Today’s Top BJJ News — August 22, 2026

#1

Andrew Tackett Retains UFC BJJ Welterweight Title, Calls Out Paddy Pimblett

Andrew Tackett defeated Jonnatas Gracie in the UFC BJJ 10 main event on August 20, retaining his welterweight championship with a submission victory. Following the win, Tackett used his post-fight spotlight to call out UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett. UFC BJJ 10 also crowned a new women’s featherweight champion and launched the promotion’s inaugural women’s flyweight title tournament. ^[79]

Why it matters: Tackett remains the central competitive star of UFC BJJ, and a crossover matchup with Pimblett would give the promotion an immediate mainstream storyline. The event also strengthened UFC BJJ’s championship structure across multiple divisions.

Social hook: Andrew Tackett submits Jonnatas Gracie—and immediately calls out Paddy Pimblett.

#2

UFC BJJ Opens Makes Its Tournament Debut in Las Vegas

The first UFC BJJ Open is scheduled for August 22–23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, expanding the UFC’s grappling project beyond invitation-only professional cards. The event uses an octagon-shaped competition area and introduces a rules package featuring submission-only regulation periods for brown- and black-belt finals, overtime, three-referee panels for black-belt gold-medal matches, and guaranteed matches for white- and blue-belt competitors. ^[80]

Why it matters: The tournament series could become UFC BJJ’s broad participation pathway while testing a ruleset distinct from traditional IBJJF and ADCC formats. Its launch also gives the UFC a major new asset in the crowded amateur and professional grappling market.

Social hook: The UFC’s grappling experiment goes nationwide—starting with an octagon-shaped BJJ tournament in Las Vegas.

#3

IBJJF World Master Registration Enters Its Final Weekend

Registration for the 2026 World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship is scheduled to close on August 23, ahead of the September 3–5 tournament in Las Vegas. The championship will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with athlete corrections continuing through August 24 and the final schedule and brackets due for release on September 2. ^[81]

Why it matters: World Master is one of the sport’s largest annual gi events, and the closing registration window is the final opportunity for competitors to enter before divisions and brackets are finalized.

Social hook: Masters competitors have one final weekend to enter the 2026 IBJJF World Master Championship.

#4

ADCC 2026 Lineup Conversation Intensifies Around Possible Craig Jones Return

Discussion intensified this week after online posts attributed to Craig Jones suggested he could potentially replace Jay Rodriguez in the ADCC 88-kilogram division. The claim has not been confirmed by ADCC, Jones, or an official event announcement, and subsequent discussion indicated that Jones may still be assessing whether he is prepared to compete. ^[82]

Why it matters: A Jones return would immediately reshape one of ADCC 2026’s most compelling divisions, but the report remains unverified and should not be treated