Today’s Top BJJ News — October 9, 2026

Daily BJJ News Briefing

October 9, 2026 · Updated 8:33 AM -07:00

#1

Cassia Moura Becomes UFC BJJ’s First Double Champion

Cassia Moura defeated Adele Fornarino by split decision at UFC BJJ 12 on October 8 in Las Vegas to win the inaugural women’s flyweight championship. Moura, who already held the bantamweight title, became the first athlete in UFC BJJ history to hold two championships simultaneously. [60]

Why it matters: The result establishes Moura as the organization’s most accomplished champion while also creating an immediate rematch storyline after a closely contested decision that drew criticism from some fans online. The split decision itself is confirmed; the criticism remains audience reaction rather than an official controversy. [60]

Social hook: Cassia Moura just made UFC BJJ history—one night, two belts.

#2

Renato Canuto Claims the Vacant UFC BJJ Lightweight Title

Renato Canuto defeated Ethan Crelinsten by unanimous decision at UFC BJJ 12 to capture the vacant lightweight championship. The bout reached the scorecards despite late heel-hook attempts from both competitors, with Canuto’s positional control and back-taking sequences proving decisive. [60]

Why it matters: Canuto becomes the latest established professional grappler to secure UFC BJJ gold, giving the promotion another recognizable champion in a division built around submission-focused matchups.

Social hook: Renato Canuto survived the late leg-lock chaos and left UFC BJJ 12 as the new lightweight champion.

#3

Gabriel Almeida Submits Gilbert Burns in UFC BJJ Debut

Gabriel Almeida scored one of UFC BJJ 12’s biggest upsets by submitting former UFC welterweight title challenger Gilbert “Durinho” Burns with a heel hook at 4:34 of the opening round. Almeida’s finish came after he used top control to transition from a neck attack to Burns’ leg. [60]

Why it matters: The victory gives Almeida immediate credibility on the UFC BJJ roster, while Burns’ loss highlights the danger of transferring elite MMA grappling into a specialized submission-grappling ruleset.

Social hook: Gabriel Almeida welcomed Gilbert Burns to UFC BJJ with a first-round heel hook.

#4

UFC BJJ Open Standouts Continue Moving Into the Promotion

Kade Anastasios followed his success in the UFC BJJ Opens with a submission victory over Ataíde Rafael at UFC BJJ 12, winning by heel hook at 4:29 of the first round. The result adds an early example of the promotion’s stated pathway from open competition into its professional events. [61]

Why it matters: UFC BJJ has presented the Opens as a development and scouting system, and Anastasios’ debut provides a concrete test of whether that pipeline can produce athletes capable of winning on the main roster.

Social hook: From the UFC BJJ Open to a first-round finish under the lights—Kade Anastasios is officially on the radar.

Editor’s Notes

The strongest verified developments published or updated within the requested window were tied to UFC BJJ 12, held on October 8 and reported by UFC on October 9. UFC’s official English results page was still presented as live-results coverage, so the final outcomes were cross-checked against UFC’s Brazilian Portuguese results report and UFC’s post-event video listings. Online criticism of the Moura–Fornarino decision is reported only as fan reaction and should not be treated as evidence of an official scoring dispute. No additional ADCC, IBJJF, ONE Championship, WNO, or major-event development from the last 24 to 36 hours met the same verification threshold.