40andFighting

Today’s Top BJJ News — September 23, 2026

Daily BJJ News Briefing

September 23, 2026 · Updated 8:18 AM -07:00

#1

Mikey Musumeci and Bryce Mitchell headline UFC BJJ 11 in a major style-versus-size matchup

UFC BJJ 11 takes place Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with UFC BJJ champion Mikey Musumeci facing UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell under the promotion’s submission-grappling rules. The card also features Nicky Rod against Mason Fowler and will stream on UFC Fight Pass. [57]

Why it matters: The matchup gives UFC BJJ its most immediately marketable crossover storyline yet: an elite lighter-weight submission specialist against a much larger UFC fighter known for wrestling, pressure, and top control. Its promotional reach could significantly shape how mainstream MMA fans view the new league.

Social hook: “Mikey Musumeci is giving up a massive size advantage to fight Bryce Mitchell—can technique overcome the weight gap?”

#2

Gustavo Batista becomes the fifth heavyweight confirmed for the 2026 IBJJF Crown

IBJJF announced on September 23, 2026, that three-time world champion Gustavo “Braguinha” Batista has accepted an invitation to compete at the 2026 Crown. Batista joins Fellipe Andrew, Vinicius Liberati, Windson Torres, and Leo Ferreira in the heavyweight field for the November 8 one-night event at the Long Beach Pyramid, which carries a $20,000 prize. [9]

Why it matters: Batista’s addition gives the Crown another established world champion and strengthens a heavyweight division combining proven veterans with emerging contenders. The announcement also confirms that the event’s 48-athlete, invitation-only lineup is continuing to take shape.

Social hook: “Gustavo Batista is back in the spotlight—and the 2026 Crown heavyweight bracket just got even more dangerous.”

Editor’s Notes

Only two developments were identified that met the requested importance and approximately 24-to-36-hour publication window with sufficiently credible verification. The UFC BJJ item is an event preview published on September 23, 2026; UFC BJJ 11 had not yet taken place as of that date, so no result is reported. No additional ADCC, IBJJF, ONE Championship, WNO/FloGrappling, injury, withdrawal, signing, or rule-change story from the period met the same verification standard without relying on rumor, stale reporting, or minor event coverage.

Sources

  1. https://www.ufc.com/news/dana-whites-contender-series-season-10-week-7-results
  2. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wwenxt/2026-09-22
  3. https://www.flograppling.com/events/14687695
  4. https://www.bjjnews.com/
  5. https://www.sherdog.com/monthly-archive/news/202609
  6. https://www.pgf.world/schedule
  7. https://www.sherdog.com/events/Dana-Whites-Contender-Series-Contender-Series-2026-Week-7-112633
  8. https://linktr.ee/adcc_official
  9. https://ibjjf.com/news/2026-crown-gustavo-batista-joins-heavyweight-contention
  10. https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/511948/dwcs-results-novenyi-jr-vs-haig
  11. https://www.pgf.world/news
  12. https://www.ufc.com.br/news/featherweight-show-match-headlines-exciting-ufc-bjj-11-card-september-24
  13. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wbnvcf/watching_adcc_2026/
  14. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1v5pyt6/flograppling_coming_to_amazon_prime/
  15. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1webmqk/adcc_on_amazon_prime_tv/
  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garry_Tonon
  17. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wa22vm/can_we_get_a_little_hype_for_the_matchups_and/
  18. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wh7jbq/flo_grappling_adcc/
  19. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1kwiook
  20. https://www.reddit.com/r/bjj/comments/1wfp6bo/spoiler_post_2026_adcc_thread/