Soon after Mikey Musumeci became the UFC’s first exclusively signed grappler, Dana White promised to “go big” and “invest $10-12 million into jiu-jitsu over the next year.”
A few months after noting how UFC wanted to “take over” the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) scene, we now have a clearer idea on what those plans are. This includes the long rumored reality show, a complete rebrand of their UFC Fight Pass Invitational (UFC FPI) series, and a new fighting surface.
UFC FPI rebranded: ‘UFC BJJ 1’ to have 3 title bouts, CJI-inspired pit
The UFC has been hosting grappling events through their “UFC Fight Pass Invitational” (UFC FPI) brand in the last four years. The most recent event was UFC FPI 11 last May, which was headlined by top pound-for-pound female stars Ffion Davies and Adele Fornarino.
That will be the official end to UFC FPI, as the promotion has announced that it will be rebranded and relaunched as UFC Brazilian jiu-jitsu or “UFC BJJ.”
The first event dubbed as “UFC BJJ 1” will happen on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 as part of UFC International Fight Week.
The main difference between this new UFC BJJ brand will have over the previous FPI iteration is the fighting surface. After recently adopting Craig Jones Invitational-style rules, they now also have a similar pit to what CJI and Karate Combat uses. UFC BJJ’s walls are more curved than CJI’s, but it should also encourage continuous action and prevent the repetitive resets often seen in jiu-jitsu matches.
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That first event in the relaunch will have three title bouts, and headlined by Mikey Musumeci competing for the inaugural UFC BJJ belt against relatively unknown prospect Rerisson Gabriel.
The 23-year-old Gabriel became a black belt in 2024, and has one major gi tournament win in his resume when he won the 2025 IBJJF Pans title. He will be a massive underdog against the far more decorated Musumeci, who has five IBJJF world titles and several pro bouts in ONE Championship and WNO.
The two other title bouts on the card will be from the UFC’s upcoming BJJ reality show.
TUF-style reality show “UFC BJJ: Road to the Title” to be coached by Musumeci and Gabriel
Also part of the announcement is the long rumored TUF-style reality show for jiu-jitsu. The promotion officially calls it “UFC BJJ: Road to the Title.”
The Ultimate Fighter-inspired BJJ reality show will air episodes daily from June 17 onwards to build up to the UFC BJJ 1 event on June 25. All the episodes will be streamed for free on YouTube.
The main UFC BJJ 1 card, much like the previous FPI events, will remain on UFC Fight Pass.
UFC BJJ: Road to the Title will feature eight lightweights and eight welterweights, with Mikey Musumeci and Rerisson Gabriel serving as coaches. The finalists and the two coaches will compete for the three inaugural belts on UFC BJJ 1.
UFC BJJ: Road to the Title full cast – Andrew Tackett, other jiu-jitsu and wrestling champs featured
The reality show cast features several BJJ world champions and professional grapplers from lightweight and welterweight. It’s worth noting that with the pretty deep cast, many of the members are even more accomplished than one of the coaches leading the show.
CJI 1 star Andrew Tackett, PFG champ Andy Varela and decorated champion wrestler turned CJI vet Jason Nolf are the three most recognizable grapplers featured on the welterweight bracket. As for the lightweights, it will have Polaris champ Keith Krikorian, longtime BJJ world champ Gianni Grippo, and ADCC 2024 bronze medalist Josh Cisneros among others.
The finalists on the two divisions will compete for the inaugural titles at UFC BJJ 1.
Depending on his contract status, Tackett’s involvement could also mean that he won’t be able to return and join CJI 2’s pretty stacked team tournament. The same could go for New Wave members, as they have one slot remaining for CJI 2 at 77 kg, and both Asare and Nolf were originally mentioned as possible entries before this UFC BJJ reality show.
The full UFC BJJ: Road to the Title cast is below:
Lightweights
- Keith Krikorian — Polaris champ
- Gianni Grippo — 2-time IBJJF No Gi World Champion
- Isaac Doederlein — 2022 IBJJF World Champion
- Josh Cisneros — 2024 ADCC Bronze
- Carlos Henrique — 2023 IBJJF No Gi Pans Champion
- Danilo Moreira — 2023 IBJJF No Gi Worlds Bronze
- Mauricio Rios
- Kyvann Gonzalez
Welterweights
- Andrew Tackett — 2024 ADCC Trials Winner
- Jason Nolf — 2-time US National Wrestling Champion
- Andy Varela — PGF Champion
- Davis Asare — 2024 ADCC Trials Silver
- Elijah Carlton
- Aaron Wilson
- Austin Oranday
- Nathan Haddad
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