UFC BJJ 5 is coming up this Thursday (Feb. 12, 2026), marking the promotion’s first grappling event of the year. The event will be topped by two title bouts, which includes Mikey Musumeci in the headliner, and the rest of the card is also filled with some really promising matches.
Below is everything you need to know about the UFC’s next Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) offering.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Two title bouts top UFC BJJ 5, Mikey Musumeci (finally) faces a world champion
Mikey Musumeci has rightfully been the face of UFC BJJ, along with Andrew Tackett, since its 2025 inception and rebrand. The decorated BJJ world champ and leg lock specialist has gone a perfect 3-0 in combined UFC FPI and UFC BJJ outings.
While Musumeci has showcased his skills and looked pretty dominant in all of his outings, the sole criticism has been the level of opposition he has faced within the UFC. Rerisson Gabriel and Keven Carrasco are talented grapplers in their own right, but they lack major titles and have arguably been thrust into UFC BJJ title fights too early. Musumeci himself has asked for better opponents, and he will be getting his wish at UFC BJJ 5.
Musumeci will face Shay Montague, who is the reigning champion in both the IBJJF No Gi Euros and IBJJF No Gi World Championships at 55 kg (121 lbs). Montague will be a bit smaller as he moves up to bantamweight (UFC BJJ still hasn’t opened a flyweight division) but he will still represent a step up in competition for Musumeci and the first world champion he faces in the promotion.
Musumeci finally gets the top tier talent he deserves, and it also provides a fun match up to boot.
Interestingly enough, the second title bout on the card also features a reigning no gi world champion as the challenger. Atos star Rolando Junior scored an upset over William Tackett at UFC BJJ 4 to become the inaugural middleweight champion. On UFC BJJ 5, Junior defends his title against Tarik Hopstock, the man who invented the Tarikoplata, and the reigning IBJJF no gi world champion at 79 kg (174 lbs).
Much like Montague, Hopstock won both the IBJJF Euros and his first no gi world title in 2025.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
UFC BJJ 5 features Nicholas Meregali’s returns, top young talent Jalen Fonacier and Landon Elmore
Outside of the two title bouts, UFC BJJ 5 will also have a really good undercard featuring more BJJ world champions and rising stars.
Nicholas Meregali took the entire 2025 off after his injury and massive upset at ADCC 2024, but the three-time IBJJF world champion finally makes his return on this card. He makes his highly anticipated return against no gi world champion and recent ADCC Trials winner Nicholas Maglicic.
Jalen Fonacier and Landon Elmore, two young prodigies and two of our top breakthrough grapplers of 2025, also competes in separate bouts at UFC BJJ 5. The Filipino IBJJF world champion in Fonacier faces Bebeto Oliveira, while the EBI champion in Elmore faces former UFC BJJ title challenger Rerisson Gabriel.
A fun battle between veteran BJJ champions is on the card, with Andy Murasaki facing off against Andy Varela.
UFC BJJ 5: Musumeci vs. Montague full fight card
Mikey Musumeci vs. Shay Montague [Bantamweight title]Rolando Junior vs. Tarik Hopstock [Middleweight title]Nicholas Meregali vs. Nicholas MaglicicAndy Murasaki vs. Andy VarelaTaylor Hishaw vs. Rebeca LimaLandon Elmore vs. Rerisson GabrielMona Bailey vs. Carol BrunacioJalen Fonacier vs. Bebeto Oliveira
How to watch UFC BJJ 5: Free live stream, start time
Much like their earlier events, UFC BJJ 5 will again be streamed live and free on the UFC’s YouTube page. The event will air on Thursday, February 12, 2026, starting at 8 p.m. ET.
As always, MMA Mania will have live results on the upcoming jiu-jitsu event, so stay tuned for more updates.
FOR THE LATEST BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ) AND GRAPPLING-RELATED NEWS CLICK HERE. FOR ADDITIONAL GRAPPLING CONTENT, FOLLOW @BJJBEAT ON INSTAGRAM.