Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Mikey Musumeci has officially announced the launch of UFC BJJ, a new competition series that promises to ‘revolutionize how grappling is presented to mainstream audiences’. The announcement, made via Musumeci‘s social media channels, reveals an exciting collaboration between the renowned submission grappler and the UFC brand.
The inaugural show, titled “UFC BJJ: Road to the Title,” will feature a unique team-based format pitting lightweight and welterweight grapplers against each other. The competition will showcase two teams coached by top bantamweight competitors, with Musumeci himself leading one team alongside Rerisson Gabriel.
“I’m super excited to announce the start of UFC BJJ,” Musumeci wrote in his announcement post. “This is the start of the future of Jiu Jitsu and I’m so honored to be part of this! This show that we filmed was so amazing and I can’t wait for you guys to watch it!”
By leveraging the UFC’s production and global reach, the series aims to bring high-level grappling to a broader audience while maintaining the technical excellence that defines elite BJJ competition.
The team-based approach adds a strategic element beyond individual matches, as coaches will need to deploy their athletes tactically across weight classes.
UFC BJJ: Road to the Title is scheduled to premiere on June 16, with the show available on YouTube starting at 12 PM ET / 9 AM PT. The digital-first approach ensures global accessibility for the international grappling community while potentially serving as a testing ground for future broadcast partnerships.
The timing of the announcement and premiere suggests this could be the first of multiple UFC BJJ events, though specific details about the series’ long-term plans remain to be revealed.
Musumeci‘s involvement brings significant credibility to the project. The inclusion of other high-level practitioners like Rerisson Gabriel suggests the series will maintain elite-level competition standards.
The UFC branding could potentially open doors for crossover appeal between MMA and pure grappling audiences, possibly introducing new fans to the technical artistry of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while providing existing practitioners with entertainment content.
