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Today’s Top BJJ News — October 29, 2026

Daily BJJ News Briefing

October 29, 2026 · Updated 8:44 AM -07:00

#1

UFC BJJ 13 Set to Crown Two New Champions in Las Vegas

UFC BJJ 13 takes place Thursday, October 29, at Meta APEX in Las Vegas with vacant middleweight and bantamweight titles on the line. William Tackett faces Jay Rodriguez at middleweight, while Jalen Fonacier meets Kleber Barboza for the bantamweight championship. [75]

Why it matters: The event could establish the second champions in two of UFC BJJ’s divisions and represents the promotion’s most consequential title card since its launch.

Social hook: Two vacant UFC BJJ belts. Four elite grapplers. One night to define the next era of The Bowl.

#2

Mikey Musumeci’s UFC BJJ Bantamweight Title Era Ends as MMA Takes Priority

Mikey Musumeci vacated the UFC BJJ bantamweight championship to prioritize MMA training, while indicating that he intends to continue competing in grappling superfights. His decision created the vacant title now being contested by Fonacier and Barboza at UFC BJJ 13. [76]

Why it matters: Musumeci was UFC BJJ’s inaugural bantamweight champion and one of the promotion’s most recognizable athletes. His move may become a major test of whether UFC BJJ can build lasting division identity beyond its first champions.

Social hook: Mikey Musumeci is leaving the belt behind to chase MMA—and UFC BJJ must crown his successor tonight.

#3

Fonacier–Barboza Rivalry Gets Its Biggest Stakes Yet

Jalen Fonacier and Kleber Barboza will meet for the vacant UFC BJJ bantamweight title at UFC BJJ 13. The matchup carries additional history: the two athletes have already faced each other three times in IBJJF competition, with two wins for Barboza and one for Fonacier, according to Brazilian reporting. [77]

Why it matters: Fonacier enters as an established UFC BJJ finisher, while Barboza makes his promotional debut after winning the UFC BJJ Open. The bout gives a proven star and a fast-rising challenger a direct opportunity to define the division.

Social hook: They have already traded wins on the IBJJF circuit—now Fonacier and Barboza fight for the UFC BJJ belt.

#4

Nick Rodriguez Returns Against Newly Signed UFC BJJ Opponent Natã Tenca

Nick Rodriguez is scheduled to face Natã Tenca in a UFC BJJ 13 light-heavyweight bout. Rodriguez returns after drawing Mason Fowler in a split decision at UFC BJJ 11, while Tenca arrives after winning an IBJJF world title and receiving his black belt from André Galvão. [75]

Why it matters: Rodriguez is seeking another path toward the light-heavyweight title, while Tenca makes his UFC BJJ debut against one of the sport’s most recognizable no-gi heavyweights.

Social hook: Nicky Rod wants his title shot back—but first he has to survive Natã Tenca’s UFC BJJ debut.

Editor’s Notes

No material verification warnings were identified for the UFC BJJ 13 card or Musumeci’s title vacancy. UFC BJJ’s official results page was live on October 29, 2026, but the event results were not yet available in the retrieved material; the stories above therefore concern confirmed announcements and scheduled matchups, not completed results.

Sources

  1. https://www.ufc.com/news/match-match-preview-ufc-bjj-13-tackett-vs-rodriguez
  2. https://buildmygame.app/news/
  3. https://www.fightbookmma.com/category/brazilian-jiu-jitsu/
  4. https://www.onefc.com/news/shoya-ishiguro-vs-ruan-alvarenga-featherweight-submission-grappling-match-added-to-one-fight-night-48/
  5. https://grapplersnews.jp/en
  6. https://jitsmagazine.com/category/bjj-news/
  7. https://www.mmamania.com/bjj-news/482152/ufc-bjj-13-live-stream-results-video-highlights-new-champ-to-take-musumecis-belt
  8. https://jitsmagazine.com/
  9. https://www.jiujitsumag.com/tag/news/
  10. https://jiujitsusinistro.com.br/en/ultimas/
  11. https://www.bjjheroes.com/category/bjj-news
  12. https://thejiujitsumindset.com/blogs/news/jiu-jitsu-weekly-september-28-2026
  13. https://www.ju-jitsu.sport/fileadmin/jjif/media/downloads/Congress/JJIF_CONGRESS_2025_ppt.pdf
  14. https://cpaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brazilian-Jiu-Jitsu-2025-abridged.pdf
  15. https://150grappling.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Submission-Policy_1.0.pdf
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_BJJ_12
  17. https://cpaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jiu-Jitsu-2025-Abridged.pdf
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADCC_Submission_Fighting_World_Championship
  19. https://grapplingindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Grappling_Rules_2025_with_nodifications83.pdf
  20. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wfp6bo/spoiler_post_2026_adcc_thread/