UFC BJJ – S2E3: Finally some jiu-jitsu… with gloves

After two episodes focused solely on Renato Canuto (and not really on pure grappling), this third installment of Road to the Title brings a breath of fresh air. Still in MMA mode? Yes. But this time, we can really feel the jiu-jitsu breathing.
We finally discover Andrew Tackett in action, in an atmosphere that’s both composed, fluid, and engaging.

Ground and pound technique: Tackett vs Dvalishvili

Destination: Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas. Andrew Tackett trains with Merab Dvalishvili, UFC fighter known for his cardio and constant pressure. The setup? A grappling with gloves sparring session, ground and pound style.
Andrew sets the tone: “Let’s see what it’s like to grapple with gloves on, it’s been a while since I’ve done this.”

And the result is surprising: not a brutal war, but controlled flow, where each exposes their strengths. Merab uses his strikes with measure, Andrew deploys very clean jiu-jitsu, fluid despite the constant threat of strikes.

“Merab was nice to me. He could have broken my nose five times.” – Andrew Tackett

Merab appreciates Andrew’s style:

“Always moving, always pressure. He’s always hunting for the submission. That’s real jiu-jitsu.”

Two styles, two worlds, but total respect. And it shows.

Interlude with Kody Steele

Between rounds, Tackett also rolls with Kody Steele, UFC lightweight fighter. Another solid partner, who confirms: “It’s going to be a very intense match with lots of scrambles.”

The two then take time to analyze a ground sequence: posture, strikes, defense. It’s calm, composed, intelligent.
No ego, just two pros looking to improve together. Real work.

Flow, technique, and genuine exchange

Back on the mats for a final round between Andrew and Merab. Again, lots of respect, mobility, adaptation. We see two athletes at the top of their game, pushing each other without destroying one another.
This kind of sequence gives meaning to the UFC BJJ format: showing that jiu-jitsu can survive and shine even in mixed combat conditions.

Finally some hype!

The episode ends with a clear message from Tackett:

“I know what I have to do. I expect a war against Renato, but I’m ready. And I want to do it in style.”

And yes, you can feel the hype building. After two Renato-centric episodes, we finally have a solid glimpse of Andrew. We understand why this final fight intrigues: two explosive styles, two generations, two visions of grappling.

But… where are the others?

One real frustration remains: we’ve only seen three episodes, two of which focused on Renato. No other tournament fighters have been featured.
No face-offs, no global teasers… Where are Fowler? Garmo? Chambers?…

Is this a questionable editorial choice… or a production limitation? As it stands, we mostly feel like we’re following the main event training camp, rather than a series about the entire event.

Verdict: jiu-jitsu, respect, but a series lacking scope

This episode feels good. It finally shows what we expected: intelligent grappling, between opposing but complementary styles.
Andrew Tackett gains depth, Merab shines through his humility, and the upcoming clash against Renato is starting to really get us excited.

But one thing is certain: we want more. Much more.

👉 Complete analysis of each episode on bjj-rules.com.
What about you, are you hyped for this duel? Or still frustrated by this ultra-condensed format?