LAS VEGAS — The Meta Apex in Las Vegas played host to a night of high-level grappling on Thursday, Oct. 29, as UFC BJJ presented UFC BJJ 13: Tackett vs. Rodriguez. The event delivered a packed card featuring high-stakes grappling matches, highlighted by two championship bouts that captured the attention of the combat sports world.
Grappling enthusiasts around the globe tuned in to watch the action unfold live on UFC Fight Pass, with the broadcast getting underway at 8 p.m. ET. As the latest installment in the promotion’s ongoing series, UFC BJJ 13 showcased a blend of seasoned veterans and rising grappling stars, culminating in a dominant championship main event that set a high standard for the rest of the evening.
The main event of the evening featured a highly anticipated clash for the vacant UFC BJJ middleweight title, pitting William Tackett against Jay Rodriguez. Both competitors entered the match with reputations for explosive grappling and relentless submission hunting, but the bout ultimately ended in decisive fashion much earlier than many anticipated. Tackett wasted little time establishing control, finding an opening and securing a tight rear-naked choke. Rodriguez was forced to tap out just 1 minute and 26 seconds into the very first round, cementing Tackett’s status as the new middleweight champion and capping off a stellar performance on the promotion’s main stage.
Before the middleweight championship bout took place, the co-main event offered another championship fight with the vacant bantamweight title hanging in the balance. Jalen Fonacier and Kleber Barboza squared off in a tactical and hard-fought battle that went the full distance. Unlike the quick finish of the main event, this matchup required the judges to evaluate the entire scope of the action. After regulation time expired, the judges rendered a unanimous decision in favor of Fonacier, rewarding his positional control and technical execution throughout the contest and crowning him the new bantamweight titleholder.
The remainder of the main card and preliminary bouts provided plenty of excitement and high-level grappling exchanges, featuring several rapid finishes that showcased the finishing prowess of the promotion’s roster.
In a featured heavyweight encounter, Nick Rodriguez faced off against Nata Tenca. The match showcased the grappling prowess and heavy pressure of Rodriguez, who steadily wore down his opponent over the course of multiple rounds. The bout concluded in the third round at the 3:07 mark when Rodriguez locked in a devastating arm-triangle choke, forcing Tenca to submit.
The women’s division also saw quick and decisive action. Ffion Davies met Jaine Fragoso in a compelling matchup that demonstrated elite-level grappling technique. Davies managed to navigate the scrambles effectively before securing an arm-triangle choke of her own. The submission came at 2 minutes and 7 seconds of the opening round, securing a statement victory for Davies.
Jasmine Rocha needed even less time to make her mark on the event. Pitting her skills against Karen Antunes, Rocha wasted no time transitioning to a dominant position and isolating an arm. She secured a tight armbar just 38 seconds into the very first round, earning one of the fastest and most efficient victories of the entire event.
In other notable action, Pat Downey stepped onto the mats to face Ian Daube in a match that transitioned from high-paced wrestling exchanges to intricate mat work. Both competitors had their moments, but Downey’s control and offensive output ultimately swayed the judges. At the conclusion of the bout, Downey was awarded a clean sweep on the judges’ scorecards, securing a unanimous decision victory.
Liam Crelinsten delivered another highlight-reel submission earlier in the evening when he squared off against Seilkhan Bolatbek. After a competitive first round, Crelinsten found his rhythm on the mat in the second frame. He attacked the lower extremities of his opponent with precision, eventually locking in a textbook heel hook that forced Bolatbek to tap out at 1 minute and 26 seconds of the second round.
The card also featured a technical battle between João Nicolite and Martin Gonzalez. The two grapplers engaged in a tactical chess match, exchanging positional advantages and submission attempts. When the final horn sounded, the judges favored the overall performance and control displayed by Nicolite, awarding him the victory via unanimous decision.
Opening up the action for the evening, Tristan Sainz faced David Weintraub in a match that kept the live audience and online viewers on the edge of their seats. Just as the opening frame was winding down, Sainz capitalized on a late defensive lapse by his opponent and secured a rear-naked choke. The submission came at 4 minutes and 53 seconds of the first round, leaving just seven seconds on the clock before the buzzer and closing out the preliminary action in dramatic fashion.
With two new champions crowned and a series of memorable submissions and hard-fought decisions recorded at the Meta Apex, UFC BJJ 13 once again underscored the rapid growth and high-level competition driving the modern professional grappling scene forward on UFC Fight Pass.
