Results
UFC BJJ
UFC BJJ 4: Tackett vs Dorsey Results
All The Match Results And Post-Match Interviews With The Winners From UFC BJJ 4: Tackett vs Dorsey, At UFC APEX In Las Vegas, Nevada On December 11, 2025
At UFC BJJ 4, family ties and championship ambitions collided in a landmark night featuring three title bouts and the crowning of two new divisions inside The Bowl at UFC APEX.
UFC BJJ 4 Match Recaps & Interviews
Andrew Tackett defeats Elijah Dorsey by Submission (heel hook), Round 1, 2:21
In the main event match of the evening, Reigning UFC BJJ welterweight champion Andrew Tackett showcased his grappling excellence as he registered the second defense of his title with a first-round submission win over ADCC standout Elijah Dorsey.
Tackett made his typically fast start, but Dorsey matched him as he countered smartly and focused an attack on Tackett’s left leg to halt the champion’s early momentum.
With Tackett seemingly unable to escape, Dorsey adjusted his grip and appeared to have the champion in trouble. But, rather than tap, Tackett attacked the challenger’s leg and locked up an inside heel hook of his own that forced a quick tap as the Syndicate MMA man turned the tables in spectacular fashion to retain his title.
Andrew Tackett Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Andrew Tackett Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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After his victory, Tackett revealed he had competed with a rib injury, but said he wasn’t going to let it stop him from competing and defending his title.
“I’ve worked my whole life for this,” he explained.
“I’ve been training since I was six, homeschooled, never worked a regular job. I don’t have any ability to lose, or quit. So, it’s all that I have, so I’ve gotta go full send.”
Tackett also revealed that the matchup went in a very different direction to the bout he had been preparing for.
“I didn’t think we were going to play feet battle at all,” he said.
“I thought it was going to be more of a takedown, aggressive battle. I didn’t expect leglocks at all. And I didn’t drill leglocks at all this camp, so the fact that I hit one… woo! It’s pretty cool!”
Tackett signed off with a callout for UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler, as he grabbed the microphone and declared, “Michael Chandler! If you want it, let’s go! I’ll see you at the top!”
Ronaldo Junior defeats William Tackett (30-26, 30-24, 30-24) by Unanimous Decision
In the co-main event, IBJJF No-Gi World Champion Ronaldo Junior captured the inaugural UFC BJJ middleweight title with a superb display of high-pressure, crowd-pleasing jiu-jitsu that saw him push the pace and chase the finish for the full 15 minutes against fellow challenger William Tackett.
The first period was a round of two halves, with Ronaldo starting the faster of the pair, but, as the round wore on, Tackett slowed the action down and dominated position, but didn’t have the Brazilian in any big trouble.
Ronaldo Junior Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Ronaldo Junior Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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After a period of little activity, referee Vitor Ribeiro stood the pair up, and Ronaldo came close to taking Tackett’s back as the action returned to the mat once again.
This time, it was Ronaldo pushing the pace, and transitioned smoothly through into mount and attempted to lock up an arm-triangle, then came close to a mounted triangle, as the Brazilian dominated the second stanza.
With the fight, and the inaugural title, hanging in the balance, Ronaldo made a fast start to the final round as he quickly took down Tackett, then moved into mount. Once there, he locked up an arm triangle choke, then an anaconda choke, as he pushed hard for a submission finish.
Tackett defended gamely, but with each escape, he was met by another potential submission. Even after Tackett escaped and moved into top position, Ronaldo threatened with a triangle choke.
The Brazilian could sense victory was near, and he locked up a tight D’Arce choke in the final seconds that didn’t quite force the tap, but did underscore a hugely impressive display as the Brazilian captured the inaugural UFC BJJ middleweight title.
The judges scorecards were emphatic, as Ronaldo picked up the victory, and the inaugural 185-pound title, with scores of 30-25, 30-24, 40-24.
Aurelie Le Vern defeats Raquel Canuto via submission (Kimura) – Round 1, 3:38
The inaugural UFC BJJ women’s featherweight champion was crowned as France’s Aurelie Le Vern claimed a first-round submission victory over Raquel Canuto in their 145-pound title tussle.
After a lengthy feeling-out process, the action exploded into life 90 seconds into the fight as Le Vern went for a takedown. It sparked a scramble that ended with Le Vern locking up an inverted triangle choke that had Canuto trapped.
Aurelie Le Vern Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Aurelie Le Vern Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Le Vern then successfully isolated Canuto’s left arm and locked up a Kimura and cranked the hold. Canuto tried to tough it out, with the pain etched across her face for all to see as she desperately tried to ride out the hold.
But Le Vern would not be denied, and she rotated the shoulder even further to force Canuto to finally submit as she wrote her name into the record books as the first women’s champion in UFC BJJ history.
Mayssa Bastos defeats Tubby Alequin via unanimous decision
Hot on the heels of UFC BJJ’s first men’s featherweight match, the inaugural women’s strawweight matchup saw Mayssa Bastos go head to head with Tubby Alequin to kick off the 115-pound class as the Brazilian claimed a unanimous decision victory after three tightly-contested rounds.
Both women seemed keen to get the action to the mat, but in a closely-contested opening round, it was Bastos who was more clearly pushing for openings over the course of the first five minutes.
Round 2 saw the pair grapple to a stalemate, with neither athlete able to mount consistent offense, but the intensity level increased in the final frame as Alequin tried to force an opening, but Bastos looked one step ahead as she shut down the American’s offense at source, though she was unable to put her opponent in any serious trouble in the final moment.
It meant the bout would be decided by the three judges at bowlside, and all three scorers saw it the same, as Bastos kicked off the women’s 115-pound division with a victory.
Renato Canuto defeats Alan Sanchez via unanimous decision
Positional dominance was the order of the day as welterweight title challenger Renato Canuto returned to action at the UFC APEX against 10th Planet San José submission ace Alan Sanchez.
Canuto opened up with a flying guard-pull attempt, but Sanchez stayed calm in the face of his opponent’s flamboyant start, and defended well as Canuto attempted to lock up a heel hook.
The action settled down, with Canuto working from inside Sanchez’s half-guard, and while Sanchez seemed to be relatively comfortable for much of the round, Canuto turned up the pressure with a quickfire D’Arce choke attempt, then a foot lock attempt as both men went hunting for lower leg submissions.
Renato Canuto Bowl Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Renato Canuto Bowl Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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The second round saw more of the same from Canuto, who continued to be the aggressor as he forced Sanchez to play defense through the first half of the second round.
Sanchez tried to take Canuto’s back, then spied an opening to go for an arm, but Canuto was wise to it and smartly backed out. Canuto still had time to get back to work and move into mount, but Sanchez did enough off his back to stay out of trouble until the end of the round.
Canuto pushed the pace even further in Round 3, as he mounted Sanchez, but once again found the American a tough nut to crack, as Sanchez fended off the Brazilian’s attacks. Even a cheeky nose pinch from Canuto didn’t faze Sanchez, who stayed in the bout, though he couldn’t work an opening for himself to snatch a late finish.
In the end, Canuto’s constant aggression ensured he earned the nod from the judges, as he bounced back into the win column after his title bout disappointment earlier this year.
After his victory, Canuto admitted he was frustrated by how his matchup played out, and said he was probably one more win away from another shot at championship gold.
Dorian Olivarez defeats Samuel Nagai via unanimous decision
Lightweight contender Dorian Olivarez delivered a performance full of aggression as he wore down the dangerous Samuel Nagai to earn a unanimous decision victory in their lightweight matchup.
Olivarez started aggressively as he looked to assert himself in the opening exchanges, but he had to react quickly as Nagai swiftly turned the tables and grabbed a heel hook that very nearly drew a quick tap from the American.
The pair continued to tussle back and forth, with only a brief pause for an accidental eye-poke slowing the proceedings, as Olivarez continued to work for openings from the top, while Nagai continually looked to attack the legs off his back.
After an omoplata from Nagai temporarily halted Olivarez’s top pressure, the Brazilian then attacked the legs again. But Olivarez remained diligent in defense as he rode out the remaining seconds in Round 1.
Nagai went straight back to his guard at the start of the second round as he switched his attacks from Olivarez’s legs to his arms to keep the American guessing.
Olivarez tried to stay aggressive, and eventually managed to break out of Nagai’s guard and secure a north-south choke that came very close to sealing the finish at the end of the second round.
By the start of the third round, the momentum had swung significantly in Olivarez’s favor, and the Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu product utilized his energy, aggression and wrestling to dominate the flow of the action in the final frame as he ran out the unanimous decision winner.
With that victory, Olivarez has announced himself as a major threat at lightweight, and a potential future opponent for reigning lightweight champion Carlos Henrique.
Andy Varela defeats Robby Malof via Submission (inside heel hook), Round 3, 1:52
Former welterweight title challenger Andy Varela added another victory to his UFC BJJ resumé with a third-round submission win over Robby Malof.
Great work from Varela early saw him move to Malof’s back, then via a takedown, into mount as he established a dominant position inside the opening 30 seconds of the match.
Malof attempted to tie up Varela, but the 10th Planet Las Vegas man continued to boss things from the top as he weighed heavy on “The Hebrew Heartthrob”.
There was a brief flashpoint in the closing seconds of the round as, with Malof seemingly intent on keeping his back flat on the mat and seeing out the round, Varela mockingly made a yawning gesture to the crowd, prompting Malof to shove him away with a push kick to the chest. The skirmish drew a stern word from referee Jason Herzog as the round came to a close.
Between rounds, it emerged that Malof had sustained an injury to the index finger on his right hand that required inspection from the bowl-side physician. But Malof declared himself ready to go, and the matchup continued into the second round.
The talk between the pair continued as Varela flexed for the cameras from top position, while Malof dared him to stand back up and restart. After another quick flex, Varela obliged, but with his right hand unusable, Malof was unable to mount any offense.
Malof called for another chat with the doctor between rounds, while referee Jason Herzog warned him that he needed to start being more competitive to avoid points being deducted for a lack of action.
Despite the injury, Malof emerged for the final round, but he couldn’t stop Varela from dragging him to the mat. And when the Vegas man moved into position and locked up an inside heel hook, Malof had no option but to tap.
It meant that Varela completed back-to-back submission victories in UFC BJJ, as he followed up his second-round finish of Daniel Sathler at UFC BJJ 3 with a third-round finish here at UFC BJJ 4.
Bella Mir defeats Rana Willink via majority decision
Bella Mir continued to showcase her immense talent on the mats as the 22-year-old daughter of former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir showcased her composure and patience in defense, as well as her offensive skills, in a majority decision victory over Rana Willink.
The action quickly went to the ground in Round 1, with Mir looking to work her way to the back of her opponent. Willink looked to stay out of danger, but nearly ended up trapped in a D’Arce choke as Mir switched targets in the transition.
Mir then smoothly moved into mount and looked to work a choke, but Willink stayed calm and escaped, before threatening with a guillotine choke of her own.
Bella Mir Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Bella Mir Post-Match Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Mir easily worked her way free, then resumed her offense, but had to be on her guard as Willink rolled into position to attempt a kneebar. The leg wasn’t quite in the optimal position to complete the submission, however, and Mir wisely stayed patient and allowed time to run out, rather than run the risk of putting herself in more danger.
Encouraged by her kneebar attempt at the end of the first round, Willink attempted to put Mir on the back foot at the start of Round 2, but Mir leaned on her physical strength and wrestling prowess to outmuscle her opponent and establish top position.
Willink initiated a leg entanglement and came close to locking up a heel hook, but once again Mir showed her composure as she avoided a fight-finishing situation.
After a brief timeout to clean up a sudden bloody nose for Mir after an accidental clash of heads, the action resumed and Mir quickly took Willink’s back. But the dogged Willink once again defended well and threatened with a footlock as the second round came to a close.
The final round got underway with Willink immediately pulling guard and looking to go for Mir’s legs. But Mir stayed heavy on top and denied Willink the space needed to launch a concerted attack on Mir’s legs.
Willink continued to attack, and in the closing 90 seconds managed to isolate an ankle as she attacked a footlock. But Mir’s composure once again proved crucial as she defended well as time ran out.
It was a good test for Mir, who followed up her second-round finish at UFC BJJ 1 with a hard-earned decision win tonight at UFC BJJ 4.
Landon Elmore defeats Nate Hernandez by Submission (Footlock), Round 1, :42
UFC BJJ 4 saw the launch of the men’s featherweight division, and 19-year-old Landon Elmore swiftly claimed the honor of being the first grappler to register a victory in the newly-established UFC BJJ weight class as he submitted Nate Hernandez, then set his sights on becoming the inaugural UFC BJJ champion at 145 pounds.
The action hit full throttle from the opening seconds as Elmore went airborne to attempt a flying triangle, but Hernandez was alive to it, and managed to lean away from danger. A scramble then ensued on the mat as Hernandez shot in for a takedown and Elmore countered with a guillotine attempt.
Landon Elmore Bowl Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Landon Elmore Bowl Interview | UFC BJJ 4
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Elmore continued to keep the pressure on, and he quickly found the finish as he initiated a leg entanglement, then rolled himself into position to secure an Aoki lock that forced the quick tap after just 42 seconds.
After his victory, Elmore said he wanted to be the first UFC BJJ champion at featherweight, and suggested a contender matchup with former 135-pound title challenge Keven Carrasco to set him up for a title shot later next year.
Jussier Formiga defeats Lucas Pinheiro via unanimous decision
The opening match of the night saw 40-year-old Jussier Formiga return to the UFC to claim a unanimous decision victory over the dangerous Lucas Pinheiro in their bantamweight matchup.
Formiga, who was competing under the UFC banner for the first time since UFC 250 in June 2020, earned a unanimous decision victory as he showcased his defensive wrestling and physical strength to overpower Pinheiro after losing the opening round of their three-round match.
Pinheiro tested Formiga’s approach with a couple of tie-up attempts early before pulling guard and looking to work his way towards Formiga’s legs.
The MMA veteran defended smartly, but Pinheiro soon switched positions and ended up on top and moved into half-guard. The action stalled a little and prompted a warning from the referee. But immediately after, Pinheiro upped the intensity and eventually moved to Formiga’s back.
Formiga stayed defensively responsible as he closed off any potential choke attempts, but Pinheiro transitioned to an armbar, only for Formiga to escape. Formiga then attempted to snatch up a guillotine choke, but couldn’t get enough purchase to secure the hold as Pinheiro escaped before the end of the round.
In a dominant second round showing, Formiga used his strength to fend off an early takedown attempt as he turned the tables and took Pinheiro to the mat. The action returned to the feet, before Pinheiro pulled guard and initiated more action on the ground.
Formiga used the curvature of the bowl to his advantage as he attempted to take Pinheiro’s back, but while he couldn’t quite secure the back mount, he had enough space to lock up an arm-triangle choke.
Formiga took a little time to compose himself, then eventually took Pinheiro’s back and, after not quite managing to lock up a rear-naked choke, attempted a face crank. Pinheiro hung tough and Formiga eventually gave up on the hold just before the round came to a close.
The third and final round saw Formiga continue his aggressive approach, as he used his power and physicality to shut down Pinheiro’s takedown attempts. But despite earning top position on his opponent, Formiga was unable to mount much offense as the action was stood up twice by referee Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro.
Pinheiro tried to rally inside the closing 90 seconds, but Formiga’s takedown defense and counter-wrestling ensured he was the man in a dominant position as the final horn sounded.
It means the judges were called into action to determine the victor, with all three scoring the bout for Formiga, who may now have another UFC chapter in his career – inside the UFC BJJ bowl.