The UFC BJJ middleweight division will crown a new champion. At UFC BJJ 13, the UFC grappling league event set for Thursday, October 29, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, William Tackett and Jay Rod are on a collision course for the belt that belonged to Brazil’s Ronaldo Junior and is now vacant.
On one side, a challenger who came close before and wants another shot at destiny. On the other, a newcomer who needed just one fight to earn a title shot. The matchup streams on UFC Fight Pass.
TURNOVER AT THE TOP: RONALDO JUNIOR IS THE THIRD CHAMPION TO VACATE A BELT
Ronaldo Junior was the inaugural middleweight champion. The Brazilian won the belt at UFC BJJ 4 in December 2025 and kept it at UFC BJJ 5 by beating Norway’s Tarik Hopstock by decision.
On social media, the Brazilian explained that he is dealing with setbacks in his personal life and an injury that may require surgery. Because he takes his role as champion seriously, he decided to give up the belt so he can come back 100% recovered.
By stepping away as champion, Ronaldo becomes the third athlete in the organization to vacate a belt. Before him, Lucas Valente, who dominated at lightweight, and Mikey Musumeci, aka ‘Darth Rigatoni’, at bantamweight, did the same.
SECOND CHANCE: WILLIAM TACKETT FIGHTS FOR THE TITLE AGAIN
This is the second time William Tackett fights for a UFC BJJ belt. The brother of Andrew Tackett, the welterweight champion, he was the very opponent Ronaldo Junior faced in the fight that crowned the division’s first champion.
Since then, Tackett has two wins at the event, both by submission. At UFC BJJ 8, he submitted Brazil’s Manuel Ribamar with a heel hook. At UFC BJJ 10, he took down Russia’s Fedor Nikolov twice and finished the bout with a heel hook. The plan now is to bring another belt home to the family.
A STATEMENT DEBUT: JAY ROD ARRIVES AT UFC BJJ 13 OFF HIS SUBMISSION OF KEVIN BEUHRING
On the other side, Jacob Rodriguez, aka Jay Rod, arrives with little experience in the organization and plenty of confidence. The brother of Nicky Rod, he debuted at UFC BJJ in September, at the 11th edition, and won with authority.
Against Kevin Beuhring, Jay passed the guard, advanced to mount and locked in an inverted D’Arce in the second round. It was the only submission among the five biggest fights of that night. Now, with just one league fight on his record, he has the chance to leave Las Vegas with the belt. To do it, he will have to get past an experienced opponent who knows the weight of a title fight.
A NIGHT OF BELTS: JALEN FONACIER AND KLEBER BARBOSA FIGHT FOR THE BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE
The middleweight belt is not the only one on the line at UFC BJJ 13. At bantamweight, Jalen Fonacier and Kleber Barbosa face off for the title that belonged to Mikey Musumeci.
Fonacier owns the fastest submission in UFC BJJ history and remains unbeaten with four wins in the organization. Across from him, Kleber Barbosa arrives as the winner of UFC BJJ Opens, the qualifying tournament that opens the league’s doors to new talent.
UFC BJJ 13 starts at 9 p.m. Brasília time and streams on UFC Fight Pass.
This article was originally published in Portuguese: read the original version.
