig Jones and other key figures in BJJ are worried about the UFC ruining the sport by getting a monopoly over it, they do not have one right now. There’s a lot to say about UFC’s exclusive deals and goals for the future. Right now though, the massive promotion entering the sport, providing more opportunities, and putting on cards like these (for free!) is good for jiu-jitsu and its athletes. Competition is always good, and UFC shining a bigger spotlight on the sport is currently helping it grow.
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