After nearly five years away from the spotlight, Submission Underground is officially making its return!
On Wednesday, SUG president Chael Sonnen announced via social media that the promotion’s comeback event will take place in Florianopolis on May 17:
Florianopolis, Brazil. Submission Underground is coming back. May 17.
This is going to be no-gi grappling, tournament-style.
More details to follow.
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Beyond the date and location, few specifics have been revealed.
There is currently no confirmation regarding the exact ruleset, participating athletes, or broadcast platform, leaving fans to speculate about how the revived promotion will be structured and who might headline its long-awaited return.
SUG first launched in 2017 and quickly established itself as one of the most compelling platforms in professional grappling.
By blending elite jiu-jitsu competitors with high-profile MMA fighters, the promotion delivered unique crossover matchups that drew significant attention.
Over its initial run, SUG featured bouts such as Jake Shields vs. Gilbert Burns, Craig Jones vs. Anthony Johnson, and Gordon Ryan vs. Gabriel Gonzaga.
And all events during that era were held in Portland, Oregon, which makes this one very different because of the location.
The promotion’s most recent event took place in December 2021, when Andy Varela submitted former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland in the main event.
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