UFC Launches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Series with Premier Event on June 25

Las Vegas, NV – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced the launch of UFC BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, a new live event series aimed at becoming the premier stage for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) worldwide. The inaugural event, titled UFC BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU 1, will take place on Wednesday, June 25, during UFC International Fight Week.

This event will feature three title matches to crown the first bantamweight (135 lbs.), lightweight (155 lbs.), and welterweight (170 lbs.) champions. Fans can watch UFC BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU 1 live exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

As a lead-up to the event, UFC will air an eight-episode series called UFC BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU: Road to the Title starting June 16, at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT on UFC’s YouTube channel. This series, available for free, will follow two teams of elite competitors in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, coached by multiple-time world champion Mikey Musumeci and rising star Rerisson Gabriel.

In the series, the athletes will face off in a tournament-style format to determine the finalists in each weight class. The culmination of their journeys will be showcased at UFC BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU 1, where Musumeci and Gabriel will compete in the main event for the bantamweight title.

“I first got into MMA through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” said Dana White, UFC CEO and President. “It’s one of the true building blocks of martial arts, and the competition takes it to another level. The reality show and live events are going to elevate this to a mainstream sport, and I could not be more excited.”

Claudia Gadelha, Senior Director of Jiu-Jitsu Strategy & Business Development, expressed enthusiasm for the new series: “I believe our ruleset, athletes, and promotional power will make UFC BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU the go-to event series for fans around the world.”

UFC BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU will feature multiple divisions for both male and female competitors, with awarded champions and rankings for each. All matches will consist of three five-minute rounds, scored using the 10-point must system, in a specially designed competition environment to promote action while prioritizing athlete safety.