Ali Akbar RosadyLas Vegas, NV – Andrew Tackett cemented his status as a formidable force within the nascent UFC BJJ promotion, successfully defending his welterweight title with a swift first-round submission victory at UFC BJJ 4. The highly anticipated event, held Thursday night at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, saw Tackett not only retain his belt but also issue a bold challenge to UFC lightweight superstar Michael Chandler, signaling his ambition to bridge the gap between pure grappling and mixed martial arts.
Tackett, a prodigious 22-year-old grappler, entered the UFC BJJ arena as a rising star, having already secured the welterweight title in June and defended it successfully a month later, both victories coming via submission. His latest performance against Eljiah Dorsey underscored his reputation for aggressive, decisive finishes, as he dispatched his opponent with apparent ease in the opening round of the main event.
From the outset, Tackett demonstrated his intent, shooting for a powerful double-leg takedown. Dorsey, attempting to counter the early aggression, initially responded with a guillotine choke attempt, followed by a transition to a 50-50 leg entanglement position, where he sought to attack Tackett’s leg. However, Tackett, known for his relentless submission game, quickly turned the tables. He defended Dorsey’s leg attacks adeptly and mirrored the attempt, securing a heel hook that forced Dorsey to tap out in the opening minutes of the bout. The technical precision and rapid execution of the submission highlighted Tackett’s elite-level grappling prowess and underscored why he is considered one of the sport’s most exciting young talents.
Following the official result, a moment of high recognition arrived for Tackett as UFC legend and BJJ pioneer Royce Gracie stepped onto the mat to personally adorn the welterweight champion with his belt. The presence of Gracie, an icon synonymous with the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the global popularization of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, added significant prestige to Tackett’s victory. It was in this moment, with the championship belt around his waist and the weight of BJJ history in the room, that Tackett seized the opportunity to make a statement. Looking ahead to 2026, he issued a direct challenge to UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler.
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“Michael Chandler, if you want it, let’s go,” Tackett declared, his voice ringing with confidence. “I’ll see you at the top!” The call-out of Chandler, a decorated former Bellator champion and a formidable presence in the UFC’s lightweight division, immediately generated buzz within the combat sports community. Chandler, known for his explosive striking, powerful wrestling, and iron-will, presents a stark stylistic contrast to Tackett’s pure grappling focus. While a crossover bout between a pure BJJ specialist and a top-tier MMA fighter is a complex proposition involving different rule sets and promotional landscapes, Tackett’s challenge reflects a growing trend of grapplers seeking to test their skills against athletes from other disciplines and to elevate the profile of submission-only competitions. The audacious nature of the call-out further amplified Tackett’s burgeoning star power, positioning him as a potential figurehead in the evolving narrative of combat sports.
Co-Main Event: Ronaldo Junior Claims Middleweight Gold in Dominant Fashion
The co-main event featured Andrew Tackett’s brother, William Tackett, in his own quest for UFC BJJ gold, as he faced off against Brazilian middleweight Ronaldo Junior. The highly anticipated title bout, however, saw Junior deliver a masterclass in control and submission threats, ultimately securing a dominant decision victory and the middleweight championship.
Ronaldo Junior, a product of the esteemed Atos Jiu-Jitsu gym under the tutelage of multiple-time world champion Andre Galvao, showcased his aggressive and well-rounded game from the opening bell. Junior immediately attacked William Tackett with a nasty guillotine choke attempt. Tackett, demonstrating his own high-level defense and positional awareness, managed to escape the early danger and establish top position, where he maintained control for the majority of the first round with a solid body lock. This initial exchange highlighted Tackett’s resilience and ability to navigate dangerous situations.
However, the tide of the fight shifted decisively between rounds. Junior’s corner, led by the legendary Andre Galvao, provided crucial tactical advice, instructing his fighter to avoid allowing Tackett to secure the body lock again. This strategic adjustment proved pivotal.
Entering the second round, Junior again initiated with a fierce guillotine as Tackett shot for a single-leg takedown. Although Tackett narrowly escaped the choke, Junior’s pressure remained relentless. He then successfully defended a kneebar attempt from Tackett, skillfully passed his guard, and swiftly transitioned to full mount. From this dominant position, Junior threatened with a mounted triangle choke as the round concluded, demonstrating his superior positional control and submission acumen.
The final stanza cemented Junior’s dominance. Within seconds of the round beginning, Junior again achieved full mount, immediately transitioning to an arm-triangle choke. William Tackett, displaying incredible toughness and heart, battled through the submission attempt, refusing to concede. Despite Tackett’s valiant defense, Junior maintained offensive pressure, even finding time to go for another D’Arce choke late in the round. Though Tackett never verbally tapped, the final bell confirmed Junior’s comprehensive control. The judges’ scorecards reflected the one-sided nature of the contest, with two judges scoring the bout a commanding 30-24 in favor of Ronaldo Junior, signaling a near-flawless performance and a deserving claim to the UFC BJJ middleweight title.
Inaugural Women’s Featherweight Title Goes to France
UFC BJJ 4 also marked a historic moment for women’s grappling with the introduction of the inaugural women’s featherweight title. In a compelling third-to-last match of the night, France’s Aurelie Le Vern delivered a stunning submission victory over Raquel Canuto to claim the championship belt.
Le Vern, showcasing her innovative and precise grappling, initiated her attack with a deep inverted triangle choke. While already a formidable submission, Le Vern expertly combined it with a kimura lock, amplifying the pressure and misery for her Hawaiian opponent. Canuto, known for her tenacity, fought valiantly to escape the combined submission, but the relentless pressure from Le Vern proved too much. Ultimately, Canuto was forced to concede, verbally tapping to the excruciating hold. Le Vern’s impressive and technically sophisticated submission victory marked her as the first-ever UFC BJJ women’s featherweight champion, a significant milestone for her career and for the promotion’s women’s division.
Canuto Family Secures a Victory
While Raquel Canuto faced defeat, the Canuto family did not leave the UFC APEX empty-handed. Her husband, Renato Canuto, a renowned BJJ wizard known for his dynamic and aggressive style, delivered a dominant performance in his own match. Canuto systematically controlled Alan Sanchez across three rounds, ultimately securing a clear decision victory. This win comes less than two months after Canuto made headlines with a violent knockout victory in a mixed martial arts bout, underscoring his versatility and continued pursuit of a UFC deal in 2026. His consistent high-level performances in both BJJ and MMA highlight his ambition to compete at the pinnacle of combat sports.
Mir vs. Willink: A Battle of Legacies
One of the most anticipated matchups on the card featured a clash between the daughters of two prominent figures in the combat sports and military communities: Bella Mir, daughter of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir, and Rana Willink, daughter of former Navy SEAL and jiu-jitsu black belt Jocko Willink. The presence of both fathers in their respective daughters’ corners added a unique narrative layer to the contest.
Bella Mir, already establishing her own professional mixed martial arts career with an impressive 4-0 record, including three submission victories at just 22 years of age, demonstrated her grappling pedigree. Seconds into the match, Mir attacked with a D’Arce choke, showcasing her aggressive submission hunting. Rana Willink, coached by her father, responded with her own guillotine attempt and later defended an arm-triangle choke from Mir. In the second round, Willink attempted to turn the tables, threatening with an armbar and a leg lock, displaying her own well-rounded skill set. However, Mir exhibited exceptional defense against all of Willink’s leg attacks and maintained superior positional control for the majority of the contest. As the clock ran out in the third round, Bella Mir was declared the winner via majority decision, a testament to her technical prowess and control, continuing her impressive trajectory in combat sports.
Formiga Debuts with a Win
In the UFC BJJ 4 opener, UFC veteran Jussier Formiga made a successful debut in the promotion’s pure grappling format. The longtime UFC flyweight contender, renowned for his high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu within the MMA cage, faced Lucas Pinheiro in a bantamweight showdown. Formiga, known for his relentless back attacks and submission threats, came close to securing a tap in the second round, applying significant pressure on Pinheiro. While he couldn’t finalize the submission, Formiga’s control and offensive output throughout the match were enough to earn him a decision victory, marking a successful transition into this specialized grappling competition and reminding fans of his deep jiu-jitsu roots.
UFC BJJ 4 delivered an action-packed night of high-level grappling, showcasing rising stars, established veterans, and the next generation of combat athletes. Andrew Tackett’s dominant title defense and audacious call-out of Michael Chandler, alongside Ronaldo Junior’s masterful performance and Aurelie Le Vern’s historic title win, underscored the growing excitement and potential of pure submission grappling within the UFC’s expanding combat sports empire.
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