UFC BJJ passed on booking what could have been the biggest submission grappling match of the year, Mikey Musumeci versus Joao Miyao.
Instead, UFC BJJ matched bantamweight champion Musumeci against Shay Montague, a relative newcomer to the professional scene. While Montague recently won both the IBJJF No Gi Worlds and No Gi Europeans, he is not the marquee name that would have made UFC BJJ 5 essential viewing.
The seeds for this potential clash were planted publicly when Musumeci called out Miyao in a video that the Brazilian legend reposted. In Portuguese, Musumeci referenced “la ele”, a Bahian expression meaning you do not fall for tricks, suggesting he was not intimidated by Miyao’s berimbolo game.
Miyao welcomed the challenge enthusiastically and tagged Dana White, calling for the match to take place at the UFC Apex.
“Send me the contract.”
That contract never arrived. Instead of capitalizing on the organic buzz around a Musumeci versus Miyao, UFC BJJ opted for a safer and more budget conscious booking.
This is not the first time UFC BJJ has faced criticism for its matchmaking decisions. The promotion has previously been accused of cherry picking opponents for Musumeci, including competitors who do not regularly compete in no gi. While some of those critiques may have been overstated given the promotion’s early stage, passing on Miyao feels like a missed opportunity of a much larger scale. This was not just another opponent, it was a legend with over 1.1 million Instagram followers actively campaigning for the match.
Miyao has been unusually transparent about his motivations. At the ACBJJ 19 press conference in São Paulo, he explained what drew him out of retirement.
“Well, the money, honestly, I was offered a lot of money, so we have to accept it.”
When asked what motivates him to compete against athletes from both his generation and newer ones, he doubled down.
“To be honest, money.”
The takeaway was simple, Miyao is available, willing and has a price. The real question is whether UFC BJJ was prepared to meet it.
All signs suggest UFC BJJ is operating on a tight budget. The promotion increasingly relies on local competitors from Texas and Nevada to minimize travel costs, taking advantage of the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Montague is one of the few athletes being flown in for this card, underscoring the organization’s cost cutting approach.
Montague’s recent participation in IBJJF events for no purse also highlights the financial realities of professional grappling. If a world champion is willing to compete for free at No Gi Worlds and Europeans, it suggests UFC BJJ payouts may not be as lucrative as fans expect from a UFC branded property.
From a business standpoint, this caution makes some sense. UFC BJJ remains a young venture and its parent company may still be testing the waters before committing significant financial resources. However, this strategy also keeps major names like Miyao, who command substantial appearance fees, on the sidelines.
A Musumeci versus Miyao match would have represented several unique advantages. Miyao brings massive name recognition and a seven figure social media following, while Musumeci is UFC BJJ’s most recognizable star. Stylistically, both are berimbolo specialists and leg lock experts with contrasting approaches, Musumeci’s precise technical control versus Miyao’s creativity. The matchup also carried generational intrigue, with Miyao representing an earlier wave of berimbolo innovation and Musumeci embodying its modern evolution.
There was crossover appeal as well.
Musumeci’s contract situation further complicates the picture. He appears to have re signed with UFC BJJ, though no official announcement has been made. During an Instagram Q and A, he hinted at a new deal.
If UFC has the financial capacity to keep Musumeci satisfied, fans question why that same investment was not used to secure a high profile opponent who could elevate the entire card.
To be fair, Montague remains a legitimate competitor. His IBJJF titles confirm his skill and at just 22 years old he represents the next generation of elite grapplers. However, he lacks experience in major professional spotlight events and has primarily built his resume through IBJJF competition rather than high profile events.
From a matchmaking perspective, this fits UFC BJJ’s established pattern, booking less expensive opponents in order to build their stars higher.
UFC BJJ now stands at a crossroads. Without marquee matchups featuring the sport’s biggest names, it risks becoming just another grappling league nobody’s watching – like the PGF.
Other organizations, such as ONE Championship, built their grappling reputation by investing heavily in established stars like Musumeci and the Ruotolo brothers, then leveraging interesting matchmaking to draw mainstream attention. UFC BJJ has some brand power but has yet to show any willingness to spend on matches grapplers actually want to see.
Looking at UFC BJJ’s broader strategy reveals clear priorities: minimize travel costs, rely on local talent, develop rising prospects, avoid expensive legends and use the UFC Apex to control production expenses. This positions the promotion more as a developmental league than a true home for established global stars.
Te question will linger: what if UFC BJJ had taken the risk on Miyao?
Miyao is available now, interested now and openly campaigning for high profile matches. Opportunities like that do not last forever.
For now, the Miyao versus Musumeci remains a dream matchup.
UFC BJJ 5 Card
Bantamweight: Mikey Musumeci vs Shay Montague
Middleweight: Ronaldo Junior vs Hopstock
Welterweight: Murasaki vs Varela
Featherweight: Elmore vs Rerisson Gabriel
Date: February 12, 2026 (Thursday)
Venue: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
