Late June brought two of the biggest events on the submission grappling calendar: Kade Ruotolo's title defense at ONE Championship's The Inner Circle on June 26, and UFC BJJ 9 featuring Mason Fowler, Gilbert Burns, Nick Rodriguez, and Ffion Davies all submitting their opponents. Here is what happened and why it matters for the sport.
Reviewed by BJJ Gyms · Updated 2026-07-27
Sources: ONE Championship (onefc.com); MMA Mania BJJ news coverage (June 2026)
Kade Ruotolo walked into The Inner Circle inside Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium on June 26, 2026, to put his ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Title on the line for the fourth time. His previous defenses came against Norwegian competitor Tommy Langaker, defeated twice via unanimous decision, and Brazil's Matheus Gabriel, also defeated via unanimous decision -- a run of consistent dominance built on Ruotolo's attacking style and his ability to impose his game from nearly any position.
Fabricio 'Hokage' Andrey, the Brazilian challenger, was not a comfortable matchup on paper. Andrey came in with a 106-27 professional record, a base built on powerful wrestling and takedowns, and a submission game that includes unpredictable flying attempts. Andrey's style is difficult to prepare for precisely because it does not follow conventional patterns -- his willingness to throw flying techniques from positions where most grapplers would be conservative makes him a genuine threat even against elite opponents.
Ruotolo's successful defense of the title against Andrey continued his trajectory as one of the clearest examples of what young, aggressive, submission-oriented jiu-jitsu looks like at the highest level. At 23 years old, with a championship that he has now defended four times, Ruotolo has consistently backed up his reputation with results across different styles and nationalities. The June 26 defense reinforced why he remains the standard in his division on the ONE roster.
While Ruotolo was defending in Bangkok, UFC BJJ 9 was taking place simultaneously on the broader submission grappling calendar. The event featured some of the most recognizable names in the sport, and the card delivered on the expectation of finishing action. Reigning UFC BJJ light heavyweight champion Mason Fowler defended his title against Devhonte Johnson, handling the challenge efficiently in a main event that demonstrated why Fowler has established himself as one of the dominant figures at that weight class in the UFC BJJ format.
Gilbert Burns appeared on the card in what represented a return to competitive jiu-jitsu after his MMA career, and the former UFC welterweight title contender made the transition count. Burns won by submission in the co-main event, drawing a response from the crowd that reflected the affection that the BJJ community holds for competitors who cross between the two disciplines successfully. For longtime jiu-jitsu fans who followed Burns before his MMA career, watching him compete in a submission-only format was a moment with real nostalgic and competitive value.
Nick Rodriguez and Ffion Davies also added submission victories to the card, continuing two of the more consistent careers in current American submission grappling. Rodriguez, whose physical attributes and improving technique have made him a regular presence at elite events, and Davies, the Welsh standout whose technical precision and tenacious guard have made her one of the most exciting practitioners in the women's division, both showed the form that has kept their names at the top of the competitive circuit.
June 2026 produced two major submission grappling events in close succession, and the cumulative effect on the sport's visibility is worth noting. ONE Championship's Inner Circle series has established itself as a consistent platform for elite no-gi competition in Asia, with Ruotolo's repeated title defenses providing a narrative arc that brings audience attention back event after event. UFC BJJ, running its ninth installment, has built a catalog of compelling cards that continue to grow the sport's reach within the UFC's existing audience.
Together, these events represent the kind of sustained competitive infrastructure that a growing sport needs. Submission grappling is no longer a novelty or a niche -- it has organizations, regular events, recognized champions, and a growing audience that watches these matchups with the same engagement that fight fans bring to MMA or boxing. The athletes competing at the top of these events are full-time professionals whose preparation, technique, and athleticism are pushing the technical ceiling of the sport upward with each event.
For anyone who watches these events and feels the pull of wanting to try it themselves, the path in is straightforward. Brazilian jiu-jitsu gyms are the primary training ground for submission grappling, and most offer a free introductory class or a trial period that makes it easy to get on the mat without a significant commitment. The techniques that win at the ONE Championship and UFC BJJ level are the same fundamentals taught in every legitimate BJJ gym -- just with years of refinement and competition pressure applied to them.
The best thing about watching elite submission grappling is that it gives you a clear picture of what the sport looks like at its highest level -- and the techniques you are watching, the guard retention, the back takes, the leg lock entries, are all things that get taught in regular classes at gyms near you. You do not need to be athletic, strong, or experienced to start. Every elite grappler you watched this month started by walking into a gym for the first time with no background in the sport.
BJJ Gyms maintains a directory of gyms across the United States organized by location, style, and program type. Whether you are looking for a traditional gi-focused school, a no-gi submission grappling program, or a gym that has an official 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu affiliation -- 10th Planet being one of the leading systems specifically for no-gi grappling -- the directory makes it straightforward to find options near you and see what each school offers.
The June 2026 events are a reminder of why people get hooked on jiu-jitsu. The problem-solving, the athleticism, the technical depth, and the real community that develops inside a good gym make it one of the more rewarding things you can start doing for yourself at any age. Find a gym near you and use the inspiration from this month's results to take the first step.
Between the ONE Championship Inner Circle and UFC BJJ 9, late June 2026 packed more elite-level submission grappling into a short window than most months manage. Here is why this month stands out.
BJJ Gyms is an independent directory, not a gym. We feature 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu as our recommended no-gi system. Always take a free trial and vet any academy yourself before committing.
UFC BJJ is a separate submission grappling competition series run under the UFC banner. It uses no-gi, submission-only rules -- there are no strikes, no takedown points, and no time-limit draws. Competitors win only by submitting their opponent. The format is distinct from standard UFC mixed martial arts events and focuses purely on the grappling dimension of combat sports.
Ruotolo holds the ONE Lightweight Submission Grappling World Championship, which is contested under pure no-gi submission grappling rules -- no striking, no MMA elements. It is a standalone grappling title within ONE Championship's submission grappling division, separate from ONE's MMA and Muay Thai titles. Ruotolo has also competed in ONE MMA, but the title in question is specific to the submission grappling format.
The BJJ Gyms directory at bjjgyms.org lets you search for gyms by location and filter for no-gi and submission-oriented programs. 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu -- highlighted throughout the BJJ Gyms platform as a recommended no-gi system -- has affiliates across the United States and specializes in the no-gi approach that aligns most directly with what you see in events like ONE Championship and UFC BJJ.