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Today’s Top BJJ News — October 20, 2026

Daily BJJ News Briefing

October 20, 2026 · Updated 8:11 AM -07:00

#1

Nico Maglicic Discusses His Revised IBJJF World Championship

Nico Maglicic has spoken publicly about becoming the official 2026 IBJJF heavyweight world champion after Rider Samelo do Amaral’s anti-doping violation led to a revised podium. IBJJF amended the standings on September 25, naming Maglicic champion and Leonardo Silveira Ferreira the silver medalist; Maglicic’s interview was published October 9 and materially updated October 19. [28]

Why it matters: The case is one of the most significant recent championship-result revisions in elite gi jiu-jitsu and highlights the growing impact of formal anti-doping enforcement on IBJJF records. Maglicic is also scheduled to compete at the November 8 IBJJF Crown.

Social hook: He lost the final on the mat—but became the official world champion months later.

#2

The Vetoraci Twins Will Compete in Separate IBJJF Crown Divisions

Davi and Matheus Vetoraci are set to compete in different divisions at the November 8 IBJJF Crown in Long Beach, California. Davi is entered at heavyweight, while Matheus will compete at ultra-heavyweight; both eight-man fields are complete, but first-round pairings have not yet been announced. [29]

Why it matters: The invitations give the event a compelling family storyline while adding two internationally recognized competitors to a $20,000-per-division invitational tournament. The separate weight classes also create the possibility of two distinct title runs on the same card.

Social hook: One set of twins, two divisions, and two chances to win IBJJF Crown gold.

#3

PGF Las Vegas Qualifier Sends Five More Athletes Into the Season 10 Draft Pool

The Professional Grappling Federation’s Las Vegas qualifier placed five champions into the Season 10 draft pool after 31 contested matches produced 23 submissions. The October 18 report identifies the qualifier as another step toward the season’s team draft, although entry into the pool does not guarantee selection by one of the participating teams. [5]

Why it matters: PGF’s draft-based format continues to provide a visible pathway for emerging submission grapplers, with the high submission rate reinforcing the event’s entertainment value and finishing-oriented identity.

Social hook: Five draft spots, 23 submissions, and a new wave of PGF prospects looking for a team.

#4

Baniyas and Sharjah Self-Defence Retain UAE Club Jiu-Jitsu Titles

Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club won its second consecutive Gi championship, while Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club captured a third straight No-Gi title at the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship. The eight-round season concluded at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, with titles determined by cumulative points across five Gi and three No-Gi rounds. [23]

Why it matters: The results underline the depth and institutional strength of the UAE’s domestic club system, which uses a season-long format to reward consistency rather than a single-event performance.

Social hook: Baniyas owns the Gi, Sharjah owns the No-Gi—and both clubs defended their UAE titles again.

Editor’s Notes

No material verification warnings were identified for the four selected reports. The Maglicic item concerns a revised championship record resulting from an earlier anti-doping ruling, not a new competition result; the IBJJF Crown reports confirm completed fields but do not establish first-round matchups. The PGF coverage confirms draft-pool entry, not eventual team selection.

Sources

  1. https://www.bjjnews.com/?include_tags=news
  2. https://www.flograppling.com/articles/16199492-how-to-watch-2026-elevate-submission-series-cage-event-28-grappling
  3. https://www.flograppling.com/
  4. https://www.flograppling.com/events/16133684-2026-pbjjf-orlando-fall-international-open/news
  5. https://www.jiujitsumag.com/tag/news/
  6. https://www.flograppling.com/collections/6751892-featured/article?playing=14407797
  7. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1x8gm73/biggest_changes_in_bjj/
  8. https://tatamenaweb.com.br/jiu-jitsu-em-outubro-de-2026/
  9. https://dailytriangle.com/article?category=Preview&date=2026-10-12T16%3A34%3A00.000Z&excerpt=See+what%27s+streaming+on+FloGrappling+Oct.+12%E2%80%9318%2C+including+Fight+to+Win+328%2C+ADCC+New+Jersey+Open%2C+ADCC+Callao+Open+and+more.&imageUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fd2779tscntxxsw.cloudfront.net%2F6ac0200b9681a.png&source=flograppling&title=What%27s+Streaming+On+FloGrappling+This+Week%3F+Oct.+12–18%2C+2026&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flograppling.com%2Farticles%2F16242933-flograppling-streaming-schedule-oct-12-18-2026
  10. https://www.flograppling.com/collections/11379579-defense-soap-submission-of-the-month
  11. https://www.flograppling.com/collections/6751892-featured/result?playing=16179136&view=live-and-upcoming
  12. https://rashguardguy.com/category/news/
  13. https://www.bjjnews.com/?cursor=eyJpZCI6IjM4Mzk5YmRiLWQ4YzItNGU1OS04Y2JjLWE2ZWM3NjY5OWI4YyIsInNvcnRBdCI6IjIwMjYtMDktMTVUMDM6NDA6MTIuNDM4WiJ9&limit=16
  14. https://www.reddit.com/r/grappling/comments/1x3bc3g/has_anyone_here_followed_the_grappling_and/
  15. https://www.reddit.com/r/mmaweekly/comments/1x9kt8k/is_this_legal/
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_BJJ_12
  17. https://www.reddit.com/r/martialarts/comments/1wvhmj4/what_the_standup_phase_in_bjj_used_to_look_like/
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_BJJ
  19. https://www.ju-jitsu.sport/fileadmin/jjif/media/downloads/Congress/JJIF_CONGRESS_2025_ppt.pdf
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADCC_Submission_Fighting_World_Championship