Tye Ruotolo submitted Christian Lee in the first round to win ONE’s lightweight MMA title and become the promotion’s first champion in both MMA and submission grappling. At ONE Fight Night 49, Victor Hugo settled his series with Devhonte Johnson by rear-naked choke, while Garry Tonon shared his case for teaching BJJ principles alongside techniques.
Ryan Hall Says Many Grapplers Overestimate Their Work Ethic
Ryan Hall says honest self-assessment, thoughtful training and listening to feedback are essential to improvement. He argues competition exposes whether athletes have prepared fully, while effort quality matters more than years spent training.
Rana Willink Recalls How She and Her Siblings Resisted Jiu-Jitsu as Kids
Rana Willink says she and her siblings cried when their father, Jocko Willink, took them to jiu-jitsu as children. A jiu-jitsu camp later helped bring her back to the sport, which she eventually pursued on her own.
Fedor Emelianenko Open to Sambo Exhibition with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Fedor Emelianenko said he is willing to take part in a Sambo exhibition match with Khabib Nurmagomedov if Khabib agrees. Emelianenko suggested the International Sambo Federation could initiate the event, potentially at the World Championships.
Raul Rosas Jr. Replaces Dillon Danis Against Colby Covington at Hype FC
Raul Rosas Jr. accepted a short-notice submission-only match against Colby Covington after Dillon Danis withdrew. The bout is scheduled for Nov. 3 at Pala Pellicone in Rome.
Owen Livesay Says BJJ Should Improve Training Discipline and Athletic Preparation
Owen Livesay criticized what he sees as lax training habits in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and urged greater emphasis on athletic preparation. He also said matches without leg locks can be more entertaining.
BJJ Practitioner Arrested After Alleged Assaults on Two Women in Rio de Janeiro
Police in Rio de Janeiro arrested 32-year-old Lucas Portela Fontana Gomes after two women were allegedly assaulted in a residential building. He faces attempted femicide charges; the 81-year-old resident remained hospitalized in stable condition, and the case is under investigation.
Victor Hugo Submits Devhonte Johnson in 95 Seconds at ONE Fight Night 49
Victor Hugo submitted Devhonte Johnson with a rear-naked choke in 1:35 at ONE Fight Night 49 in Bangkok. The win gave Hugo a 2-1 edge in their head-to-head series.
Tye Ruotolo Wins ONE Lightweight MMA Title With First-Round Submission of Christian Lee
Tye Ruotolo says he planned to finish Christian Lee in the first round, despite battling sickness during fight week. He also discussed his training, possible future MMA bouts and a potential move to welterweight.
ONE Fight Night 49: MMA and Submission Grappling Results
Lee Seung Cheol submitted Nazareth Lalthazuala, Magdalena Czaban and Ilmadi Israilov won unanimous decisions, and Victor Hugo submitted Devhonte Johnson at ONE Fight Night 49 in Bangkok on November 6.
Garry Tonon Urges BJJ Students to Learn Principles, Not Just Techniques
Speaking on the BJJ Fanatics podcast, Garry Tonon said understanding the principles behind techniques helps students adapt to unfamiliar situations. He cited John Danaher’s four-step system as a useful framework for beginners.
FloGrappling GM Ben Kovacs Criticizes UFC BJJ’s Approach and Business Model
FloGrappling GM Ben Kovacs questioned whether UFC BJJ can build a sustainable business in a crowded grappling market. He also criticized the promotion’s corporate feel and said many matchups lack action and storylines.
Tye Ruotolo wins ONE MMA title in third fight, submits Christian Lee
Tye Ruotolo defeated Christian Lee by rear-naked choke in 2:08 to win ONE’s 170-pound MMA title at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. The jiu-jitsu champion earned the title in his third professional MMA bout.
Tye Ruotolo Submits Christian Lee in Round One to Win ONE Lightweight MMA Title
Tye Ruotolo submitted Christian Lee by rear-naked choke at 2:08 of the first round at The Inner Circle 37 in Bangkok. The victory made Ruotolo the first athlete in ONE history to win world titles in both submission grappling and MMA.
Tye Ruotolo Says Jiu-Jitsu Is in a Fragmented Phase
Tye Ruotolo says major jiu-jitsu events have lost some prestige amid divided promotions and the absence of top competitors. He also criticized stalling at tournaments, saying athletes should make matches engaging for fans.
Islam Makhachev Says Combat Sambo Is a More Complete MMA Base
Speaking at the Sambo World Championships in Tashkent, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev argued that combat sambo better prepares MMA athletes by combining standing and ground skills. He said jiu-jitsu’s focus on ground exchanges may leave athletes less prepared to take opponents down.
CBLP introduces rule to protect athletes’ head and cervical spine
The Brazilian Confederation (CBLP) introduced a rule effective September 1, 2026, prohibiting athletes from remaining inverted with the head or cervical region as their main point of ground support under an opponent’s control or weight. Referees must stop the match and reset both competitors without penalty.