UFC FP Invitational (FPI) head Claudia Gadelha has placed the responsibility for the sport’s amateur status squarely on the shoulders of its athletes.
“I’m going to say something right now that I know will piss a lot of people off, but it needs to be said,” Gadelha declared in a recent social media post. “The number one reason why jiu-jitsu is still an amateur sport, the number one reason why jiu-jitsu isn’t a professional sport yet, is because of the athletes. You accept to be sold for free! You accept to go in there and put the best performances of your life, for a medal.”
Gadelha, a former UFC star who now serves as a key decision-maker for the UFC’s expanding presence in the jiu-jitsu scene, has challenged the long-standing paradigm where world champion athletes often pay organizations like the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) for the privilege to compete.
The current model sees athletes using competition success primarily to build their personal brands rather than as a direct income source. “You gained the recognition to do business, right? You gain the recognition of opening a gym, to charge for seminars, and sell DVDs,” Gadelha explained. “You can do the same thing when you build a career inside a platform that helps you to be the product that you deserve to be, and make money during your career. Then, go do business afterwards.”
Her sentiments have been echoed by Stephen Tecci, who spearheads UFC FPI. When BJJ star Roberto Jimenez criticized IBJJF’s pay structure, Tecci added, “Someone is making money off you. Why are you not making money off you?”
Jimenez himself has been vocal about the need for financial compensation. “Professional Jiu-Jitsu athletes should get paid,” he wrote in a passionate social media post. “We need to get paid for our effort. We are not monkeys in a zoo. We are athletes, we are fighters, we are warriors, we deserve more.” He highlighted a troubling reality: “There are world champions that have to work Uber. We need compensation for making the show happen.”
Other high-profile BJJ stars like Nick Rodriguez have also spoken out about how participating in IBJJF events “devalues” professional athletes. The situation has even spawned alternative competitions like the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), created partly to protest ADCC’s pay structure. CJI made history by awarding the highest prize money in BJJ history, with Rodriguez and Kade Ruotolo each receiving $1 million.
This is a critical juncture for jiu-jitsu as it struggles to evolve into a professional sport. While participation grows worldwide, generating sufficient revenue to support professional competitors remains challenging, as the spectator base is largely limited to practitioners themselves.
Dana White has announced that UFC will invest $10-12 million in jiu-jitsu this year, though actual athlete compensation will likely represent only a portion of that amount, with the remainder covering production costs and a rumored reality show featuring Gordon Ryan and Mikey Musumeci.
As Gadelha concluded with a challenge to athletes: “When you guys understand that, jiu-jitsu will change forever. But if you don’t, it’s never going to change.”
