UFC BJJ 7: Tackett vs Rocha

Three UFC BJJ championships were contested across the evening, headlined by a generational clash at welterweight and two gripping title fights that unfolded in contrasting fashion.

Andrew Tackett retained his welterweight title via unanimous decision over Vagner Rocha, earning his third consecutive successful title defense. The 22-year-old champion faced his stiffest test to date against the 43-year-old former UFC veteran, whose durable guard work and dangerous counters pushed Tackett through all three rounds without a finish.

Lucas Valente captured the UFC BJJ lightweight championship by submitting Carlos Henrique with a Straight Footlock at 3:07 of Round 3, completing a dramatic late comeback after appearing to trail heading into the final round. The victory marked Valente's fourth consecutive win over Henrique.

Rebeca Lima claimed the women's featherweight championship by defeating defending champion Aurélie Le Vern via unanimous decision in a three-round guard battle. Lima entered as a late substitution — pre-event listings had named Brianna Ste-Marie as challenger — and her title win followed teammate Cassia Moura's bantamweight gold at UFC BJJ 6 in March 2026, representing a notable team achievement.

The main event delivered the night's most competitive title fight as Andrew Tackett and Vagner Rocha engaged in a technically rich, three-round welterweight championship contest. The matchup pitted Tackett's speed and athleticism against Rocha's considerable experience — the veteran standing 43 years old and carrying a decorated background as a former UFC competitor.

Round-by-Round Breakdown

Round 1 opened with Tackett probing an ankle pick that Rocha sprawled out of, followed by a Guillotine Choke attempt that Rocha also escaped cleanly. The pair traded leg lock exchanges, with both men surviving. Tackett settled into sustained top pressure while Rocha remained active off his back. When Tackett leaned back for an ankle lock late in the round, Rocha defended and dismissed the attempt with a memorable wag of the finger.

Round 2 saw Tackett hunt a heel hook that Rocha countered with an ankle lock of his own, neither man able to convert. In the final 60 seconds, Rocha achieved his best position of the bout — inside Tackett's guard — but ran out of time before the horn sounded.

Round 3 opened with Tackett immediately hunting a Rear Naked Choke, which Rocha defended well. With the final minute remaining, Rocha committed to a last-gasp ankle lock attempt, but Tackett survived to the final horn. All three judges scored the bout for Tackett, who earned his third straight title defense. Rocha's performance in defeat drew widespread respect from those inside the Meta APEX.

The co-main event produced the most dramatic finish of the night as Lucas Valente rallied from an apparent third-round deficit to submit Carlos Henrique with a Straight Footlock and capture the UFC BJJ lightweight title.

A Fight Decided in the Final Moments

Valente opened aggressively in Round 1, charging Henrique up the slope of the Bowl and nearly forcing him over the competition area's edge before Henrique rotated away. Henrique defended a back-take attempt and launched charges of his own, only for Valente to disengage with smart footwork. The round closed with Valente attacking a leg.

Round 2 featured a series of eye-catching entries from Valente — flying guard-pulls and repeated leg-lock attempts — all of which Henrique calmly neutralized. Despite controlling much of the pace, Valente could not convert through five minutes of sustained offense.

Round 3 initially swung in Henrique's favor as the champion frustrated Valente on the ground and held the advantage when the action stood up. When Henrique launched a flying armbar in pursuit of a finish, Valente escaped and in a single fluid sequence shifted from defense to offense, locking up the footlock to force the tap. The finish gave Valente his fourth consecutive victory over Henrique and his first UFC BJJ lightweight championship.

Five of the eight bouts ended by submission, with the Kneebar serving as the decisive finish in three separate contests — making it the most common finishing technique of the night.

Women's Flyweight: Fornarino Submits Enriquez

Adele Fornarino submitted Alex Enriquez with a Kneebar at 2:02 of Round 1. Both women went immediately to the mat and entered a leg entanglement, trading ankle locks before Fornarino switched techniques and applied the decisive kneebar. Fornarino had previously suffered a narrow decision loss to Ffion Davies at a UFC Fight Pass Invitational event held at the same venue.

Women's Featherweight: Willink Closes Out Joia

Rana Willink submitted Carol Joia with a Kneebar at 2:34 of Round 3 in a hard-fought contest. Joia controlled the opening round with repeated takedowns, while Willink spent Round 2 hunting submissions — including kneebar and Kimura attempts. In Round 3, as Joia worked from Willink's back, Willink transitioned to a kneebar and torqued the hold to force the tap.

Featherweight: Ferreira's Explosive Debut

Raphael Ferreira, 18 years old at the time of the event, submitted Kenzo Biyong via Rear Naked Choke at 2:05 of Round 1. Ferreira's aggressive scrambling style forced Biyong through a succession of disadvantageous positions before Ferreira secured back control and finished with the choke — a debut that drew attention across the entire card.

Heavyweight: Moody Finishes Gaudio

Declan Moody submitted Patrick Gaudio via Rear Naked Choke at 3:38 of Round 1. Gaudio, a fight-week replacement, attempted a heel hook that Moody defended before using a significant size and strength advantage to force Gaudio onto his back, transition to back control, and apply the finish.

Nicholas Meregali was originally scheduled to compete in the heavyweight bout but was replaced by teammate Patrick Gaudio during fight week. Declan Moody, the Australian grappler slated to face Meregali, adapted to the change without disruption and delivered an emphatic UFC BJJ Bowl debut.

Gaudio conceded height and weight throughout the contest. When he attempted a heel hook in search of an equalizer, Moody defended cleanly and transitioned directly to back control. A Rear Naked Choke followed at 3:38 of Round 1, completing a first-round finish that placed Moody firmly on the radar of both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions.

Ferreira Announces Himself

Raphael Ferreira's debut stood among the most discussed performances of the night. The 18-year-old from Utah wasted no time against Kenzo Biyong, charging into the Bowl and applying relentless offensive pressure throughout the featherweight bout. Ferreira's ability to force unfavorable scrambles before rapidly securing back control and finishing with a Rear Naked Choke at 2:05 of Round 1 marked him as a standout prospect in the division.

Canuto Rounds Out the Card

Renato Canuto closed out the male superfights with a unanimous decision over Yonathan Cardenas in the welterweight division. Canuto threatened early with a D'Arce Choke, scored a takedown late in Round 2, and controlled back position through much of Round 3 before the match went to the judges' scorecards.

The UFC BJJ Bowl Format

The UFC BJJ Bowl's sloped competition surface proved a recurring tactical factor across the night's bouts. Multiple competitors used the incline deliberately — charging opponents up the slope to disrupt base, exploiting elevation changes to create scrambles, and prompting referee stand-ups when action stalled. Operating under proprietary no-gi rules separate from ADCC, EBI, and IBJJF frameworks, the format uses judges to score bouts that do not end by submission, rewarding both finishing ability and positional dominance.