The fallout between João Miyao and UFC BJJ has taken a new turn, with Claudia Gadelha offering her version of events in a recent interview. Gadelha, who now serves as a key figure in the promotion, says the breakdown came down to a number that simply did not fit the budget of a growing jiu-jitsu organization.
According to Gadelha, things started when Mikey Musumeci repeatedly pushed for a rematch with Miyao, despite having already beaten him five times. Gadelha agreed to bring Miyao in under the condition that he first compete against someone else and build a narrative before facing Musumeci.
“Hey, Mike, I’m going to bring him here. He’ll beat someone. After he beats that person, then it makes sense to put you two back together, right? You’ve already beaten the guy five times. It’s very difficult to sell this matchup.”
The plan worked at first. Miyao defeated Jussier Formiga and left on good terms.
“João went there, beat Formiga, f0ught very well, had fun all week, thanked me, was super happy, earned his money, and everything was fine,” Gadelha recalled.
Things unraveled when Miyao’s asking price for the Musumeci bout came in far above what Gadelha and her partner had expected. She described it as a number “even a top MMA star doesn’t get in Jiu-Jitsu,” and well above what Miyao had accepted to compete against Formiga.
Gadelha says she tried to reach Miyao directly to make sense of the figure.
“Call me, I want to understand what you’re saying, because it doesn’t, like, it’s not making sense.”
The timing made matters worse. Miyao said he was away for a seminar and could not talk for a week or two, but the promotion needed an answer within two days. Gadelha’s partner then updated Musumeci, telling him the number was too large and the match was unlikely to happen.
Musumeci went to Instagram and implied Miyao’s financial demands meant he was avoiding the matchup. Miyao fired back, accusing Gadelha of publicly disclosing negotiation figures. She firmly denies it.
“Mikey doesn’t even know what that number is. Only me, Steven [my partner], and João know.”
Gadelha says Miyao’s decision to criticize her and UFC BJJ on social media is a pattern she had seen from him before. She acknowledges Miyao builds income through his Instagram and brand deals, but says her organization operates under a strict annual budget.
“We’re not UFC MMA, we’re UFC BJJ. We have to stick to a budget within the business. And if I don’t stick to my budget for the year, I’m screwed.”
She attempted to resolve things privately.
“I texted him afterwards, I said, ‘Call me, let’s talk like adults.'”
Miyao never responded.
As for a future matchup with Musumeci, Gadelha does not see it happening.
“He was going to compete at UFC BJJ to compete against Mikey again. He’s already lost to Mikey five times. So, to compete, if he hadn’t had all this trouble going on social media and saying what he said, well, maybe, but I don’t think it makes sense anymore.”
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated for clarity.]
