We thought we had seen the peak. We were wrong. After a strong UFC BJJ 7 and an UFC BJJ 8 that confirmed the trend, this ninth edition pushes the bar even higher. Eight submissions in nine matches. Eleven debuts. And, by the unanimous verdict of both commentary teams, the best fight in the promotion’s entire history. Let’s say it straight away: this was a huge night.
Table Of Content
What to remember from UFC BJJ 9?
UFC BJJ 9 will go down as the best night in the promotion’s young history: eight submissions in nine matches, eleven debuts and the most dramatic fight ever seen inside the Bowl. Mason Fowler retains his light heavyweight title, while Gilbert Burns makes a stunning debut.
The schedule was tight, though. Barely two weeks after the May card, UFC BJJ returned with the Meta APEX Bowl, right before the promotion’s big fight weekend. On paper, the risk of a flat evening was real. Yet the exact opposite happened.
Why the click? Because the athletes have finally fully embraced the format. Three five-minute rounds, a points system that rewards initiative and the hunt for a finish: from now on, stalling no longer pays. As a result, everyone attacked. Mason Fowler keeps his light heavyweight belt, Gilbert Burns makes a striking debut, and one comeback win will live forever in the highlight reels.
🏆 UFC BJJ 9 by the numbers
8 submissions in 9 matches: the best finish ratio since the format launched.
11 debuts on a single card, a sign of the growing depth of the talent pool.
2 seconds: the time left when Raphael Ferreira tapped to John Chandler’s triangle.
88 seconds: how long Gilbert Burns needed to win his debut against Horlando Monteiro.
What are the full UFC BJJ 9 results?
At UFC BJJ 9, eight of the nine matches ended by submission. Mason Fowler retained his light heavyweight title against Devhonte Johnson, Gilbert Burns won on debut, and John Chandler submitted Raphael Ferreira with two seconds left on the clock in the fight of the night.
| # | Division | Fighter (winner) | vs | Fighter | Result | Round / Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Women’s Strawweight (115 lbs) | Ana Lima | vs | Amanda Mazza | Submission (armbar) | R1, 2:18 |
| 2 | Bantamweight (135 lbs) | Mourece Ramirez | vs | Victor Delibero | Unanimous decision | 3 rounds |
| 3 | Featherweight (145 lbs) | John Chandler | vs | Raphael Ferreira | Submission (triangle) | R3, 4:58 |
| 4 | Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) | Achilles Rocha | vs | Filipe Pimentel | Submission (heel hook) | R1, 2:00 |
| 5 | Women’s Featherweight (145 lbs) | Bella Mir | vs | Nichelle Johnson | Submission (armbar) | R3, 3:49 |
| 6 | Women’s Bantamweight (135 lbs) | Ffion Davies | vs | Amanda Bruse | Submission (armbar) | R1, 4:49 |
| 7 | Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) | Nick Rodriguez | vs | João Nicolite | Submission (rear naked choke) | R1, 3:12 |
| 8 | Middleweight (185 lbs) | Gilbert Burns | vs | Horlando Monteiro | Submission (rear naked choke) | R1, 1:22 |
| 9 | 🏆 Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) | Mason Fowler (c) | vs | Devhonte Johnson | Submission (rear naked choke) | R1, 2:29 |
UFC BJJ 9 awards:
Performance of the Night: John Chandler vs Raphael Ferreira.
Submissions of the Night: Ffion Davies and Ana Lima.
How did each UFC BJJ 9 match unfold?
Here is the detailed recap of all nine UFC BJJ 9 matches, from women’s strawweight to the light heavyweight main event. Each section gives the winner, the type of submission and the key moment, so you can follow the night fight by fight.
Match 1: Ana Lima vs Amanda Mazza (Women’s Strawweight, 115 lbs)
Result: Lima by submission (armbar), R1 at 2:18
The night started hot. Ana Lima, nicknamed “Brava,” attacked Amanda Mazza’s right leg straight away. The American stayed calm and countered with a leg attack of her own, which let her partially free herself. Yet just as she thought she was out of danger, Lima switched targets, attacked again and locked up an armbar. The Brazilian thus signed an emphatic debut. An ideal start to set the tone.
“I wanted to submit as fast as possible. I don’t want people to get bored watching the strawweights.”, Ana Lima
Match 2: Mourece Ramirez vs Victor Delibero (Bantamweight, 135 lbs)
Result: Ramirez by unanimous decision
The only decision of the night, but what a decision. Mourece Ramirez, a former Arizona wrestler turned black belt, delivered fifteen minutes of non-stop attacks. Super duck, barra voladora, flying triangles off the Bowl wall: the 22-year-old tried everything. Across from him, Victor Delibero showed remarkable defense. That, indeed, explains the lack of a finish despite the flood of attacks.
In practice, Ramirez blended wrestling and jiu-jitsu with rare fluidity, alternating crushing top control and explosive transitions off his back. Delibero, however, held firm defensively throughout, before threatening with a last-gasp leg lock in the final seconds. Notably, neither man faded physically, proof that the lighter divisions remain the most spectacular on the roster.
Match 3: John Chandler vs Raphael Ferreira (Featherweight, 145 lbs)
Result: Chandler by submission (triangle), R3 at 4:58
The fight of the night. And, according to the commentators, the best in UFC BJJ history. Hard to argue. On one side, Raphael Ferreira, 18, a chaotic and tireless grappler, chains submissions without let-up. On the other, John “White Chocolate” Chandler, a former wrestler famous for never quitting. In the very first round, Ferreira locks up a terrifying anaconda, but Chandler refuses to tap, survives, and eventually escapes.
In the second round, Ferreira goes back after the legs. Chandler escapes twice, then gradually imposes his pace from the top. Still, the third round arrives with Chandler two rounds down on the cards. He needs the finish. And that is exactly what he hunts: an opening foot sweep, an anaconda in north-south, then, in the dying seconds, a triangle. His corner counts down, Ferreira looks like he will survive, and he taps with two seconds left on the clock. A comeback for the ages.
“All glory to Jesus Christ. I stayed focused from start to finish. When he hit the calf slicer, I felt things tearing in my leg. But I told myself: no, it’s fine, it doesn’t hurt.”, John Chandler
Worth noting: despite the loss, Ferreira leaves this night with his stock raised. At 18, his cardio, flexibility and charisma won over the crowd. We will see him again, that much is certain.
Match 4: Achilles Rocha vs Filipe Pimentel (Light Heavyweight, 205 lbs)
Result: Rocha by submission (heel hook), R1 at 2:00
The son of Vagner Rocha lived up to the family name. At 19, Achilles Rocha stepped onto the mat with raw intensity. After the hand check, he charged in and even shoved Filipe Pimentel into the slope of the Bowl. Then he got to work: he grabbed a leg, defended an early heel hook attempt, adjusted his grip, applied the torque, and it was over in exactly two minutes.
The technique itself was clean, and the transition even remarkable. The aggressive start, however, reignited an old debate about sportsmanship, which the Spanish commentary team discussed at length. Nothing illegal, granted. What remains is an explosive debutant already calling for the belt.
“I’m proud, but not satisfied. I want more. I know I’m the best in the world right now. Whoever wins the title, that’s who I want to face. The belt is mine.”, Achilles Rocha
Match 5: Bella Mir vs Nichelle Johnson (Women’s Featherweight, 145 lbs)
Result: Mir by submission (armbar), R3 at 3:49
Bella Mir, daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir, confirmed her status. The 23-year-old, already an IBJJF world champion, a collegiate wrestling champion and undefeated in MMA, juggles multiple disciplines at once. On the mat, her wrestling pressure quickly made the difference. In the first round she controlled position, alternated north-south and side control, and even landed a face crank as the clapper sounded. But Nichelle Johnson, a 10th Planet purple belt and former Navy veteran, refused to tap.
The script repeated in the second round: a fresh takedown, crushing pressure, another face crank attempt, and still that heroic resistance from Johnson. So it was in the third round that Mir truly stepped on the gas. She rolled beautifully into a Kimura, and when Johnson defended well, she switched cleanly to an armbar to force the tap. She thus moved to 3-0 in the Bowl. With a wink, she made sure to give her father his due:
“The Kimura is my dad’s move. So I’m sticking to the armbar for now. He still keeps the Kimura title.”, Bella Mir
After this third win, Mir called out UFC BJJ bosses Claudia Gadelha and Stephen Tecci to demand a title shot. Given her trajectory, the request is more than legitimate.
Match 6: Ffion Davies vs Amanda Bruse (Women’s Bantamweight, 135 lbs)
Result: Davies by submission (armbar), R1 at 4:49
A five-time world champion and ADCC champion, Ffion Davies had nonetheless flopped on her Bowl debut. This time, the London-based Welshwoman finally claimed her first win. The fight started badly, though: Amanda Bruse went for an early flying triangle, and for a moment Davies looked trapped. But the Welshwoman kept her cool, stabilized her position, then pulled herself out of danger.
Once free, Davies went on the attack and quickly took the back. She first hunted the rear naked choke, but Bruse defended well and tried to roll. Davies, however, would not let go. So she switched from the rear naked choke to an armbar, beat her opponent’s defense, extended the arm and forced the tap with eleven seconds left in the opening round. Revenge for a 2023 fight lost on points, this time settled by submission. Enough to fuel a push toward a rematch with Cassia Moura.
Match 7: Nick Rodriguez vs João Nicolite (Light Heavyweight, 205 lbs)
Result: Rodriguez by submission (rear naked choke), R1 at 3:12
Nick “Nicky Rod” Rodriguez wasted no time. He charged across the Bowl and shot a double leg to send João Nicolite straight down. The Brazilian tried to attack a leg off his back, but Rodriguez transitioned cleanly out of danger and settled into half guard, in top position. One of the biggest names in world grappling was, in fact, dropping a division for this match.
The rest was clinical. Rodriguez worked an opening from the top, took the back, then locked up a rear naked choke. Nicolite delayed the inevitable but eventually tapped. A first convincing win for Nicky Rod in the Bowl, after the controversial draw of his last outing. Logically, he is now calling for a title shot against the main event winner.
“I’m confident I can beat every single grappler in the world.”, Nick Rodriguez
Match 8: Gilbert Burns vs Horlando Monteiro (Middleweight, 185 lbs)
Result: Burns by submission (rear naked choke), R1 at 1:22
The co-main event, and the most anticipated homecoming of the night. Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, retired from MMA since April, returns to his first love: jiu-jitsu. Many wondered how rusty his BJJ might be after years spent prioritizing striking. The answer came in under ninety seconds.
After a respectful hand check and an embrace, the action got underway. Horlando Monteiro made the first move, shooting in for a leg. But Burns saw the attack coming, immediately countered with a front headlock, then turned defense into attack by taking the back. Monteiro tried to roll free, but Durinho was ready: he stabilized his position, locked up the rear naked choke, and forced the tap after 88 seconds. Clean, sharp, instant. On his first steps in the Bowl, the Brazilian hit hard.
“All glory to Jesus Christ. I’m so happy. It had been a long time since I last won. Here, at least, I know I can’t get knocked out.”, Gilbert Burns
In the aftermath, Burns launched an avalanche of callouts: Demian Maia, Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz. Above all, he restated his dream of capturing a title, clearly eyeing the UFC BJJ middleweight crown. The competitor’s flame is clearly intact.
Match 9: 🏆 Mason Fowler vs Devhonte Johnson, Light Heavyweight Title (205 lbs)
Result: Fowler by submission (rear naked choke), R1 at 2:29, retains the title (2nd defense)
The main event, and a statement. Mason “The Mangler” Fowler, a student of Caio Terra, had himself called out Devhonte Johnson, who dropped down from heavyweight for this rematch. Everyone expected a fifteen-minute war. The reality was far swifter.
The two men first locked into a clinch battle through the opening minutes. That is why referee Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro handed out warnings first, then deducted a point from each. The clinch battle resumed, and it was finally Fowler who initiated the action: an arm drag, the back-take in the same motion, the body triangle locked, and the rear naked choke. Caught by surprise, Johnson could do nothing. Better still: the champion even had time to grin to his corner before the tap, at 2:29.
“I wasn’t even planning the arm drag, it wasn’t part of my game plan. But he was gripping my wrist really hard. So I faked it, and then I saw it was working for real. I just went with it.”, Mason Fowler
Second title defense, second submission. Looking ahead, Fowler is eyeing a clash with Nick Rodriguez, who holds a win over him and has just dropped to 205 lbs as well. The light heavyweight division has never looked so alive.
Why was UFC BJJ 9 a success?
UFC BJJ 9 marked a peak thanks to a record ratio of eight submissions in nine matches, an instant classic between Chandler and Ferreira, and a successful debut from Gilbert Burns. A few sportsmanship blemishes remain, but the action-first trend is now firmly established.
What worked
The finishes. Eight submissions in nine matches. Quite simply the best ratio since the format launched. After the five finishes at UFC BJJ 7 and the six at UFC BJJ 8, the platform reaches a new high here. The old criticism about too many decisions now belongs to the past.
Chandler vs Ferreira. The best fight in UFC BJJ history, per both commentary teams. Danger on both sides, reversals, drama, and a finish with two seconds left on the clock. In short, everything grappling can offer at its best.
Gilbert Burns. On his first steps in the Bowl, the former UFC contender lands a rear naked choke in 88 seconds against a younger opponent. The kind of return that instantly legitimizes the platform and opens the door to big matchups.
The depth of the debutants. Eleven debuts on a single card, and an impressive overall level. Ramirez, Ferreira, Achilles Rocha, Ana Lima: the next generation is knocking on the door, and knocking hard.
What was missing
Sportsmanship, at times. Achilles Rocha’s very aggressive start, or the hand check dodged by Nick Rodriguez before his double leg: nothing illegal, granted. Still, at this level, a little more respect at the engagement would serve the image of the sport the platform wants to showcase.
The main event “war.” We expected a fifteen-minute duel between Fowler and Johnson. The finish, superb as it was, came quickly, and partly after a double point deduction for clinch inactivity. The billed scenario therefore did not fully happen, even if the result remains emphatic.
What’s next for UFC BJJ?
After UFC BJJ 9, the next stop is UFC BJJ 10 on August 20, 2026, with a women’s featherweight title fight. Meanwhile, the amateur UFC BJJ Opens circuit is ramping up, and the light heavyweight title race looks set to be red hot between Fowler, Rodriguez and Achilles Rocha.
UFC BJJ 10, August 20, 2026: women’s featherweight champion Rebecca Lima defends her title against Canada’s Brianna Ste-Marie. Welterweight champion Andrew Tackett is also announced on the card. Plenty to tide us over until the fall.
The UFC BJJ Opens: the amateur circuit is already gathering steam. The first Las Vegas stop, set for August 22 and 23, added a second day as demand surged. A Fort Lauderdale weekend will follow on September 26 and 27. Registration at ufcbjjopens.com.
The light heavyweight title race: Mason Fowler vs Nick Rodriguez would be the fight to make, all the more so since Nicky Rod holds a win over the champion. Achilles Rocha, too, is already demanding his shot. The division has never been so deep.
The other hot files: Gilbert Burns is targeting the middleweight title or a superfight against Demian Maia. Ffion Davies is closing in on a rematch with Cassia Moura. And Bella Mir, 3-0 in the Bowl, is also waiting for her title shot.
FAQ: everything about UFC BJJ 9
Who won the UFC BJJ 9 main event?
Mason Fowler won the UFC BJJ 9 main event. The light heavyweight champion submitted Devhonte Johnson by rear naked choke at 2:29 of the first round. It was his second successful title defense, and his second consecutive submission win in the division.
How many submissions were there at UFC BJJ 9?
There were eight submissions in nine matches at UFC BJJ 9, the best finish ratio since the format launched. Only the bout between Mourece Ramirez and Victor Delibero went to the judges, settled by a unanimous decision in Ramirez’s favor.
Did Gilbert Burns win his UFC BJJ debut?
Yes. On his UFC BJJ debut, Gilbert Burns submitted Horlando Monteiro by rear naked choke in just 88 seconds, in the middleweight division. Retired from MMA since April 2026, the Brazilian then targeted the promotion’s middleweight title and issued several callouts, including Demian Maia.
What was the best fight at UFC BJJ 9?
The best fight at UFC BJJ 9 was John Chandler against Raphael Ferreira, at featherweight. Down on the cards, Chandler locked up a triangle in the closing seconds and forced the tap with only two seconds left in the third round. Commentators called it the best fight in the promotion’s history.
Where can you watch UFC BJJ live?
UFC BJJ is available free and live on the promotion’s official YouTube channel (@ufcbjjofficial). Every event is streamed in full, replay included, with no paid subscription. Cards are typically scheduled in the evening, US time.
When is UFC BJJ 10?
UFC BJJ 10 takes place on August 20, 2026. The card will be headlined by Rebecca Lima’s women’s featherweight title defense against Canada’s Brianna Ste-Marie. Welterweight champion Andrew Tackett is also announced for the event, once again held at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Conclusion
UFC BJJ 9 will stand as a high point. The trend started at UFC BJJ 7 and confirmed at UFC BJJ 8 reaches its apex here: eight finishes, a fight for the ages, and standout debuts. Mason Fowler rules the light heavyweights, Gilbert Burns relaunches his grappling career, and young names like Chandler, Ramirez and Ferreira pull the platform upward.
The best part? It all stays free, live, on YouTube. Long live BJJ. And if UFC BJJ keeps this pace, the whole sport will come out a winner. To go further, check out our full breakdown of UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as well as the UFC BJJ 5 recap.
See you on August 20 for UFC BJJ 10. The show goes on!
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