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. ALF League announced that Khamzat Chimaev and Jorge Masvidal will headline its first event with a submission-only grappling match on December 4 at The Agenda in Dubai. The promotion has not announced the bout’s full rules or broadcast plans.
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.
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.
Khamzat Chimaev and Jorge Masvidal Booked for Submission-Only Match in Dubai
ALF League announced that Khamzat Chimaev and Jorge Masvidal will headline its first event with a submission-only grappling match on December 4 at The Agenda in Dubai. The promotion has not announced the bout’s full rules or broadcast plans.
Gordon Ryan Shares Advice for Grappling Against Larger Opponents
Ryan advises smaller grapplers to maintain distance and use movement to make larger opponents work harder. He describes using a stand-up threat to create openings for a snap-down and front headlock.
ONE Books Diogo Reis vs. Bebeto Oliveira for December 18 Title Defense
ONE Championship announced that flyweight submission-grappling champion Diogo Reis will defend his title against Bebeto Oliveira at ONE Fight Night 50 on December 18 in Bangkok. The all-Brazilian bout will be Oliveira’s promotional debut.
Robert Drysdale Explains His Concerns About Competitors Cross-Training
Robert Drysdale says he sees cross-training as less of a problem for hobbyists than for competitors, citing trust within teams. He says he has not stopped students from cross-training and acknowledges exceptions, including the need for training partners of a certain size.
Gui Mendes Says Blue Belt Can Be Jiu-Jitsu’s Most Frustrating Phase
On the Art of Jiu Jitsu podcast, Gui Mendes said blue belts may feel frustrated when they compare their progress with others. He advised students to focus on their own path and seek comparisons with people of similar backgrounds.
FloGrappling GM Ben Kovacs outlines plans for platform improvements
Ben Kovacs acknowledged FloGrappling’s shortcomings in search, advertising and technology. He said the platform is working on video controls and clipping tools, with broader technology upgrades planned for 2027 and AI-assisted archive search among ideas under consideration.
Diogo Reis, Selina Flores Bouts Added to ONE Fight Night 50
Diogo Reis will defend his ONE flyweight submission grappling title against Bebeto Oliveira, while Selina Flores faces Kana Morimoto in atomweight Muay Thai. The bouts are scheduled for December 18 at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Victor Hugo and Devhonte Johnson Set for ONE Fight Night 49 Trilogy Match
Victor Hugo and Devhonte Johnson meet in an openweight submission grappling match at ONE Fight Night 49 on November 6 in Bangkok. Their series is tied 1-1 after two earlier meetings.
IBJJF Releases Six Brackets for The Crown 2026
The Crown returns November 8 in Long Beach with six eight-athlete divisions and $20,000 for each winner. The brackets include Mica Galvão’s debut and defending champions Gabrieli Pessanha and Erich Munis, who are pursuing fourth consecutive titles.
Academia Gorila Tops Adult Male and Female Team Rankings at IBJJF No-Gi Europeans
Academia Gorila placed first in both adult male and adult female team rankings at the IBJJF No-Gi European Championships. Pawel Jaworski and Martyna Kapuścińska each won double gold.
Xande Ribeiro criticizes pressure on BJJ athletes to entertain
On the Josh Button podcast, seven-time world champion Xande Ribeiro said social media and organizations’ demands for entertaining performances can undermine BJJ’s values and contribute to an identity crisis among athletes. He argued that skill development and community should matter more than attention and winning.
BJJ Rankings Updated for November 2026
The November 2026 Jits Magazine BJJ Rankings reflect movement after the IBJJF No Gi European Championship and two UFC BJJ events.
Xande Ribeiro says he tried TRT for four months and stopped
Xande Ribeiro said on the Josh Button podcast that he tried testosterone replacement therapy for four months, felt bloated and stopped. He discussed lifestyle factors and recovery before considering TRT.
Conor McGregor Denies Laughing at Colby Covington’s 40-Second Submission Loss
Raul Rosas Jr. submitted Colby Covington in 40 seconds at HYPE FC in Rome. McGregor denied that footage of him laughing was filmed in reaction to Covington’s loss, calling its placement in the clip false.