40andFighting

Today’s Top BJJ News — October 8, 2026

Daily BJJ News Briefing

October 8, 2026 · Updated 8:04 AM -07:00

#1

UFC BJJ 12 puts two titles and Gilbert Burns’ return in the spotlight

UFC BJJ 12 takes place Thursday, October 8, at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, headlined by Cassia Moura vs. Adele Fornarino for the inaugural women’s flyweight championship. Renato Canuto vs. Ethan Crelinsten contests the vacant lightweight title, while Gilbert Burns faces Gabriel Almeida in his second UFC BJJ appearance. [71]

Why it matters: The card gives UFC BJJ two new championship storylines while adding established MMA star power through Burns. Moura can become a two-division champion, while Fornarino is competing for another major professional grappling title.

Social hook: Can Cassia Moura become UFC BJJ’s first two-division champion—or will Adele Fornarino claim the inaugural flyweight belt?

#2

Rider Zuchi stripped of 2026 IBJJF World title and suspended for three years

Rider Zuchi has reportedly been stripped of the 2026 IBJJF black-belt heavyweight title after an anti-doping rule violation involving a sample collected at the World Championship on May 31. The sanction reportedly elevates finalist Nicholas “Nico” Maglicic to champion and includes a three-year suspension. [72]

Why it matters: The decision materially changes the official result of one of IBJJF’s most important divisions and represents a major disciplinary development for elite gi competition.

Social hook: The 2026 IBJJF heavyweight title has changed hands after a post-event anti-doping sanction.

#3

New study identifies Tainan Dalpra as 2026’s most prolific IBJJF Grand Slam finisher

VF Comunica published a data study examining 1,093 adult black-belt matches across the 2026 IBJJF Europeans, Pans, Brazilian Nationals and Worlds. Tainan Dalpra led the study’s submission-rate ranking, winning 15 matches and finishing 14 of them. [73]

Why it matters: The study offers a data-driven snapshot of offensive efficiency at the sport’s biggest gi events, giving context to which elite athletes are converting wins into submissions rather than decisions.

Social hook: Tainan Dalpra submitted 14 of his 15 wins across this year’s four IBJJF Grand Slam tournaments.

#4

Edson Barboza reportedly signs with ACBJJ after retiring from MMA

Multiple reports say former UFC lightweight contender Edson Barboza has signed with Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu following his MMA retirement. The reported plan includes gi and no-gi tournaments, superfights and mixed grappling events. [74]

Why it matters: Barboza brings a recognizable combat-sports name and high-level striking background to the professional grappling market, but the reported agreement still requires confirmation from Barboza or ACBJJ.

Social hook: Edson Barboza may be trading MMA gloves for a gi and no-gi grappling schedule.

Editor’s Notes

The UFC BJJ 12 card and event date are confirmed by UFC materials, but the event was scheduled for October 8 and results were not yet available in the reviewed sources at publication time. The Rider Zuchi sanction and Edson Barboza signing were reported by secondary outlets; no directly accessible IBJJF disciplinary notice or ACBJJ announcement was identified in the reviewed results. No material verification warnings were identified for the VF Comunica study itself.

Sources

  1. https://www.flograppling.com/
  2. https://www.flograppling.com/articles/16202665-how-to-watch-2026-fight-to-win-329-grappling
  3. https://www.bjj-radar.com/
  4. https://www.bjjnews.com/?include_tags=news
  5. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/best-possible-title-bout-ufc-083000400.html
  6. https://www.flograppling.com/?view=other_calendars
  7. https://www.bjjcompass.com/
  8. https://letsbjj.com/en/news/news-20261006-gilbert-burns-returning-to-his-first-love-almeida/
  9. https://ibjjf.com/events/calendar
  10. https://rashguardguy.com/no-gi-pans-2026-aoj-and-alliance-lead-day-1-as-black-belts-take-the-floor-no-gi-weekly-sep-28-oct-4-2026/
  11. https://www.mmamania.com/bjj-news/454741/adcc-2026-fight-card-3-adcc-champs-out-no-ufc-bjj-champs-but-wanted-rape-suspect-still-in
  12. https://www.ufc.com/news/three-titles-line-ufc-bjj-7
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_BJJ
  14. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1u4ci2b/what_happened_to_the_good_events/
  15. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wqu0ne/ufc_bjj_vs_adcc/
  16. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wfp6bo/spoiler_post_2026_adcc_thread/
  17. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1w9cpk0/adcc_2026_where_is_the_hype/
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_BJJ_7
  19. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wdwlb0/the_sport_is_in_a_rough_spot/
  20. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1vvczsq/what_we_learned_from_ufc_bjj_10/