UFC BJJ Results: Cassia Moura Crowned Champion

UFC BJJ 6 delivered one of the most compelling no-gi grappling events of the year when it went down Thursday night at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. From a 20-year-old prodigy capturing the first-ever women’s bantamweight title to one of the sport’s biggest names barely scraping out a draw with a last-second heel hook attempt, the card lived up to every ounce of its considerable hype.

Here’s everything that happened at UFC BJJ 6, fight by fight.

Main Event: Mason Fowler Defends Light Heavyweight Title

The main event saw reigning UFC BJJ light heavyweight champion Mason Fowler put on a dominant three-round performance against Pedro Machado. The Caio Terra black belt used his massive no-gi experience advantage to neutralize Machado at every turn.

Fowler controlled the first round by putting Machado on his back against the bowl, shutting down the Brazilian’s guard pull attempts before they could develop. Round two was more of the same — Fowler dominated from top position and nearly locked in a fight-ending kimura that had fans on the edge of their seats.

The third round slowed somewhat with both men tying up on the feet, but Fowler sprinkled in enough explosive moments to keep the judges’ favor. The unanimous decision was never in doubt.

For Machado, a decorated gi competitor with silver medals at IBJJF Worlds, Pans, Euros, and Brasileiros, the result underscored just how different the no-gi game is at the highest level. The grips are different, the guard pulls are harder to execute without lapel control, and the top pressure from a seasoned no-gi competitor like Fowler is suffocating in ways gi players rarely experience.

Fowler’s record on the UFC Fight Pass platform speaks for itself. His 6-1 run through the old Fight Pass Invitational included wins over Pedro Marinho, Luke Griffith, and Patrick Gaudio — his only loss coming to the much larger Nick Rodriguez. Now with a title defense under his belt, Fowler has cemented himself as the man to beat at light heavyweight in UFC BJJ.

Co-Main Event: Cassia Moura Makes History at Just 20 Years Old

The real story of UFC BJJ 6 was the co-main event. Twenty-year-old Cassia Moura and Welsh legend Ffion Davies went to war for three rounds in a match that could genuinely have gone either way — and the judges’ split decision reflected just how close it was.

Moura came out firing, hitting arm drag after arm drag from standing that would have folded most opponents. The fact that she was repeatedly executing one of grappling’s most fundamental techniques against arguably the most accomplished European grappler in history was staggering. Davies, to her credit, scrambled brilliantly after each drag and managed to get on top repeatedly, applying her trademark knee cut passing from headquarters.

The second round belonged largely to Davies, who controlled from the top position for the majority of the frame. But Moura roared back in the third, controlling the pace and position to swing the judges’ cards her way.

When the split decision was announced in Moura’s favor, it crowned her the inaugural UFC BJJ women’s bantamweight champion — adding yet another trophy to a career that already includes two IBJJF no-gi world titles. She’s 20. Let that sink in.

Moura’s trajectory is borderline absurd. She moved from Brazil to Midland, Texas in 2023 to train under Bruno Bastos, was promoted from blue belt to black belt in under a year after winning world titles at every belt level, and has since won no-gi world gold even after jumping up multiple weight classes to win at heavyweight. She’s not just a prospect anymore. She’s a legitimate pound-for-pound contender.

What makes Moura so dangerous is her combination of explosive athleticism and technical precision. Her arm drag from standing is borderline unstoppable — she hit it repeatedly against Davies, one of the sport’s most decorated competitors. Once she gets top position, her outside passing style is relentless. She never stops moving, never gives her opponents a chance to settle, and her closed guard is a steel trap when she ends up on bottom. At 20, she’s already a complete grappler with room to grow.

Nick Rodriguez vs. Elder Cruz: The Clutch Factor

The biggest name on the card was undoubtedly Nick Rodriguez — “Nicky Rod” — making his UFC BJJ debut after starring as one of CJI’s headline athletes. But things didn’t go according to script.

Coming in on short notice, Rodriguez looked uncharacteristically sluggish in the early rounds. Elder Cruz, a two-time IBJJF no-gi world champion, used his wrestling to control the tempo. Cruz scored with early takedowns and his defensive wrestling proved too much for Rodriguez through the first two rounds. It looked like a clear upset was brewing.

Then Nicky Rod did what Nicky Rod does — he turned it on when it mattered most. Down on the cards heading into the third round, Rodriguez came out with a completely different energy. After stuffing a Cruz takedown attempt, he finally secured his own takedown against the edge of the bowl and passed to side control, then north-south.

The final minute was pure chaos. Both men fell into a leg entanglement, and Rodriguez cranked hard on a heel hook as the clock wound down. Cruz refused to tap, saved by the bell in a genuinely dramatic sequence that had the Meta APEX buzzing.

Two judges gave Rodriguez 10-8 scores in the third round for his explosive attacks, resulting in a majority draw. It’s reminiscent of his clutch performance at CJI 2, where a late-round surge helped B-Team clinch the $1 million team prize. Rodriguez may not have won, but he showed the same never-say-die mentality that makes him one of the sport’s most compelling figures.

The Undercard: Maquine Shines, Miyao Rolls Back the Clock

The rest of the card delivered plenty of action and proved why UFC BJJ’s depth of talent keeps improving with every event. Meyram Maquine produced the night’s only finish, submitting IBJJF no-gi world champion Marco Mendes with an armbar in the second round. The two-time gi world champion has been steadily building his no-gi resume with wins over Owen Jones and Gabriel Sousa, and beating a reigning no-gi world champ by submission is the kind of statement that puts the entire featherweight division on notice.

Ana Rodrigues continued her dominance over Jasmine Rocha with a split decision victory in their bantamweight bout, extending her perfect record against the ADCC veteran. Devhonte Johnson cruised past Lucas Norat with a lopsided unanimous decision at heavyweight, while grappling legend Joao Miyao rolled back the clock with a 30-27 sweep over former UFC flyweight Jussier Formiga. Manuel Ribamar rounded out the card with a unanimous decision over Caio Vinicius at middleweight.

UFC BJJ 6 Full Results

• Mason Fowler (c) def. Pedro Machado — Unanimous decision (light heavyweight title)
• Cassia Moura def. Ffion Davies — Split decision (inaugural bantamweight title)
• Nick Rodriguez vs. Elder Cruz — Majority draw (heavyweight)
• Meyram Maquine def. Marco Mendes — Submission (armbar), Round 2 (featherweight)
• Ana Rodrigues def. Jasmine Rocha — Split decision (bantamweight)
• Devhonte Johnson def. Lucas Norat — Unanimous decision, 30-27 x2, 30-26 (heavyweight)
• Joao Miyao def. Jussier Formiga — Unanimous decision, 30-27 x3 (bantamweight)
• Manuel Ribamar def. Caio Vinicius — Unanimous decision (middleweight)

What UFC BJJ 6 Means for No-Gi Grappling

UFC BJJ continues to position itself as the premier destination for no-gi competition. With a growing roster that now includes CJI stars like Rodriguez alongside ADCC and IBJJF champions, the promotion is building something that looks increasingly like what the UFC did for MMA two decades ago.

The free-to-watch model on YouTube keeps the barrier to entry nonexistent for fans, and the quality of matchmaking keeps getting sharper. The organization is also smart about cross-promotion — bringing in gi champions like Machado and Maquine to test themselves in no-gi gives every card a built-in storyline.

For the athletes, UFC BJJ is becoming the platform where reputations are made and broken. Cassia Moura walked in as a rising star and walked out as a champion. Nick Rodriguez showed that even a down night can produce unforgettable moments. And Mason Fowler quietly solidified himself as one of the most dominant no-gi competitors in his weight class.

Looking ahead, Cassia Moura’s reign will be one of the most fascinating stories in competitive grappling. Who challenges her first? Will Ffion Davies get a rematch, or will another contender emerge? And with Rodriguez now in the UFC BJJ stable, the heavyweight division suddenly has a legitimate star to build around — assuming he comes in fully prepared next time.

The full event replay is available on the UFC BJJ YouTube channel. If you haven’t watched it yet, clear your schedule. Whether you’re a hardcore grappling fan or just getting into no-gi, UFC BJJ 6 delivered the kind of drama and technical brilliance that makes this sport worth following.