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Jiu-Jitsu & Judo

UPDATEIBJJF Crown brackets set for Sunday's Long Beach showdown

Forty-eight invited black belts, six eight-man brackets and one night of cash prizes, streamed on FloGrappling

LONG BEACH — The IBJJF's invitation-only Crown is three days away, and official brackets have been released. The event is Sunday, Nov. 8, at the LBS Financial Credit Union Pyramid in Long Beach, California. The IBJJF says 48 elite competitors will take part. They are split into six weight divisions of eight athletes each, and each division winner receives a cash prize. A title requires winning a three-round, single-night bracket. FloGrappling reports that Andy Murasaki will try to defend his middleweight crown, and that Anderson Kauan and Natan Chueng were added to the field late in October. Mica Galvão's first-round draw drew early attention in the bracket coverage. Kingz Kimonos was named an official sponsor last month. The Vetoraci twins, already reported in the heavy and super-heavy brackets, remain a main storyline. The show streams exclusively on FloGrappling.

Why it mattersThe Crown is the IBJJF's richest one-night gi event and the best guide yet to who leads the sport's gi division after the no-gi season.

IBJJF - The 2026 IBJJF Crown Announcement primary · FloGrappling - BJJ News trade · FloGrappling - Jiu-Jitsu Headlines trade

Fall jiu-jitsu circuit near Memphis: Kansas City, Atlanta and Austin

IBJJF Opens and an ADCC Open fill the next three weekends within driving range of the Mid-South

MEMPHIS — Competitors in the Mid-South have a busy November. IBJJF gi and no-gi Opens are listed for Kansas City on Nov. 7, at Hy-Vee Arena, and for College Park, Georgia, outside Atlanta, on Nov. 14-15. FloGrappling lists an ADCC Austin Open on Nov. 14. The New Jersey Fall International Open follows on Nov. 21-22 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus. The IBJJF's page for that event shows a Nov. 13 registration deadline, a Nov. 20 schedule and bracket release, free spectator entry and divisions running from juvenile through Master 2. Paris follows on Nov. 28-29. Brasília hosts an IBJJF Open on Nov. 6-7. The IBJJF's no-gi pans and Euros have already finished, so these Opens mostly serve as ranking points and local competition rather than major title events.

Why it mattersFor Memphis academies, Kansas City, Atlanta and Austin are the nearest sanctioned stops this month, and registration windows close within days to weeks.

IBJJF - New Jersey Fall International Open 2026 primary · FloGrappling - Upcoming events trade · IBJJF - Paris Fall International Open 2026 primary

Tashkent to host junior judo world championships after Zagreb Grand Prix

Nearly 600 judoka from 81 nations are entered for Nov. 19-21, with a mixed-team event the following day

TASHKENT — The IJF calendar shows the junior world championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, running Nov. 19-21 for individual events. As currently posted, entries stand at 596 athletes from 81 nations. The mixed-team event is set for Nov. 22. A cadet Grand Prix in Tashkent follows on Nov. 24-25, with 241 athletes from 18 nations listed so far. The Tashkent events come right after the senior Zagreb Grand Prix on Nov. 13-15, where 519 athletes from 70 nations are listed. That event opens with the men's 60 and 66 kg and the women's 48 to 57 kg classes. The senior tour then moves to the Tokyo Grand Slam on Dec. 5-6, where 212 athletes from 50 nations are entered so far. Entry numbers are likely to change before the draws.

Why it mattersThe junior worlds are where the next generation for the LA28 cycle first appears at world level, and results can reshape national selection debates.

IJF - World Tour calendar primary · IJF - Zagreb Grand Prix 2026 primary

MMA

UFC's Rosas Jr. chokes out Covington in 43 seconds on three days' notice

The 135-pound prospect stepped in for Dillon Danis and won a submission-only main event in Rome

ROME — Raul Rosas Jr., a 22-year-old UFC bantamweight, submitted former interim UFC welterweight champion Colby Covington with a rear-naked choke at Hype Fighting Italy on Tuesday. DAZN's result lists the finish at 0:43 of a 10-minute, submission-only match. Hype's own posts and other outlets give times of 37 to 40 seconds. Rosas volunteered at Sunday's press conference after Dillon Danis pulled out, so he had about three days to prepare. He took Covington down, got his back and finished the choke while giving up a large size advantage. Covington said afterward that he had not trained jiu-jitsu in years. Rosas restated his goal of becoming the youngest UFC champion. Covington is due to defend his Real American Freestyle title against Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14, according to EssentiallySports.

Why it mattersA bantamweight submitting a much larger former title challenger, and the blow to Covington's standing before the Chimaev wrestling match, make this the week's biggest grappling result.

MMA Mania: Rosas Jr. submits Covington in 43 seconds trade · MiddleEasy: Rosas Jr. submits Covington in Hype Rome main event trade · EssentiallySports: Covington taps out before Chimaev match trade

UPDATECortes-Acosta, Walker headline UFC Vegas 124 as late replacements reshape card

Brennan's torn ACL puts debutant Calderon opposite Bashi on four days' notice; Suarez meets Jandiroba in the co-main

LAS VEGAS — UFC Vegas 124 at the Meta Apex on Saturday has been rebuilt. Heavyweights Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Johnny Walker now headline, replacing the Sean Brady-Gabriel Bonfim welterweight bout that was scrapped last week. Walker told talkSPORT he got the call the Thursday after he trained. The main event is five rounds. It is Walker's second heavyweight appearance, and Cortes-Acosta is trying to end a two-fight losing run. This week brought another change. Lucas Brennan tore an ACL, so Fury FC featherweight champion Carlos Calderon (11-4) makes his UFC debut against Austin Bashi (14-2) on four days' notice. It is the last fight on Bashi's current contract. In the co-main, strawweights Tatiana Suarez and Virna Jandiroba, ranked second and third, meet in a likely title-eliminator. Prelims start at 5 p.m. ET and the main card at 8 p.m. ET on Paramount+.

Why it mattersTwo late changes in a week test the UFC's short-notice depth, and the co-main may decide the next strawweight title challenger.

MMA Mania: UFC newcomer saves Bashi fight on four days' notice trade · MMA Mania: UFC Vegas 124 media day trade · MMA Weekly: UFC Vegas 124 gets new main event trade · Combat Press: UFC Vegas 124 preview trade

UPDATEPrates accuses Makhachev of ducking January title fight as interim bout looms

Contender says UFC officials were angry; champion's return could slip to mid-2027, one report says

Welterweight contender Carlos Prates has stepped up his criticism of champion Islam Makhachev. In a Nov. 3 interview with Brazilian reporter Laerte Viana, Prates said Makhachev backed away from the planned Jan. 30 UFC 336 title fight in Toronto and that the UFC was unhappy about it. The UFC withdrew Makhachev from the card on Oct. 23, and Prates now fights Michael Morales for the interim title on that show. UFC CEO Dana White, as quoted by MMA Fighting, said Makhachev wanted to wait until after Ramadan and gave no further reason. Last Word on Sports reports that Makhachev's return could slip to mid-2027. That is an outlet's projection, not a UFC announcement. Earlier reports quoted the champion's manager as saying the Prates fight was not close to being finalized.

Why it mattersThe dispute leaves the welterweight title picture unsettled, with an interim champion likely to be crowned before the undisputed champion's next appearance.

Last Word on Sports: Prates on Makhachev trade · MMA Mania: Makhachev withdraws from UFC 336 trade · MyMMANews: Makhachev won't defend against Prates at UFC 336 trade