UFC BJJ executive Claudia Gadelha has shed more light on how the promotion approaches matchmaking…
Making it clear that one of the key priorities is eliminating passive styles – particularly “butt-scooting” – in favor of more action-packed grappling.
One of the biggest stylistic differences between the MMA and BJJ audiences lies in how they view guard pulling.
While it remains a fundamental part of high-level jiu-jitsu, it often appears confusing or even counterintuitive to MMA fans, where giving up top position can be a major disadvantage.
Gadelha addressed this directly:
You can’t be dragging your butt around inside the bowl. We don’t want to see butt scooting.
We want to see action, a lot of action inside the bowl.
With the UFC’s massive global reach, Gadelha believes the platform itself should motivate athletes to adapt their style to match those expectations:
This is a different sport, a completely different sport that truly gives athletes an opportunity to shine in front of almost a billion people.
That’s the number of people who watch the UFC.
Gadelha acknowledged that the organization is still refining its identity:
The BJJ audience is smaller, and obviously we love the BJJ audience, but this is a different sport.
One that is shaping itself to develop on the entertainment side.
She revealed that some world-class grapplers have struggled to meet the promotion’s expectations – not because of their skill level, but because of their style:
We already understand that sometimes we’ll bring athletes here who are world champions in other organizations, but they won’t work for us.
Because they can’t perform the way we want…We want to see takedowns, we want to see guard passing, we want to see back takes.
We don’t want to see athletes trying to compete for an advantage.
View this post on Instagram
Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents
💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win?
💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers?
It’s not your age. It’s your strategy.
If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you.
🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:
Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu
Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.
Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.
