Felipe Pena has expressed strong support for the growing trend of exclusive athlete contracts in grappling. As the sport evolves and major organizations like the UFC and ONE FC expand their focus on grappling events, Pena sees exclusivity as a way to professionalize the industry and provide stability for athletes.
The Value of Exclusivity
In a recent interview, Pena highlighted the benefits of exclusive contracts, particularly the security they offer competitors.
“I think this is the way to grow,” said Pena. “I think this is good for athletes because it gives security to the athlete.”
He explained that exclusivity not only guarantees a minimum number of bouts but also ensures a steady income, which has historically been a challenge for grapplers competing across various promotions.
However, Pena also pointed out that grappling differs from MMA in key ways, especially in terms of the physical toll on athletes. He emphasized that for exclusivity to succeed in grappling, promotions must offer more frequent competitions.
“The jiujits fighter has to have the possibility of fighting at least x number of times for him to sustain himself well,” Pena noted, referencing the unique demands and opportunities in professional grappling.
The UFC’s Role in Grappling’s Growth
The UFC’s plans to host monthly grappling events next year are a promising development, according to Pena. He believes this frequency is essential to making exclusive contracts viable.
“Full roster exclusivity may not be feasible yet given current event schedules,” he said, but added that the trend of signing select top athletes exclusively will continue to grow.
“I think the future is about exclusivity,” Pena predicted. He foresees a scenario where most high-level grapplers are tied to specific promotions, a shift that reflects the professionalization of the sport.
Balancing Grappling and MMA
While grappling is carving out its own professional space, many athletes still consider transitioning to MMA for financial or competitive reasons. Pena himself entertained the idea earlier in his career but ultimately decided against it.
“I had this idea a while ago, but these episodes ended up making me discard it because I couldn’t find the time to transition,” he explained.
Now at 33, Pena acknowledges that the window for pursuing MMA has closed. He cited both the financial growth in jiu-jitsu and the time required to adapt as reasons why switching sports no longer makes sense for him.
“Nowadays I’m already 33 so I’m going to transition to MMA I’m going to spend some time there adapting, you know, I’m obviously going to have to stop competing jiu-jitsu because there’s no way around it,” he said.
Lessons from a Career in Jiu-Jitsu
Pena’s experiences highlight the need for structural changes in grappling to support athletes throughout their careers. Beyond contract opportunities, he has faced unique challenges, including health issues like chronic tonsillitis that severely impacted his training and competition schedule.
“I had chronic tonsillitis. There was a time in my life, I had like eight [infections] a year and all of them, taking antibiotics, I was in bed for two weeks,” Pena revealed.
These health struggles underscored the need for greater stability in the sport, both financially and professionally. Now, with his health improved following surgery, Pena remains committed to competing at the highest level, with his next match scheduled for December 4th against Declan Muri.
The Evolution of Professional Grappling
As grappling continues to gain mainstream attention, Pena’s endorsement of exclusive contracts aligns with broader trends in combat sports. He recognizes the growing professionalism in the industry and sees exclusivity as a natural evolution that will benefit both athletes and organizations.
“I think this is the way to grow,” Pena reiterated, signaling optimism for the future of grappling as promotions like the UFC invest more in the sport.
