Today’s Top BJJ News — October 28, 2026

#1

Kade Ruotolo Booked for High-Profile MMA Test Against Former ONE Champion Ok Rae Yoon

ONE Championship has officially added Kade Ruotolo vs. former lightweight MMA champion Ok Rae Yoon to ONE Fight Night 50 on December 18 in Bangkok. Ruotolo enters with a perfect 4-0 MMA record and remains the reigning ONE lightweight submission-grappling champion. ^[100]

Why it matters: The matchup is Ruotolo’s most significant MMA challenge to date and highlights the growing crossover between elite submission grappling and major-league MMA. A win over a former ONE champion could accelerate Ruotolo’s path toward a lightweight title opportunity.

Social hook: Kade Ruotolo’s biggest MMA test is official: the ONE grappling champion faces former lightweight king Ok Rae Yoon.

#2

UFC BJJ 13 Title Fights Set for Thursday as Two Vacant Belts Go Up for Grabs

UFC BJJ 13 takes place October 29 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, with William Tackett facing Jay Rodriguez for the vacant middleweight title and Jalen Fonacier meeting Kleber Barbosa for the vacant bantamweight championship. UFC’s latest preview confirms that Ronaldo Junior and Mikey Musumeci relinquished their respective belts, creating two new championship opportunities. ^[101]

Why it matters: The event will establish two new champions in UFC BJJ’s rapidly developing title structure. The card also features Nick Rodriguez, Ffion Davies and other high-profile athletes, making it one of the promotion’s most consequential events of the fall.

Social hook: Two UFC BJJ titles are vacant—and Thursday night will crown two new champions.

#3

IBJJF The Crown Brackets Reveal Six High-Stakes Invitation-Only Divisions

The brackets for the 2026 IBJJF The Crown were released between October 26 and 27, setting the opening matchups for the November 8 event at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. The tournament will feature 48 athletes across six divisions, with each champion earning a reported $20,000 prize. ^[102]

Why it matters: The Crown remains one of IBJJF’s most commercially visible professional events, combining elite brackets with a significant purse. The matchups also create several early rematch and title-defense storylines ahead of the one-night tournament.

Social hook: The Crown brackets are out—48 elite athletes, six titles and $20,000 on the line for every champion.

#4

IBJJF European No-Gi Championship Opens as Season’s Final Major No-Gi Test

The 2026 IBJJF European No-Gi Championship began October 28 in Lido di Ostia, Italy, with competition scheduled through November 1 and live coverage listed on FloGrappling. The event is among the final major IBJJF no-gi tournaments of the year and follows the 2026 ADCC World