Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Farmasi Arena, a venue that has long served as a storied backdrop for numerous historic Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, is preparing to open its doors to a different kind of combat sports spectacle. On November 13, the arena will play host to ACBJJ 23, an event promising an elite convergence of grappling specialists and seasoned mixed martial artists. The Russian promotion officially unveiled its star-studded lineup on Wednesday, immediately generating significant buzz across the combat sports community by bridging the worlds of high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu and premier-tier mixed martial arts.
At the heart of the fight card is a high-stakes main event that revives a rivalry over a decade in the making. Rousimar Palhares will step onto the mats to face Andre Galvao in a high-profile rematch of their legendary 2011 ADCC under-88-kilogram final. More than fifteen years after their initial encounter in Nottingham, England—where Galvao secured a 4-9 victory—the two decorated Brazilians are set to lock horns once again. This time, however, the stakes and the ruleset have evolved dramatically, with the rematch scheduled to take place at a heavier 100-kilogram limit under specialized combat jiu-jitsu rules.
The co-main event offers an equally compelling stylistic clash, pairing UFC middleweights Kelvin Gastelum and Rodolfo Vieira in an 88-kilogram grappling encounter that pits world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu against high-level collegiate wrestling pedigree. Furthermore, insider information obtained by Sherdog indicates that another prominent UFC veteran, Edson Barboza, is expected to feature on the card, though his participation has yet to be officially announced by the promotion.
Rousimar Palhares and Andre Galvao Revisit 2011 ADCC Final Under Combat Jiu-Jitsu Rules at ACBJJ 23
The long-awaited rematch between Andre Galvao and Rousimar Palhares brings together two of the most fascinating and accomplished figures in the history of Brazilian grappling, albeit athletes whose careers and reputations have followed vastly different trajectories. Palhares, universally known by his moniker "Toquinho," has left an indelible mark on the sport, primarily due to his fearsome proficiency with leg locks. His reputation as a submission specialist of terrifying capability is so profound that contemporaries, including UFC heavyweight Valter Walker, have publicly cited Palhares as a major influence on their own grappling development.
Palhares’s journey through the upper echelons of professional mixed martial arts saw him compete inside the Octagon within the UFC’s middleweight and welterweight divisions from 2008 to 2013. During that five-year tenure, he compiled an impressive record of eight victories across 12 fights, notably securing four of those wins via his signature heel hook. However, his UFC career came to an abrupt end when the promotion released him following repeated, highly controversial incidents in which he held submission holds significantly beyond the referee’s stoppage commands. In the wake of his departure from the world’s premier MMA organization, Palhares found it increasingly difficult to secure opponents willing to step onto the mat or into the cage against him for high-profile grappling superfights.
On the other side of the mat stands Galvao, widely regarded as one of the most successful and decorated competitors in the history of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A multi-time world champion in BJJ and a staggering six-time ADCC champion, Galvao also ventured briefly into mixed martial arts, putting together a respectable 5-2 professional record before ultimately deciding to redirect his energy entirely back to his first love: elite grappling and the cultivation of the next generation of talent as the leader and coach of the prestigious Atos Jiu-Jitsu team.
More than a decade and a half after their high-stakes encounter at the ADCC World Championships, Galvao and Palhares will cross paths once again, with a unique twist that promises to alter the dynamics of their previous match. Striking will be a factor, specifically to the body, adding an element of unpredictability to the traditional grappling exchange.
Shedding light on the specific regulatory framework for the main event, event promoter and former UFC fighter Davi Ramos detailed the parameters to Sherdog. "Combat Jiu-Jitsu allows punches and kicks to the body, but strikes to the head are prohibited," Ramos explained. "The rounds are scored using the 10-9 system, with three criteria taken into account: impact, fight control, and aggression." This distinctive ruleset is expected to force both veterans to adapt their traditional strategies, neutralizing certain guard-pulling tendencies while rewarding pressure and tactical striking accuracy on the ground.
Kelvin Gastelum and Rodolfo Vieira Meet in 88-Kilogram Grappling Match at ACBJJ 23
While the main event features a historic heavyweight rematch under combat jiu-jitsu regulations, the co-main event presents a classic clash of combat sports philosophies. According to information provided by Ramos, the matchup pitting Kelvin Gastelum against Rodolfo Vieira will be contested under standard, pure grappling rules, ensuring a technical showcase of submission grappling versus wrestling pressure.
Vieira, a native of Rio de Janeiro, brings an extraordinarily rich grappling pedigree into his pairing with Gastelum. Widely celebrated as one of the most dominant submission hunters of his era in the gi, Vieira has claimed an impressive five Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championship titles alongside a prestigious ADCC world title, cementing his status as an all-time great before successfully transitioning his talents to the demanding world of professional mixed martial arts.
Opposite him will be Gastelum, a battle-tested veteran who has famously challenged for the UFC interim middleweight title and consistently shared the Octagon with the absolute elite of the sport’s 185-pound and 170-pound weight classes throughout his storied career. Known for his durable chin, relentless pacing, and exceptional folkstyle wrestling background, Gastelum presents a distinctly different puzzle for the decorated black belt.
The pairing of Vieira and Gastelum brilliantly juxtaposes Vieira’s elite, world-class jiu-jitsu accolades against Gastelum’s gritty wrestling and high-level MMA experience. For both purists of traditional grappling and dedicated followers of mixed martial arts, the encounter stands as a compelling centerpiece for an ACBJJ 23 fight card that continues to take shape ahead of its November 13 date in Rio de Janeiro.
