UFC BJJ 4 Delivered a Statement
On December 11, 2025, UFC BJJ 4 transformed the UFC Apex in Las Vegas into the center of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world. Featuring 10 elite grappling matches, three championship bouts, and some of the sport’s most recognizable names, the event showcased exactly why UFC’s investment in professional grappling continues to gain momentum.
What separated UFC BJJ 4 from many traditional grappling events was the now-signature “Bowl” format. The curved walls surrounding the competition area prevented competitors from escaping out of bounds, eliminating constant resets and forcing athletes to engage continuously. The result was a night packed with action, pressure, and submission attempts that kept fans engaged from the opening match to the main event.
By the end of the night, two inaugural champions had been crowned, one reigning king successfully defended his throne, and several rising stars further established themselves as major players in the rapidly evolving UFC BJJ landscape.
Three Championship Fights Defined the Night
The card was built around three title fights, each carrying significant implications for the future of the promotion.
Aurelie Le Vern Makes History as UFC BJJ’s First Women’s Champion
History was made when Aurelie Le Vern faced Raquel Canuto for the inaugural UFC BJJ Women’s Featherweight Championship.
The matchup carried considerable significance. Canuto entered as one of the most accomplished competitors in the division, while Le Vern arrived with an opportunity to etch her name into the history books forever.
She did exactly that.
Le Vern wasted little time asserting herself, securing a first-round submission victory via hammer lock/Americana to become the first-ever female UFC BJJ champion. The finish was decisive and left no doubt about who would be the face of the newly established women’s featherweight division.
The victory represented more than just a championship win. It symbolized the continued growth of women’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on one of the sport’s largest professional stages.
With the belt now around her waist, Le Vern leaves UFC BJJ 4 as a foundational figure in the promotion’s history.
Ronaldo Souza Jr. Claims Inaugural Middleweight Gold
The co-main event featured a battle for the inaugural UFC BJJ Middleweight Championship between Ronaldo Souza Jr. and William Tackett.
Tackett entered with significant momentum and the support of a family name that has become synonymous with elite submission grappling. Across from him stood Ronaldo Souza Jr., a decorated competitor with world-class credentials and championship aspirations of his own.
When the dust settled, it was Souza Jr. who emerged victorious.
His performance showcased the technical precision, control, and strategic awareness required to succeed at the highest levels of professional grappling. By securing the inaugural middleweight championship, Souza Jr. instantly positioned himself as one of the promotion’s cornerstone athletes moving forward.
Winning the first championship in any division carries a unique prestige. There are no previous titleholders to compare against. The inaugural champion sets the standard.
At UFC BJJ 4, Ronaldo Souza Jr. did exactly that.
Andrew Tackett Defends His Kingdom Despite Injury
The main event spotlight belonged to reigning UFC BJJ Welterweight Champion Andrew Tackett and challenger Elijah Dorsey.
Leading into the bout, questions surrounded Tackett’s health after reports emerged that he had suffered a rib injury prior to the event. Against an aggressive and dangerous opponent like Dorsey, any physical limitation could have become a major factor.
Instead, Tackett delivered another championship-level performance.
Displaying the relentless pace, technical creativity, and submission hunting style that have made him one of the sport’s most exciting competitors, the champion controlled the action and successfully defended his title.
The victory reinforced his position atop the welterweight division and further solidified his reputation as one of the premier grapplers in professional competition today.
Champions are often judged not by how they perform at their best, but by how they respond when adversity strikes. Fighting through injury and still producing a dominant performance only strengthened Tackett’s standing as the division’s undisputed king.
Strong Performances Throughout the Card
While the championship bouts understandably received the most attention, several other athletes delivered memorable performances throughout the evening.
Jussier Formiga Earns Bantamweight Victory
Veteran grappler Jussier Formiga picked up a unanimous decision victory over Lucas Pinheiro in a highly competitive bantamweight contest.
Formiga’s experience proved valuable throughout the match as he consistently found advantageous positions and maintained control during key exchanges. The win adds another notable result to an already impressive grappling résumé.
Dorian Olivarez Continues to Impress
Dorian Olivarez added another strong performance to his growing body of work by defeating Samuel Nagai.
Known for his aggressive style and high-level wrestling integration, Olivarez demonstrated once again why many observers view him as one of the most intriguing prospects competing under the UFC BJJ banner.
As the promotion continues to expand, performances like this could position him for even bigger opportunities in the future.
Royce Gracie’s Presence Underscored the Sport’s Evolution
One of the night’s most powerful moments wasn’t a submission or a championship celebration.
It was the presence of Royce Gracie.
The UFC Hall of Famer and one of the most influential figures in martial arts history attended UFC BJJ 4, serving as a living reminder of how far Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has come.
Three decades ago, Gracie introduced much of the world to BJJ through the earliest UFC events. Now, he watched a new generation of athletes compete under a professional grappling banner operated by the same organization that helped launch the sport into the mainstream.
His attendance connected the past, present, and future of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a way few moments could.
The Bowl Format Continues to Change Professional Grappling
Beyond the individual results, UFC BJJ 4 further validated one of the promotion’s most innovative concepts: The Bowl.
Traditional grappling matches often suffer from frequent stoppages when athletes move outside the competition area. The Bowl’s curved walls eliminate that problem by forcing competitors to remain engaged and continue working through scrambles and positional battles.
The format creates longer exchanges, more continuous action, and a viewing experience that is easier for both hardcore fans and newcomers to follow.
Throughout UFC BJJ 4, the system once again delivered exactly what it was designed to produce—high-paced, uninterrupted grappling.
UFC BJJ 4 Was a Defining Moment for the Promotion
By the time the event concluded, UFC BJJ 4 had accomplished something significant.
It crowned two inaugural champions, reinforced the dominance of an established titleholder, showcased emerging talent, and highlighted the growing legitimacy of professional submission grappling under the UFC banner.
Aurelie Le Vern made history.
Ronaldo Souza Jr. established a new division’s gold standard.
Andrew Tackett reminded everyone why he remains the welterweight king.
And with legends like Royce Gracie watching from the sidelines, UFC BJJ 4 felt less like another event and more like a glimpse into the future of professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
If UFC’s goal is to elevate grappling into a mainstream spectator sport, UFC BJJ 4 may ultimately be remembered as one of the promotion’s most important milestones.
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