The UFC has officially announced the launch of UFC BJJ Opens, a grassroots competitive platform designed to connect practitioners of all backgrounds to the organization’s growing jiu-jitsu ecosystem.
The announcement came alongside a video message from UFC President Dana White, who stated that the Opens is a direct pipeline for athletes dreaming of competing on the sport’s biggest stage.
“Everybody, I just wanted to give you a heads up that UFC BJJ is officially launching their Opens,” White said. “The official entry point into the UFC BJJ competitive platform. These Open tournaments give athletes of all ages and skill levels the chance to compete under the UFC BJJ banner and begin their journey from the local mats to the biggest stage in the sport.”
“Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned vet, or chasing at a championship, UFC BJJ Opens your opportunity to prove yourself and possibly win a world title someday. So UFC BJJ Opens are coming to cities across the country this fall.”
The rollout begins this summer, with the inaugural event scheduled for August 22 in Las Vegas, followed by a second stop in Phoenix on September 12. Two additional events are planned for later in the year at locations yet to be announced, with the organization projecting as many as 10 events throughout 2027.
Organizers are targeting between 750 and 1,000 competitors from the opening event.
Additionally, Claudia Gadelha made clear during a recent press conference that the Opens are not intended to rival existing tournament organizations such as the IBJJF or ADCC.
The vision is something different entirely: a structured, submission-oriented pathway built around the same competitive values that define the UFC’s brand.
“We actually love the IBJJF tournaments. We love the ADCC tournaments. We are not here to compete with anyone,” Gadelha said. “But we are here to professionalize jiu-jitsu and to make jiu-jitsu entertaining. That’s our goal.”
For Gadelha, the Opens represent something she wished had existed when she was coming up through the sport. The concept centers on creating a culture of finishing matches early, shaping athletes who are rewarded for offensive, dynamic grappling rather than point accumulation and stalling.
“The UFC BJJ Opens is an entry point to the UFC BJJ system. So athletes from all ages and all belts, all skill levels will be able to register and compete under the UFC BJJ banner,” she explained.
“And this is something we wanted since day one because we can have now kids and people that dream to be competing at UFC BJJ, competing under a rule set and getting trained to come here and compete to win, to finish matches.”
Reflecting on her own journey in combat sports, Gadelha admitted she wished that kind of environment had existed earlier in her career.
“I wish, if I have to think for myself, I wish I was encouraged to compete finishing matches and to have all that training very early in my life so I could get to the UFC better prepared for everything that I had to face in the UFC.”
Participation in the Opens does not guarantee a roster spot at UFC BJJ events, but Gadelha was candid that scouts will be watching closely. The Opens function as both a development environment and a talent discovery mechanism, giving lesser-known athletes an organized stage to demonstrate they belong among the elite.
“It doesn’t guarantee your spot at UFC BJJ, but that’s where we will be looking for talent and also that’s our opportunity for athletes to go out there and show that they belong in the elite level,” she said. “We’ll be looking for that.”
