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.
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.
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.
MMA Fighting archive: UFC and other combat sports news, November 3–5
The archive lists MMA and combat sports stories published November 3–5, including UFC updates, BKFC news, boxing and wrestling announcements, and a submission-only grappling result.
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.
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.