After the UFC rebranded their Fight Pass Invitational (UFC FPI) grappling series and kicked off with a “UFC BJJ: Road to the Title” reality show, three inaugural title bouts are now set for their official relaunch this Wednesday.
UFC BJJ 1 happens 8 p.m. ET on June 25, 2025, as part of UFC International Fight Week, and the full fight card has been made official.
Below is everything you need to know about the first UFC BJJ event.
UFC BJJ 1 Preview: Three title bouts, a UFC fighter, and the daughter of a UFC legend
16 Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) stars joined the two tournaments at the UFC BJJ: Road to the Title reality show. The finalists each won two bouts in the show and only need one more to become the UFC’s inaugural grappling champions.
The main event will also feature the reality show coaches facing off for the bantamweight title, making for three title bouts on the UFC BJJ 1 event.
They’ve also showed how these UFC BJJ belts will look and they are very… unique.
Top UFC BJJ 1 match to watch: Andrew Tackett vs. Andy Varela title bout
The best match from UFC BJJ 1 to watch is the inaugural title bout at welterweight, where the two tournament favorites ended up in the finals. CJI 1 star Andrew Tackett made it look easy, getting two quick rear naked choke finishes over Aaron Wilson and decorated wrestling champ Jason Nolf to make it to the final.
He will be facing PGF Champion Andy Varela, who entertained and showboated as he choked out both Nathan Haddad and Davis Asare.
Tackett and Varela were the #1 and #2 seeds at the tournament, and while they were both under “Team Gabriel,” they ended matched up against each other in the finals.
The pair already faced off once before, with Varela losing by 2 points in the semi-final round of the 2024 ADCC West Coast Trials. That was part of Tackett’s incredible run, where he won seven matches and took gold at the tournament. That win qualified him for the ADCC World Championships, but he was the first trials champ to ditch the event and compete at CJI 1, where he had that instant classic and now iconic match up with Kade Ruotolo.
While Tackett could be considered the favorite after already having a win over Varela, their styles alone nearly guarantee fireworks no matter how it goes.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Mikey Musumeci vs. Rerisson Gabriel: Curious matchmaking in main event
The main event of UFC BJJ 1 is an inaugural bantamweight title bout between the two coaches from the Road to the Title reality show. Mikey Musumeci, a five-time IBJJF world champion, was not only the first exclusively signed UFC grappler, he was also the main focus of the reality show.
As one of the best grapplers at the lighter weights, Musumeci was the obvious pick for this title shot, but his opponent and reality show partner was a pretty surprising choice.
Instead of the likes of two-time ADCC champion “Baby Shark” Diogo Reis, six-time IBJJF world champ Diego Pato, or other decorated world champions, UFC ended up giving the reality show gig and inaugural title shot to a relatively unknown grappler.
Rerisson Gabriel is a talented prospect, especially in the gi, but his accomplishments don’t match up to other big names, or even many of the grappling champs he was tasked to coach in the reality show. Gabriel only got promoted to black belt less than a year ago, and he has one major IBJJF title to his name, after winning gold at the 2025 IBJJF Pans. This tournament is also where Gabriel got the biggest win of his career, where he won a referee decision over Diogo Reis in the gi.
UFC BJJ 1 would mark Gabriel’s first professional grappling bout. As he has very limited experience in no gi, Musumeci should be the sizable favorite in this match up.
Musumeci’s UFC FPI debut was also against a lesser known grappler in Felipe Machado.
Third UFC BJJ title bout: Carlos Henrique vs. Danile Moreira
The third inaugural championship bout on the UFC BJJ 1 fight card is a welterweight clash between 2023 IBJJF No Gi Pans champ Carlos Henrique and Danilo Moreira. Both were part of Team Musumeci and had good wins on the reality show. Henrique had the most shocking finish in the show, as he had a pretty nasty arm break that got him to the finals.
The pair have split two outings against each other in the past, with Henrique winning their most recent match up at the 2024 No Gi Worlds by points. It could be close and competitive as both matches were only decided by 2 points, but I feel like Henrique will be the slight favorite in the rubber match.
Frank Mir’s daughter Bella Mir competes in wrestling, MMA, and jiu-jitsu. Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
UFC BJJ 1 card includes Polaris champ, UFC fighter, and Frank Mir’s daughter
The rest of the UFC BJJ 1 fight card has been finalized, with only one other cast member from the reality show making it to the line up. Polaris champion Keith Krikorian, who lost a close and somewhat debatable decision in the show, will be competing against Joao Assonitis.
Other note worthy competitors include teen prodigy and youngest ever No Gi world champion in Cassia Moura, who will take on UFC fighter and four-time IBJJF world champ Talita Alencar. UFC legend Frank Mir’s daughter and 3-0 MMA prospect Bella Mir will also compete on the card against Carol Joia.
The full UFC BJJ 1 line up is below.
UFC BJJ 1 full fight card
Mikey Musumeci vs Rerisson Gabriel [UFC BJJ bantamweight title]
Andrew Tackett vs Andy Varela [UFC BJJ welterweight title]
Carlos Henrique vs Danilo Moreira [UFC BJJ lightweight title]
Keith Krikorian vs Joao Assonitis
Cassia Moura vs Talita Alencar
Filipe Pimentel vs Pedro Machado
Bella Mir vs Carol Joia
Keven Carrasco vs Ty Costlow
UFC BJJ 1: Musumeci vs. Gabriel – How to watch, live stream, start time
UFC BJJ 1 will happen on Wednesday, on June 25, 2025, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. Much like the previous UFC FPI grappling events, this event will be streamed live on both YouTube and on UFC Fight Pass.
The event will start streaming on the promotion’s media platform starting at 8 p.m. ET, and you will be able to watch the event here live on MMA Mania.
All the episodes from UFC BJJ: Road to the Title can be watched for free here.
For the latest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and grappling-related news click here.
