![\"\"](\"https:\/\/platform.mmamania.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/110\/2025\/11\/G6L0QjRacAQOV9T.jpeg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/p>\nUFC star Bo Nickal attends first gi class, gets promoted to purple belt<\/p>\n
Bo Nickal, fresh off his highlight reel head kick KO win at UFC 322<\/a>, is seemingly trying to cross train and tighten up his overall grappling game. He recently joined his first ever BJJ class in the gi, and the 3-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion immediately got promoted from blue to purple belt.<\/p>\n There were also some clips of Nickal rolling in the gi, where the UFC star can be seen applying (IBJJF illegal) heel hooks on poor blue belts.<\/p>\n UFC signs all-time BJJ great Mayssa Bastos; 3 bouts added to UFC BJJ 4<\/p>\n UFC BJJ 4 will close out the promotion\u2019s grappling calendar on December 11, 2025, and it already has three title bouts booked on the event<\/a>. Three more matches have been finalized for the card, and while it involves former UFC BJJ title contenders like Renato Canuto and Andy Varela, the biggest signing is an all-time great grappler in Mayssa Bastos.<\/p>\n Bastos, 28, has won a whopping 10 IBJJF world championships<\/a> across gi and no gi. She has also added more major titles to her resume recently, as she took gold in both the 2025 IBJJF No Gi Euros<\/a> and 2025 No Gi Pans<\/a>. She used to have an exclusive deal with ONE Championship, where she held the promotion\u2019s Atomweight submission grappling world title, making this switch over to UFC BJJ is a pretty big signing for the promotion.<\/p>\n Bastos faces an accomplished grappling veteran in Amanda Alequin at UFC BJJ 4.<\/p>\n The two other bouts added is Renato Canuto facing 10th Planet\u2019s Alan Sanchez, and Andy Varela taking on Robby Malof.<\/p>\n UFC BJJ 4 fight card so far<\/p>\n Andrew Tackett vs. Elijah Dorsey [WW title]William Tacket vs. Ronaldo Junior [MW title]Raquel Canuto vs. Aurelie LeVern [FW title]Renato Canuto vs. Alan SanchezBella Mir vs. Rana WillinkMayssa Bastos vs. Amanda AlequinAndy Varela vs. Robby Malof Photo by Christopher Colon\/Pximages\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n BJJ star Tye Ruotolo improves to 2-0 in MMA<\/p>\n BJJ superstar Tye Ruotolo has continued to impress, as he has improved to 2-0 in his young MMA career. The 22-year-old BJJ world champion showcased some of his striking, before submitting the previously undefeated Shozo Isojima (6-1) in the first round.<\/p>\n Ruotolo\u2019s two MMA bouts have happened a little over two months apart, and both have ended by rear naked chokes. In grappling, Tye has titles in IBJJF, ONE Championship, and WNO.<\/p>\n Tye\u2019s twin brother Kade Ruotolo is also balancing grappling and MMA careers, with the ADCC and CJI champion currently being 3-0 in mixed martial arts.<\/p>\n LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 06: (L-R) Urijah Faber kicks Francisco Rivera in their bantamweight bout during the UFC 181 event inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center on December 6, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Robert Laberge\/Zuffa LLC\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Photo by Robert Laberge\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images<\/p>\n Urijah Faber vs. Francisco Rivera rematch set for\u2026 Combat Jiu-jitsu<\/p>\n UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber submitted Francisco Rivera with a rarely seen bulldog choke all the way back in 2014<\/a>. The pair will now rematch more than a decade later, and instead of it being in MMA, it will instead be under Combat Jiu-jitsu rules.<\/p>\n This bout will have less risk of brain trauma \u2014 which is good since Faber is now 46, and Rivera 44 \u2014 but there still are some strikes that are allowed. The concept of \u201cCombat jiu-jitsu\u201d was founded by Eddie Bravo, and it allows palm strikes on the ground to add an element of realism to grappling matches.<\/p>\n The pair will rematch in Faber\u2019s A1 Combat promotion, which will happen on January 30, 2026, and broadcast on UFC Fight Pass.<\/p>\n Polaris vs. WNO \u2018Squads\u2019 event set for January 2026<\/p>\n Polaris has switched over from UFC Fight Pass to FloGrappling<\/a>, and it looks like fans will quickly get to experience what that change could mean. Soon after teasing a potential crossover, the two organizations have announced that a team grappling or \u201cSquads\u201d event between WNO and Polaris \u201call stars\u201d will be happening on January 31, 2026.<\/p>\n Polaris recently concluded their year long team tournament, which saw Team Europe win the Squads title with a stacked roster of BJJ champions<\/a> like Mateusz Szczecinski, Jozef Chen, Owen Jones, Eoghan O\u2019Flanagan, and Taylor Pearman.<\/p>\n Screengrab, FloGrappling<\/p>\n To close things out, here are other interesting BJJ stories you might have missed:<\/p>\n The next current generation!<\/a> – BJJ prodigies Sarah Galvao and Cole Abate won big at IBJJF Crown, proving they\u2019re not just prospects, but arguably the best in the world today.More teenage champions!<\/a> – Speaking of incredibly gifted youngsters, Dorian Olivarez and Achilles Rocha both won gold at the ADCC East Coast Trials.3-time Crown Champs!<\/a> – Gabi Pessanha and Erich Munis continued to dominate and have won every single IBJJF Crown event.<\/p>\n The BJJ Beat is also now on Instagram<\/a>, so please give that a follow if you enjoy jiu-jitsu content!<\/p>\n For the latest Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and grappling-related news click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n