Sports

Jiu-Jitsu & Judo

UPDATEMorocco and Moldova win first Grand Slam golds in Abu Dhabi

Szymanska, Doukkali, Pina and Pelivan take titles on day two; Azerbaijan adds a fourth medal

ABU DHABI — Day two of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam, the IJF World Tour's 12th event of the year, produced four finals on Friday at the Mubadala Arena. Poland's Angelika Szymanska beat Hungary's Anna Kriza at -63kg with a waza-ari. At -73kg, Morocco's Hassan Doukkali beat Tajikistan's Masudi Ahmadzod on a yuko, giving Morocco its first Grand Slam gold. Portugal's Tais Pina won the -70kg title over Brazil's Kaillany Cardoso with a pin completed four seconds from time. Moldova's Petru Pelivan scored a ko-uchi-gari yuko to beat Finland's Eetu Ihanamaki at -81kg, his first Grand Slam gold. Olympic champion Hidayat Heydarov took -73kg bronze after losing his semifinal to Ahmadzod, which lifted Azerbaijan to four medals. The final day is Saturday. Portugal's entries include Patricia Sampaio (-78kg), Rochele Nunes (+78kg) and Jorge Fonseca (-100kg).

Why it mattersThe tournament is the first stop of the Olympic qualification period, and two new nations on the Grand Slam gold list show how open the lighter and middle weights have become.

Euronews (IJF report): Abu Dhabi Grand Slam 2026, Middleweights Shine on Day 2 foreign · e-Judo (Japan): Grand Slam Abu Dhabi 2026, Day 2 foreign · Diario de Noticias (Portugal): Tais Pina wins Grand Slam gold foreign · Report.az: Heydarov wins bronze foreign

IBJJF The Crown set for Nov. 8 in Long Beach with Vetoraci twins

The Vetoraci twins are confirmed in the heavy and ultra-heavy brackets, and the no-gi calendar stays busy

LONG BEACH, Calif. — FloGrappling's Portuguese-language service reports a late shake-up to the IBJJF's The Crown 2026. The Vetoraci twins have been confirmed in the heavy and ultra-heavy divisions of the event, set for Nov. 8 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach. Several elite black belts with real title chances were already on the card. FloGrappling will stream the event live and exclusively. Elsewhere on the near-term calendar, FloGrappling lists ADCC Brazilian Nationals on Nov. 7-8 and an ADCC Austin Open on Nov. 14. This weekend, ADCC Caracas Open (Oct. 31) and PBJJF Charleston (Nov. 1) run alongside the IBJJF European No-Gi finals in Rome. The Crown is the IBJJF's invitational format, and the original report does not give the full card here.

Why it mattersHeavyweight twins in the same invitational raise the stakes for a card that closes out the IBJJF's no-gi season.

FloGrappling: IBJJF The Crown 2026, Vetoraci twins confirmed trade · FloGrappling event calendar trade

Windows makes Ruotolo brothers the face of a new campaign

Microsoft brand's deal with Kade and Tye is a mainstream step; terms are unconfirmed

Microsoft's Windows brand has announced a partnership with grappling twins Kade and Tye Ruotolo, according to Jits Magazine on Oct. 26. The campaign puts the brothers at its center. The announcement came through Windows' official Instagram account. Financial terms have not been made public. Jits Magazine notes that reports of a seven-figure value remain unverified, and the claim should be treated as unconfirmed. The deal arrives as Tye Ruotolo prepares for his first ONE Championship title fight, against Christian Lee, which Jits Magazine reported on Sept. 30. The trade outlet calls the campaign a positive step for the sport's visibility. The long-term effect is unknown.

Why it mattersA global technology brand sponsoring grapplers points to new money entering a sport that has long struggled with sponsorship.

Jits Magazine: Windows Announces Landmark Partnership With Ruotolo Brothers trade · Jits Magazine home page (Tye Ruotolo vs Christian Lee report) trade

MMA

Makhachev says next fight may be among his last as UFC books interim title bout

Prates and Morales will fight for the interim welterweight belt at UFC 336 while the champion sits out until mid-2027

LAS VEGAS — UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev wrote in a Friday social media post that his next fight will be one of the last of his career, as the promotion moves ahead without him. The UFC has booked Carlos Prates (24-7) against unbeaten Michael Morales (19-0) for the interim 170-pound title. The bout is the co-main event of UFC 336 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Jan. 30, behind a flyweight title fight between Joshua Van and Manel Kape. Dana White said Makhachev had been pencilled in for January but did not want to fight until after Ramadan. White added that divisions cannot be held up like this. Makhachev's only fight this year was an August decision over Ian Machado Garry. He is now expected back between May and July. Prates has publicly attacked the champion's decision and said he intends to finish his legacy.

Why it mattersThe welterweight title picture now runs through an interim champion, and a unification fight with Makhachev is expected in mid-2027.

Bleacher Report: Makhachev updates UFC retirement timeline · Bleacher Report: Makhachev out for UFC 336, Prates vs. Morales set · ESPN MMA

UFC reportedly targets Strickland-Imavov title rematch for February in Florida

MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn says the middleweight fight is close to signed despite a pay dispute; the UFC has not confirmed it

LAS VEGAS — UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is expected to make his first defense of his second reign against No. 3 contender Nassourdine Imavov in February in Florida, according to MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn. Bohn reported it on his podcast with Luke Thomas, saying the bout may be signed or close to it. Thomas said he had heard similar. The UFC has not confirmed a date, venue or card. The fight was once expected to headline UFC 335 in December in Las Vegas, but it stalled after Strickland publicly complained about his pay. Reports put his deal at $400,000 to show and $400,000 to win. Strickland (31-7) has not fought since he upset Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in May, and a shoulder injury kept him out for months. He beat Imavov (17-4, 1 NC) by decision in January 2023.

Why it mattersA signed rematch would clear the middleweight title picture and leave Chimaev waiting for his own rematch.

Bloody Elbow: New date emerges for Strickland vs Imavov trade · MMA Mania: Strickland-Imavov rematch targeted for February trade

Moicano-Nolan headliner intact as one fighter misses weight for UFC Halloween card

Marshall comes in two pounds heavy for his Dakota Hope bout; the card runs tonight at the Meta Apex

LAS VEGAS — UFC Vegas 123 is set for tonight at the Meta Apex with its lightweight main event intact. Renato Moicano weighed 156 pounds and Tom Nolan 155.5 at Friday's weigh-ins. The headliner is scheduled for five rounds. Nolan (11-1) is riding a five-fight win streak. Moicano (21-7-1) is coming off an April submission win over Chris Duncan. Randy Brown and unbeaten Jacobe Smith both made the 170.5-pound welterweight limit for the co-main event. Featherweight Francis Marshall was the only miss among the 24 fighters. He weighed 148 pounds, two over the non-title limit, for his featured prelim against Dakota Hope, who weighed 145.5. Marshall is expected to forfeit part of his purse. Prelims start at 5 p.m. ET and the main card at 8 p.m. ET, both on Paramount+.

Why it mattersA clean main event and a single weight miss keep the card whole after a week of withdrawals.

MMA Mania: UFC Halloween early weigh-ins, live results trade · BJPenn.com: UFC Vegas 123 weigh-ins marred by one miss trade · BVM Sports: UFC Vegas 123 weigh-in results trade