What Happened To The Competitive Career Of Kron Gracie?

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What Happened To The Competitive Career Of Kron Gracie?

Kron Gracie is a name that everyone in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu recognized at one point. He was at least as famous as Gordon Ryan is now, in a BJJ world that had merely a fraction of the online presence it has now. That is saying something, as Kron was the epitome of the next generation of Gracie greats, following in the footsteps of his father Rickson Gracie. Kron managed to accomplish big things in grappling, and moved on to MMA, excelling in Rizhein and winning his UFC debut, before getting his first loss in MMA inside the octagon. That was in 2019, though, and since then Kron seems to have fallen off the face of the Earth, at least when combat sports are concerned.

What Happened To Kron Gracie?

Kron had a really good start to his UFC career in 2019, beating the unpredictable Alex Caceres via submission with a rear-naked choke. He came into the octagon undefeated, with each victory by way of submission. Many expected him to follow in the footsteps of his father Rickson Gracie, who claimed to have had an unbeaten 410-0 record. While nobody expected the same out of Kron, people did perceive him as being on a similar path of success.

Then came his first MMA loss to the entertaining Cub Swanson, by way of a unanimous decision. The fight happened in 2019, and Kron’s last octagon performance before the Covid pandemic hit was largely underwhelming, with Swanson directing what happened by keeping the exchanges standing.

After the world restarted, Kron was nowhere to be found. He was part of the Diaz brothers’ crew, notorious for their no-nonsense approach to training, fighting, and pissing people off. After his loss, Kron Gracie moved to Montana to open a new gym.

As his father, Rickson said in the Trocação Franca podcast:

“Right now we’re giving each other some space, you know? We had some small arguments and now he’s moved to Montana, he’s with his new gym there, and he’s training. I don’t know exactly what his plans are for MMA, but I root for him.”

He went on to hint he is hopeful that Kron will come back to fighting, saying:

“I know he has great potential, not only as a fighter but also as a great teacher, a great man. I’m rooting for him, and I’m also curious, like everybody else, to know what he’ll do next.”

Rickson has his own analysis of what happened the night that Kron Gracie lost to Cub Swanson:

“He wanted to prove to himself and to his friends that he could take a punch, that he’s not afraid of getting punched, that he wasn’t worried about using only one skill and delicate technique to win fast without getting hurt, keeping his face clean.

“What he showed me was a lack of ability to work strategically on someone else’s weakness. I never liked clashing heads — I always liked catching someone when they were distracted, to surprise them. I don’t like taking the toughest path, I like taking the door that’s open, the easier way to win.”

The Rise And Fall Of Rickson Gracie’s Successor

Kron Gracie is the youngest son of Rickson Gracie, born in 1988 in Rio. He lived most of his life in Los Angeles, though, and started training as soon as he could crawl. With Rickson as his father and Helio as his grandfather, Kron had the best coaching since before he could talk.

A 7-year-old Kron is featured in Rickson’s legendary “Choke” documentary from 1995, play-fighting with his father. It wasn’t long after that he won his first Jiu-Jitsu medal, at the age of 10.

While it may seem that Kron Gracie had a carefree childhood filled with Jiu-Jitsu training, the reality was quite a bit different. After his brother Rockson tragically died when he was 12, much of the expectations of Rickon’s successor fell directly to a very young Kron, who was part of a family that barely held together because of the tragedy.

Kron accepted the challenge, winning the Worlds and Pans at purple and brown belt. he had a different path as a black belt, winning the Europeans once in 2009 and the ADCC in 2013. He has a couple of second-place finishes in the Worlds and Pans as a black belt, though.

Kron transitioned to MMA in 2014, choosing the notorious Diaz brothers’ Scrap Pack Team as his home.

The Kron Gracie Legacy

Kron Gracie might be off the map at the moment, but at 34 years old he still has a lot of his prime years ahead to conquer both MMA and BJJ accolades. In the meantime though, he has left quite a mark on the BJJ world, even though newer generations of grapplers might not recognize him for the great grappler that he is.

Kron Gracie Record

Kron Gracie BJJ Fights

Kron Gracie has a very impressive grappling record, ranging back to 2008 when he got his black belt. He started off his black belt career with a submission loss to Sergio Moraes in the 2008 Worlds but jumped back in the win column at the Pans by submitting Tom DeBlass with a triangle.

He went on to win the Europeans in 2009, just a couple of days after his grandfather Helio Gracie died.

From there on, Kron had more wins than losses, only failing to defeat some of the greatest ever like Marcelo Garcia, Marcus Almeida, and Lucas Leite.

Kron’s grappling record to date is 30-12-0, with 24 submission wins and only 3 submission losses.

Kron Gracie MMA Career

In professional MMA, Kron never had a fight run its course prior to his UFC loss to Cub Swanson. His first four fights came in Rizin, against fairly unknown opponents. Only his fourth fight against went into the second round, when Kron Gracie got a rear-naked choke.

His first three submissions in MMA are armbar, triangle, and another rear-naked choke, all in the first round. The same thing happened in his first UFC performance when he submitted UFC vet Alex Caceres also in the first round.

Kron’s official MAM record is 5-1. He is still on the UFC roster as a middleweight.

The Kron Gracie Diet

One thing that was very popular a few years ago was the way Kron Gracie approached his diet. People in BJJ are always trying to figure out the best way to eat for grappling and everyone wanted to replicate Kron’s performances.

In a feature episode of VICE’s FUEL, Kron outlined his mostly vegetarian diet that only included fish as a meat source. The BJJ community quickly picked up on Kron’s pescatarian diet, which he described as focused to primarily fuel his performance:

“My priority isn’t eating, my priority is training, so I am gonna eat what I need just to get me through the training.

My diet is healthy. I think that’s the way to define it. I don’t have any hard rules: I think I eat the things my body needs at the time it needs them. In principle, I don’t eat meat, don’t eat chicken, turkey breast, I don’t eat animals that come from a farm.”

Kron Gracie Quotes

Kron’s legacy also includes some famous quotes that many people in Jiu-Jitsu have found, and still find super motivational and useful:

Jiu-Jitsu for sure will save your ass, one way or another. Not necessarily a physical fight but also being able to deal with yourself, know about yourself, and really improve yourself as a whole.
If I knew I was going to win, I probably wouldn’t even fight.
There’s always a way you can get better. You can never be satisfied. You can never say, ‘That’s good enough’.
All these feelings that you get before you fight or when you’re fighting or training for a fight, makes me feel alive, and I love that feeling.

Conclusion

We’d really like to see Kron Gracie back on the mats, regardless if it is the UFC or any of the new professional grappling promotions. There are some highly interesting opponents for Kron out there, and we certainly hope he’ll find the motivation to get back to what he does best.

Marcelo Garcia Facing Chemo And Surgery For Stomach Cancer

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Filip Zanki

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Marcelo Garcia Facing Chemo And Surgery For Stomach Cancer

“I am about to fight the biggest fight of my life” shared the legendary Marcelo Garcia on his Instagram account, revealing his stomach cancer diagnosis. The 40-year-old ADCC Hall Of Famer, 4 x ADCC winner, and 5 x BJJ World Champion is now facing a 3-month long round of chemotherapy before going in under the knife to remove the tumor.

Marcelo Garica is one of the most beloved characters in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Always full of energy, the Brazilian has revolutionized the sport on multiple occasions by coming up with techniques we consider to be staples of modern Jiu-Jitsu today. He used things like the X-guards and guillotine combinations to surprise the highest level of opponents as he went on to win huge titles like the ADCC and IBJJF Worlds.

Marcelo is also one of the greatest teachers ever, with his New York academy a real den for BJJ fanatics of all levels. Garcia was always a complete fighter as well, winning with and without the Gi.

It seems that the Brazilian is now in need of the community’s support as a very different foe lurks in the opposite corner. Marcelo Garcia has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, although at this point it is not clear what form or how progressed it is.

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A post shared by Marcelo Garcia (@marcelogarciajiujitsu)

As per his post on Instagram, he has a round of chemotherapy set for the next 3 months, and surgery scheduled afterward, which are all good signs when it comes to the sneaky disease he is facing.

“I’m about to fight the biggest fight of my life, I have stomach cancer and will start chemo for 3 months and back at MSK for surgery to remove the tumor,” wrote Garcia on his Instagram. “Please keep me and my family in your prayers. Get your check-ups, and listen to your body, all I had was hiccups after eating and I’m glad I went to see a doctor .just wanted to say thank you to everyone who’s supporting me now, you all know who you are and I will never forget it.”

The news has been met with a strong reaction of support from everyone in the BJJ community, including some very big names, like Bernardo Faria, Gordon Ryan, Rafel Lovato Jr., and many others.

Renzo Gracie Promoted To Coral Belt By Rickson Gracie [VIDEO]

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Filip Zanki

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Renzo Gracie Promoted To Coral Belt By Rickson Gracie [VIDEO]

Renzo Gracie, the legendary coach behind John Danaher and a whole host of other BJJ and MMA Hall of Famers, just received his coral belt from Rickson Gracie. In doing so, Renzo became one of the few black-and-red coral belts in the world, a group that includes Rickoson as well.

Rickson Gracie had the pleasure and honor of promoting Renzo Gracie to his red-and-black coral belt in a special ceremony that took place in Abu Dhabi. After spending decades as a Carlos Gracie Jr. black belt, Renzo now finally reached the rank of 7th-degree black belt, which is marked by the coral belt.

Renzo Gracie had a stellar career in both BJJ and MMA. Representing the Gracie family in early No Holds Barred and Vale Tudo matches, Renzo grew to be a fan favorite and a Pride and UFC veteran, holding a 14-7-1 (1) professional record. He also won the ADCC in 1998 and 2000 and was inducted into the ADCC Hall Of Fame during the latest 2022 edition of the event.

Renzo is also the man behind one of the most successful academies in the world, his New York “blue basement” that produces people like John Danaher and Gordon Ryan who are now re-shaping the world of Jiu-Jitsu as we know it.

The newly promoted coral belt was also often the focus of controversy, with the famous New York City night club brawl that got him arrested before he live-tweeted a mugging attempt as he beat his attackers up.

It will take Renzo at least 7 years of teaching and training at the red-and-black coral belt before he is eligible for promotion to the red-and-white coral belt. He remains one of the best competitors and coaches in the world, and one of the most charismatic people in BJJ.

Renzo Gracie announced the news of his promotion on his Instagram account.

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Creatine vs BCAA: Best BJJ Supplement For Performance

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BJJ World

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Creatine vs BCAA: Best BJJ Supplement For Performance

If you want to be able to perform an athletic activity more than 3 times a week, you most likely take some supplements. If not, you should consider starting. In today’s sports world, supplements are no longer just intended for professional athletes but are essential additions to every regular Joe’s nutrition. In fact, regular people who do not follow a strict nutrition protocol will benefit a lot more from taking a BJJ supplement or two to improve their performance on the mats. Speaking of performance, today we’ll square off creatine vs BCAA to figure out which one suits grapplers’ needs better.

BCAA vs Creatine: Which Supplement Is Better For BJJ?

Both BCAA and creatine are stapling supplements in the world of sports training. I say sports training because they go beyond just being bodybuilding aids, which is unfortunately the only way most people see them.

While supplements were a thing pioneered by bodybuilders, today they are something that is widespread in every household, from pro-MMA fighters to Yoga moms. Everyone takes a supplement or two, ranging from vitamins to those crazy pre-workout concoctions most weight lifters and CrossFitters seem to be addicted to.

Creatine and BCAA are performance-oriented supplements, providing the body with the energy required for training and recovery. Despite the marketing in supplement stores (which seems to be the same for every product in there) not everything is going to build muscle and burn fat. Actually, very few products will work in the way.

Supplement use is so precise, in fact, that using creatine is not the same as BCAA, especially when it comes to mat performance for grapplers. In a duel of creatine vs BCAA, there can only be one clear winner in terms of improving your Jiu-Jitsu, despite both supplements having certain specific benefits.

What Are BCAAs?

BCAA stands for Branched Chain Amino Acids. Even more specifically, they refer to just three of the branched chain amino acids called Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. More specifically than that, BCAA supplements contain a very specific ratio of these amino acids (2:1:1 Leucine: Isoleucine: Valine).

Benefits of BCAAs

BCAAs are amino acids that have a direct role in muscle metabolism, providing energy and building blocks for muscle recovery after rigorous training. They reduce recovery time and limit muscle damage during training. They are also involved in energy production (gluconeogenesis) that spares the muscles yet provides fuel for your performance.

Do BCAAs Really Work?

One major reason why the creatine vs BCAA “issue” is the notion that BCAAs do not really work after being taken, or at least not universally for everyone, making them a BJJ supplement that is not factually effective.

The bottom line is that despite their heavy use, and the bioscience backing up the way our bodies utilize BCAAs, there is no real scientific evidence, despite numerous studies on the subject, that supplement form BCAAs, isolated from other amino acids from, for example, whey protein, do not have any substantial or tangible effect on the body.

What Is Creatine?

Creatine is a supplement made up of two amino acids, arginine and methionine, also considered to be essential amino acids, just like BCAAs. Unlike BCAAs, though, creatine is a compound that our bodies can make. It is also readily available in food, primarily red meats.

The most popular (and effective) form of creatine is creatine monohydrate, the most used supplement in the world along with whey protein.

Benefits of Creatine

Creatine is an energy supplement, that helps the body work more in terms of explosive power movement. It is stored in the muscles and helps significantly reduce muscle fatigue during training, as well as aid in recovery.

One thing creatine does not do, compared to BCAA or whey protein is build muscle. The amino acids in creatine are not building blocks of muscles, but rather a way to store more fuel for immediate release during high energy demands of the muscles.

What Is The Best Time To Take Creatine And BCAAs?

In the creatine vs BCAA debate, the timing always seems to have a major role. Namely, there are three usual periods when sport performance supplements should be taken: before training, during training, and after training.

While many people swear by taking both BCAAs and creatine before a workout, to “fuel” their training, the body does not really work in such a black-and-white way. Taking supplements before training to ensure they’re utilized during the workout requires careful timing in order to make them available to the body at the right time, which also includes whether or not you’ve eaten solid food along with the supplement.

Since both of these supplements get depleted during training, it makes sense to replenish them afterward. The sooner you put in either of these (or both) in your body after rolling, the better.

Also, you should note that BCAA and creatine both have a cumulative effect in the body. That means that you need to consume them on a regular basis as opposed to just occasionally if you want to see real effects.

What Is The Difference Between BCAAs And Creatine?

The main difference between creatine vs BCAA is how each of those affects athletic performance.

BCAAs help protein synthesis, which translates to directly helping you rebuild muscle tissue that got damaged during training. Creatine helps increase the power output of the muscles during rigorous training, by providing the muscles with a specific energy source (ATP) that allows them to work longer at full power.

Both help with the recovery of muscles after training, which coincides with the best time to use either of these.

BCAA vs Creatine: Which Is Better For BJJ Performance?

So, what is the bottom line when it comes to creatine vs BCAA for Jiu-Jitsu athletes? The answer is not really straightforward as different people respond differently to both supplements. Usually, seeing people that are nonresponsive to creatine is much rarer than seeing people who do not feel or see any tangible effects from consuming BCAAs.

BCAAs are supposed to protect against muscle loss and mostly, aid in quicker recovery after hard training so that you can train again soon.

Creatine has a much more precise effect in storing energy in the muscles, allowing them to work more efficiently and longer, on top of aiding in recovery as well as BCAAs. It has no effect on muscle building or preventing muscle breakdown, but it does bring water to the muscles, which is helpful in muscle metabolism.

The bottom line is that creatine has been shown to work better for most people compared to the individual effects BCAAs have, and as it provides a better power output it is much more important for explosive endurance athletes, which grapplers are, as opposed to the muscle building/recovery effects BCAAs have which are better suited for those engaging in strength training.

Can You Mix BCAAs And Creatine?

Both creatine and BCAA have been studied in depth in terms of their safety and have no side effects whatsoever. As long as you drink enough water on a daily basis, both these supplements are even safer than consuming caffeine.

Since they both get depleted during training and work in a cumulative way, taking both together after training is something you can do safely and for unlimited periods of time. There is no need to “cycle off” these supplements and if both works for you to help you perform better on the mats and recover faster off them, you can freely mix them together.

In fact, there are supplements available that have already done the mixing for you. All you have to do is ensure creatine is in monohydrate form and that you know the source of BCAAs (preferably from animal protein).

Final Verdict

Creatine vs BCAA for BJJ athletes tilts in favor of creatine if you really have to pick just one BJJ supplement to use. That said, there’s no harm in adding BCAAs to your creatine if you’d like to see improvements in your recovery and perhaps even help prevent muscle loss during training, and most importantly, during weight cutting.

The Best Grappling Single Kettlebell Workout For Beginners

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BJJ World

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The Best Grappling Single Kettlebell Workout For Beginners

Kettlebells are a multiuse tool when it comes to conditioning. Athletes particularly seem to like them, and they are pretty much a mainstay in any combat sports gym, from BJJ and wrestling to MMA and Muay Thai. As useful as they are, though, kettlebells are not something to be taken lightly (pun intended). Learning how to use them has a large curve, so focusing on a single kettlebell workout for beginners is a great way to get yourself going, and build up some strength and juice for better Jiu-Jitsu performance.

Kettlebell Essentials

Kettlebells originate from Russia, used first as a training tool to help local farmers counterweight goods they were measuring in the markets. Originally called girya, farmers soon figured out they could use them for physical exercises, eventually creating a competitive sport based on performing certain moves with more and more weight. Girya competitions were mainly held at festivals and circuses in the beginning. By 1948, the sport became the national sport of the Soviet Union.

Kettlebells are iron balls that have a handle welded on top. They are extremely minimalistic in nature but offer an extreme range of training modalities.

After the “functional fitness” craze took over the fitness world about a decade ago, kettlebells quickly found themselves in the focus as odd objects to train with. They quickly ended up in just about every gym in the world, although not many gyms have actually certified and knowledgeable kettlebell coaches to teach people how to use them.

When it comes to moving an iron ball that can weigh anywhere from 5 lbs to 240 lbs around your head, you need to take precautions. Just like in JIu-Jitsu, you can’t go immediately into flying armbars and Berimbolos, but rather have to work through the basics, accepting that you are a beginner.

It is the same with kettlebells, and despite the now world-famous girya being a truly fantastic tool for grappling conditioning, you need to start with a kettlebell workout for beginners first, focusing on learning how to work with just one kettlebell, before moving on to juggling a couple of 70 lbs iron balls up in the air above you.

Kettlebells For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

A single kettlebell will get you really, really far in terms of specific strength, conditioning, power, stability, and range of motion for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. All you need to do is tailor a single kettlebell workout for beginners, grappling-specific, using the best exercises for the job. The trick is knowing what effects/benefits you are after with kettlebell training for BJJ.

Grip-Strength

A true essential for Jiu-Jitsu, regardless if you’re a Gi or No-Gi grappler. The fact that you’re holding the handles of kettlebells, which are usually thick (intentionally so) means your forearms are going to have to work all the time, in a dynamic fashion, covering a bunch of different angles and positions. Sounds familiar?

Every exercise is going to tax your forearms, but kettlebell carries are going to really challenge you, particularly when you’re doing them with only one kettlebell.

Correct Imbalances

A kettlebell workout for beginners should focus on stability. The exercises outlined later in this article do just that, along with the fact that you will only train with one kettlebell at a time. The constant movement in different planes when training with kettlebells means deep-laying muscles that have a stabilizing role get activated, similar to rolling.

Apart from helping you develop a balanced body, kettlebell workouts will help you tune your body up precisely for the needs and requirements of grappling.

Progressive Skill Development

Another parallel between kettlebell workouts and Jiu-Jitsu. you’ll have to learn the basics and you’ll be building on those basics by expanding your skillset to become a lot more precise with your what you’re doing. In BJJ that means more control, better pins, and submissions, and crisper escapes.

For kettlebell training, that translates to mastering the basic kettlebell moves first, so that you can start using more complex and refined moves with bigger weights to turn your single kettlebell workout for beginners, into a double -kettlebell one, before ditching the “beginner” tag and moving on to get your blue belt in training with Russian weight.

Versatile Conditioning

Apart from building solid amounts of muscle training with kettlebells, you also get the added bonus (or main goal) of a significantly increased gas tank. It all comes down to the weight you are using and how you program your workout, but with the beginner kettlebell exercises we have outlined here, and the workout at the end of the article, you’re certain to increase your conditioning significantly in a matter of months.

Full Body Integration

One more benefit of kettlebells for combat athletes is that kettlebell training does not isolate muscles. even if you’re doing biceps curls (which you won’t be) you’re doing them with a weight that is oddly positioned and shifts as you work, unlike dumbbells or barbells.

This means your entire body has to work to move the weight, and this becomes particularly obvious as you start increasing the weight of the kettlebell you’re using for your workouts.

5 Best Kettlebell Exercises For Grappling

The best kettlebell exercises you can be doing are ones that will push you in a physical sense but are still at your level of expertise. Since we’re talking about building a kettlebell workout for beginners with no prior experience the exercises that follow are the best-suited ones to offer the benefits we already described.

Swings

Kettlebell swings are probably the most popular kettlebell exercise in the world. It is a move that is specific to kettlebell training and was not done in fitness before the emergence of these versatile tools.

Swings have you using momentum to pull the kettlebell forward and upward and back, with plenty of variations and progression available to make this one a truly challenging exercise even for experienced lifters.

How To Perform Kettlebell Swings

The swing involves holding a kettlebell in front of you, with both your hands on the handle, arms straight, and legs wide apart. The goal is to start with the kettlebell at your hip level and use your hips and shoulder to swing the kettlebell upwards.

The hip extension and clenching of your butt cheeks are crucial here to protect the spine. As the weight comes down, you use your hips to bend, hinging so that you accommodate for the inertia that has built up, and reverse the momentum for another repetition of the upward motion.

Goblet Squats

A pretty straightforward exercise, but one that is in pretty much every kettlebell workout for beginners, whether it is combat athletes or pilates.

The motion is the same as with most regular barbell or dumbbell squats, with the exception of the way you’re holding the weight. The kettlebell goes in front of your chest, arms bent at the elbows, hands supporting the weight by gripping the handle from the bottom up on each side at the junction of the handle and the bell.

Since the load is in the front this exercise is extremely useful and relates directly to Jiu-Jitsu.

How To Perform Kettlebell Goblet Squats

Grab the kettlebell with both palms facing upwards, like you’re grabbing a barbell to do curls. The goal is to curl the kettlebell so that it is tight to your chest and use the bent arms to support the weight so that your biceps don’t tire out.

With feet parallel, the goal is to squat ass-to-grass (a.k.a. as low as possible), while attempting to prevent your knees from going past your toe-line as you squat down.

Turkish Get Ups

The ultimate kettlebell exercise for grapplers. The motion of a Turkish get up is the same as a technical stand up BJJ drill, just with weight held pretty awkwardly over your head. While it may seem daunting it is a beginner’s kettlebell exercise and as long as you follow the correct form you’ll be perfectly safe doing it.

The goal is to start supine with a kettlebell in one hand and get all the way up to your feet, holding the kettlebell over your head at all times. Once you get up, you need to get back down the same way so that you can complete the repetition by going back to the starting position.

How To Perform Kettlebell Turkish Get Ups

Start laying down on the ground with one kettlebell near your chest. Then, bench press the weight upward. Once the arm is in full extension, rotate the shoulders so that you can use your other arm to help prop your torso up (elbow, then palm on the ground).

From there it is all about performing a technical stand up with the exact same steps you’d use in grappling, just keeping your eyes on the kettlebell in the arm extended overhead at all times.

Carries

The easiest exercise in a kettlebell workout for beginners, at least when it comes to explaining it. As the name suggests you carry the kettlebell with you while walking for time or distance (depending on available space). Since we’re talking about a single kettlebell workout, you’ll only be carrying weight on one side, and the easiest progression to start with is a suitcase carry.

It won’t be nearly as easy when you first give it a try.

How To Perform Kettlebell Carries

Grab a kettlebell with one arm at the mid-point of the handle, and pick it up off the ground by squatting next to it. Try to hold your body symmetrically, not allowing the weight to pull you to one side as you walk around with the weight, taking steps of medium length, similar to the ones you use to walk.

Of course, you want to switch arms so that both sides of your body get an equal amount of work.

Russian Twists

A dynamic core exercise that will leave your midsection burning and your arms as tired as they were after your first-ever Gi match.

The Russian twist exercise can be done without a kettlebell too. You want to sit on your butt with your torso and legs off the ground. Nothing should touch the ground except your butt. The goal is to clasp your hands together and twist from side to side, trying to place the clasped palm on the floor as you do.

How To Perform Kettlebell Russian Twists

Russian twist with a kettlebell work in the same way as bodyweight ones, only you’re holding a kettlebell instead of clasping the palms together. The goal is to hold the kettle ell palms up, the same way as you would for kettlebell Goblet squats. Make sure the bell stays close to your chest and keep twisting trying to place the bottom of the bell on each side.

The Best Grappling Single Kettlebell Workout For Beginners

Now that the exercises are done and you know what to expect out of kettlebell training, let’s put together the perfect grappling single kettlebell workout for beginners.

The programming is in a circuit style, so you get the extra conditioning component of training with kettlebells. That means you’ll do the prescribed amount of work for each exercise and move on to the next one without rest until you finish one set of all five exercises back to back.

The easiest way to measure the circuit is to start with a set amount of time you’re going to be training. Let’s place that at 10 minutes for starters. You’ll do every swings and Goblet squats for 5 repetitions, Turksih get ups for 2 repetitions on each side, Russian twists for 5 repetitions on each side, and finish with 50 yards of suitcase carries on each side. Rest if needed, but try to get back to it as fast as possible, so that you can do as many repetitions of the circuit in 10 minutes.

10 minutes of constant work with minimal rest:

Kettlebell Swings (two arms grip, 5 repetitions)
Kettlebell Goblet Squats (two arms grip, 5 repetitions)
Turkish Get Ups (one-handed grip, 2 repetitions on each side)
Russian Twists (two arm grip, 5 repetitions on each side)
Suitcase Carries (one-handed grip, 50 yards carrying per side)

After a couple of weeks, increase the minutes to 15. After a couple more, go for 20 minutes, and keep doing the same thing until you can do it for 30 minutes straight.

After you’re able to do 30 minutes of kettlebell training, you can think about increasing the weight but drop the time down to 15 for your first couple of weeks.

A good starting weight is 8-12 kg (17-26 lbs ) for women and 12-16 kg (26-35 lbs) for men who are complete beginners.

How Often Should You Workout with Kettlebells

If you’re training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or wrestling three times or more per week, then doing this workout two times per week will be more than enough to get you stronger, faster and in better shape than ever before. All you’ll need is a kettlebell and the place to do the carries. Since most BJJ gyms nowadays have kettlebells, I think this is not going to be an issue for anyone.

Key Takeaways

Accept that you’ll have to start with a kettlebell workout for beginners and work your way up, just like in BJJ.
Use the best exercises suited for beginners who look to improve grappling performance through kettlebell training. Those are swings, goblet squats, Turkish get ups, suitcase carries, and Russian twists.
Use a timed circuit style training to make sure you push yourself constantly and be extremely effective with the time you spend training strength and conditioning.
Use just one kettlebell for the first few months of kettlebell training.

4 Bread Cutter Choke Variations And 3 Effective Defense Tactics

By

Filip Zanki

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4 Bread Cutter Choke Variations And 3 Effective Defense Tactics

Choking people with the Gi can be difficult since the grips often g I’ve it away. As effective as the cross collar choke is unless you’ve put in the time Roger Gracie has in perfecting it, your grips are going to give you away and people will defend it. That leaves Gi chokes with not-so-obvious, sneaky grip setups as much more potent options, chokes like the bread cutter choke.

Bread Cutter BJJ Choke Essentials

The bread cutter choke, also known as the paper cutter is one of the most effective Gi chokes from side control, if not the most effective one. It works from different side control variations and north-south, and as you are going to see further in this article, it can also work from the bottom.

The brad cutter choke version that most people know is done from side control, taking advantage of the bottom person sneaking the near side arm between you and themself. This can lead to sneaky ghost escape and Darce for the bottom person unless the top person exploits the opening to get an essential grip that will ultimately lead to a bread cutter BJJ choke.

The grip in question is a back-of-the-collar grip, with your far arm going underneath the armpit of the opponent, trapping the arm they placed in between you and them in the process. This is the anchor grip that will allow you to both hold your opponent in place, and tighten the collar for the choke.

Your other arm goes with the forearm across the opponent’s neck, gripping the opposite side collar with a thumb-in grip. Finishing the choke requires you to place the elbow of the arm going across the throat to the mats (hence the name bread cutter), and point it toward the opponent’s ear. Sprawling and tilting your torso so that it is facing the opponent’s face helps wrap the choke up.

There are people that are so good with this submission that they’ve built a bread cutter game that is extremely difficult to deal with and prevent. The variations in gripping and setting this choke up offer many options, making it effective due to said unpredictability and the easy setup that requires very little motion.

4 Variations To Improve The Bread Cutter Side Control Choke

The above-described version of the brad cutter choke is going to work, and you will be able to get the grips in before the bottom person gets a grasp of what is going on However, there are defenses that can get the bottom person out, both at an early and late stage of the submission threat.

If you are really a fan of the choke, though, you won’t have to accept defeat there. There are several variations of the bread cutter that will work like a charm, surprising even the most skilled opponents.

Shoulder Lock Bread Cutter

This is an old-school variation that has been proven to block all sorts of bread cutter escapes and is brought to you by BJJ legend Pedro Sauer.

It involves a slightly different grip with the anchor arm (the one that usually grips the back of the collar). Instead of getting this grip first at the usual anchor point, Sauer likes to get the choking arm in place first. He then sneaks the anchor arm underneath the armpit but grabs the biceps of his other arm (like for a rear-naked choke) rather than going for the back of the collar.

This both amplifies the power of the choke, and puts lots of pressure on the shoulder, making escapes really difficult to perform.

Shallow Grip Bread Cutter Choke

This one is similar to the Pedro Sauer variation but does not require gripping your own biceps. Instead, it works by sneaking in the setup of the bread cutter choke from a reverse Kesa Gatame side control variation.

The setup begins when you place your far side arm underneath the opponent’s armpit on the far side. You can then sneak this arm around, palm up, to grab the far side shoulder, or preferably, the collar on the far side. Unlike the basic version of the choke, you don’t have to go deep and grab the back of the collar.

From a position like this, you’re clear to get the thumbs in grip as well without the opponent being any the wiser about what you’re planning to do. When you’re ready to choke, you’re just going to move your body to the opposite side, going over their head and the choke is going to sink in super tight.

Cross Collar Bread Cutter Finish

This one is going to catch even those that are good at defending the bread cutter choke by surprise. It is a version that does not require control over the near side arm/shoulder, and as such is super easy and quick to set up.

This one also works with setting up the choking arm first. Once that is in place, you won’t have to chase the shoulder, but rather sneak the free arm over the opponent’s chest and grip the collar on the opposite side of the choking arm, using four fingers on the inside.

It is essentially a cross-collar bread cutter choke hybrid that works incredibly well.

Bottom Side Control Bread Cutter Variation

Finally, let’s see a switch in position in terms of top and bottom, and how you can really take people by surprise by setting up the brad cutter choke from the bottom.

The brad cutter from the bottom works with a finishing grip configuration rally similar to the Pedro Sauer variation. The choking arm goes across the throat, just like hen setting u the choke from the top.

You want your other arm to sneak in under the opponent’s armpit, which usually is not a problem as they won’t mind it being there, thinking they have the upper hand. Your end goal is not to grab the back of the collar but go over their shoulder, grabbing the biceps for a rear-naked choke grip.

Finishing the choke will require you to shovel under the opponent, moving your legs toward the top person’s.

Bread Cutter BJJ Defenses And Escapes

Dealing with the brad cutter, as you can see, is no easy feat. If people know different variations of the brad cutter game, you’re in for a long roll/match. However, there re some things you can do, at various stages of the choke setup, which can help you defend, escape or even get a submission counter if you time it just right.

The Elbow Push

The elbow push is a bread cutter defense that is going to work before the opponent sets up in a choking position. It works when the choking arm is in place, so it is not an early escape, but there is a point of no return – when their elbow drops below your shoulder.

The escape si quite easy – grab the elbow of the choking arm with your near side arm (it is free anyway) and use it to push the opponent’s elbow across your chest and towards the ceiling, This will not only get you out of the brad cutter BJJ choke but also out of side control.

Armbar Counter

The armbar counter works early when you eel the opponent setting up the choke by grabbing the anchor grip on the back of your collar. This counter won’t work after they’ve sprawled, so it is even more dependent on correct timing than the elbow push escape.

The goal here is to use the arm in between you and the opponent to establish a post on their hip, creating space for your far side leg to swing over their head, and your near side leg to sneak in between your torso’s in a knee-shield fashion.

In the best-case scenario you get an armbar from her, and worst case you’re out of the choke.

Pass-By Escape

This one works fairly late during the choke and is extremely effective. The key moment is not panicking and allowing the person to try and finish the choke so that you can move your head.

You want to use your far side arm to grab the far side of the opponent’s head and pull so that you force their ear to their shoulder on the near side. This opens up space for you to pass your head by theirs/ The way you accomplish this is by grabbing behind their shoulder with the near side arm (one in between you and them) so that you can arm drag yourself up and away from the choke.

Conclusion

Giancarlo Bodoni Set To Face Pedro Marinho At Tezos WNO

By

Filip Zanki

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Giancarlo Bodoni Set To Face Pedro Marinho At Tezos WNO

Gordon Ryan is not going to be the only New Wave Jiu-JItsu team member at the Tez trios Who’s Number One event set for February 25 in Costa Mesa, CA. H Nis New Wave Jiu-Jitsu teammate and -88kg division ADCC 2022 champion Giancarlo Bodoni joins him on the card, taking on one of Ryan’s former opponents in the always dangerous Pedro Marinho.

Giancarlo Bodoni, the recently named Breakthrough Grappler of the Year by FloGrappling is set to test his skill against one of the best light heavyweights in grappling Pedro Marinho.

Bodoni, who won the ADCC North American trials in 2021, before submitting his way through the -88 kg division, starting with Matheus Diniz, who was the ADCC division champion at the time. Bodoni showcased a versatile game of submissions, defensive prowess, and wrestling to defeat the likes of Eoghan O’Flanagan and his personal nemesis Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa to win the ADCC gold in his first attempt.

His opponent Marinho is one of the best in the business, with a double No-Gi title in Tezos WNO in 2021, and also conquering the ADCC trials (East Coast) the same year. Craig Jones was one of Marinho’s most notable victims in his quest for the light heavyweight WNO title in 2021.

Marinho and Bodoni have met several times before, with Giancarlo getting a submission win at purple belt, while Pedro got his own finish later, in the finals of the 2021 IBJJF Orlando No-Gi Open.

The same card is going to feature a rematch between Gordon Ryan and Felipe Pena, who happens to be the Gracie Barra teammate of Pedro Marinho.

10 Best Pieces Of Advice For White Belts by Tom DeBlass

By

Filip Zanki

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10 Best Pieces Of Advice For White Belts by Tom DeBlass

Tom DeBlass is one of the most charismatic and inspirational people in Jiu-Jitsu. He constantly takes time to share his thoughts, helping countless students become better in the process, sharing important for white belts and black belts alike.

Giving people involved in Jiu-Jitsu advice is easier the further along their Jiu-Jitsu journey they are. however, giving advice for white belts is hard and should not be taken for granted. It is important to know exactly what to tell them in order to motivate them, and not confuse them more than they already are.

Here are 10 pieces of priceless advice for white belts by Tom DeBlass, pointing out exactly what white belts need to know and focus on when embarking on their life-long journey of learning BJJ:

Jiu-Jitsu is hard, never forget that. It doesn’t get easier. As you get better, so does everyone else.
Jiu-Jitsu is worth it. It’s more than submissions and wrestling around. It is a connection of your mind, body, and soul.
Jiu-Jitsu is more mental than it is physical. Having a strong body helps, but technique, strategy, and timing are the most important.
Take a rest day if you need it.
You don’t need to train until exhaustion every single day. Leave some in the tank for the next day.
More is not better, being present at the moment is what matters.
Do not compare yourself to others, ever.JJ Lesso
Find the parallels between Jiu-Jitsu and life, there are many.
Allow yourself to make mistakes, you’re supposed to. Belt
Success on the mats doesn’t happen overnight. It is a lifelong commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

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Big Muscles In BJJ: Can You Get Jacked From BJJ?

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BJJ World

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Big Muscles In BJJ: Can You Get Jacked From BJJ?

With the onslaught of steroid-infused physiques in BJJ, and the multiple professional competition platforms that essentially shamelessly promote said physiques, it is easy for the everyday BJJ practitioner to feel out of place and ask themselves if big muscles are going to bring about a positive impact on their grappling progress. The question is not whether or not you need muscles for BJJ, but rather how big they should be, and if you can build them up just by grappling.

The Best Body Type For Jiu-Jitsu

Yeah, there is no such thing. As you can see, many people are wildly successful in the sport without sharing a very specific body type. Jiu-Jitsu is ever-changing and super adaptable which means there’s no real standard for the ultimate Jiu-Jitsu physique, despite some people claiming that lanky people hold an advantage.

It comes down to the game you’re going to play. Your body type is going to reflect your game, and vice versa. If you want to carry big muscles (think Gordon Ryan, Andre Galvao, Nick Rodriguez, Rousimar Palhares…) you will have a game centered around your body’s strong suit.

If you are a hardgainer, then you might favor the more flexible and movement-based approach to BJJ (think Mikey Musumeci, Garry Tonon, Keenan Cornelius…).

Of course, you have those in between, like the Ruotolo brothers who seem to be able to switch between the ultra-flexible motion-based game and the powerful pressure game often associated with big muscles in BJJ. The endpoint here is that the body type that you have and can sustain is going to be the best one for your Jiu-Jitsu.

And still, if you’re all about muscles and that bodybuilder physique as a grappler, you need to understand a few things, including how and if you can build muscles with BJJ and the advantages and disadvantages of going the big muscles route.

Disadvantages of Having Big Muscles for BJJ

As with everything else, carrying around a lot of muscle tissue is not always going to help you in your grappling. On the contrary, there are detriments to consider in terms of mat performance. Two major drawbacks are the tradeoffs in mobility for carrying around big muscles for Jiu-Jitsu and the metabolic demands that come with a muscle-filled frame.

Decreased Mobility

The larger the muscle, the less mobility there will be for the adjoining joints. A great example is the shoulder. Every grappler who has big muscles on their shoulders has mobility issues with the shoulder joint. When it comes to defending bent armlocks, this might be a problem, as there is next to no margin for you to apply defense before the pain starts as a result of the reduced mobility of the shoulder.

The same applies to joints across the body, from hips and knees to the spine.

Metabolic Demands

Every tissue in the body burns energy, and the muscles are big spenders in particular. The demands for muscles come in the form of glycogen, which is actually stored inside them so it is easy to access. The drawback is that glycogen runs out and oxygen is required to keep the muscles working, albeit at a slower rate compared to glycogen.

This means that your cardiovascular system and your conditioning need to be up to par with the amount of muscle tissue you’re carrying around when grappling. That is why most grapplers with big muscles have slow-paced games based on pressure rather than jumping around and spinning in every direction. Plus, steroids help with endurance.

Advantages of Having Big Muscles for BJJ

Having big muscles in BJJ is not all bad, though, as you’ve probably experienced when one of those huge but technical powerlifters starts using you as a Rubik’s cube.

The muscles definitely help when it comes to strength, pressure, and even tactics during grappling.

Weight Distribution

When you understand how to distribute weight so that you feel like a mountain on top of someone, having the muscles to actually weigh like a mountain only helps increase the feeling of desperation in the person on the bottom.

Big muscles are great when you’re on top of someone, or dragging someone in a battle while standing that requires them to carry your weight. The bigger the muscles, the easier it is to be heavy without even looking to apply weight distribution principles, which gives you a tactical advantage that is almost unfair.

Specific Strength

Big muscles, when trained properly, can not only be strong but also explosive. This gives you a multifaceted use of athletic abilities, changing between strength and power to aid in the technical execution of your Jiu-Jitsu.

Do not fall for the old “technique beats strength” dogma. What happens when technique meets superior strength and technique? You already know the answer to that.

While strength is relative, and big muscles do not always equal big strength (BJJ and bodybuilding are a much less potent combination than BJJ and powerlifting), being stronger can only be helpful in BJJ, whether it is to finish that submission, or power your way up for that all-important sweep.

Tactical Advantages

This is where you start using your muscles and larger frame to prevent people from being able to execute Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques. For example, positioning your shoulder so that Darces and triangles become extremely difficult to sinch in.

Another example would be rolling the big shoulder muscles to prevent collar ties and frustrating people that take your back with wide lats that make keeping a hold of the seatbelt a real chore.

Can Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Build Muscle?

The short answer is yes, but there is a “but’. There always is one, isn’t there? BJJ can help you build muscles but only to a certain extent, and in certain parts of your body. If you want big calves for example or huge thighs, you will need to look elsewhere.

The bottom line is that you can build muscle with BJJ but it is one of the least optimal ways to do so, and it won’t help you build big muscles in a balanced way throughout the entire body. There is ad dedicated sport for that. It is called bodybuilding.

Muscle Groups That BJJ Strengthens

Apart from looking like Popeye in your forearms, which is basically unavoidable especially if you train exclusively with the Gi, there are certain muscle groups that will benefit a lot from BJ training. In fact, there are some muscles, like the deep muscles of the core that can only get developed through activities like BJJ.

The muscles that get the most attention during Jiu-Jitsu are the core, the hip muscles, and the muscles of the torso, predominantly the pulling ones.

Core Muscles

The core muscles involve not just the abs, but also the muscles of the lower back, mid back, front shoulder muscles, and some hip muscles. Most of these are not clearly visible and having big muscles in those areas is going to help your BJJ, but not do much for your physique.

Most of the strength we use during grappling comes from the core. It is responsible for twisting, stabilizing, extending, flexing, and isometric holds, which means that Jiu-Jitsu is the premiere activity, along with gymnastics, to develop a well-rounded core musculature.

Hips

The hips are an often overseen group of muscles when it comes to bodybuilding. They are mostly rated in the realm of flexibility, but strong hips are crucial to unlocking a huge athletic potential for rigorous movement activities like grappling.

Similar to the core, these muscles are not overly visible but are crucial to your performance on the mats.

Torso

The upper and lower muscles of the torso, in the form of the muscles around the spine, abs and obliques are going to not only get bigger but also develop the ability to function in a high-performance fashion while growing.

The muscles of the upper part of the torso, the traps, lats, shoulders, and even portions of the chest also get a real workout every time you grapple. Moving the muscles against resistance through planes of motion that are impossible to achieve with weight training will help you develop big muscles that are also functional just by rolling on a regular basis.

Building Muscle With Jiu-Jitsu Training

The approach to building big muscles through Jiu-Jitsu is the same as powerlifting or bodybuilding. First, you need to determine your goal, note your starting point, be sure to be aware of what and how much you eat and put as many muscles as possible under the correct tension and resistance in optimal frequencies. As stated, it’s just like making a weight training gains plan.

Starting Point

The starting point means you are aware of your weight, and preferably your percentage o bodyfat. When you’re looking to gain some muscle, you will gain some fat along with it, so starting a gains cycle, even if it is by BJJ only, should begin with you at a relatively low percentage of fat, somewhere along the 10-15% range.

Calculating Calories

As boring as it sounds you will need to know your BMR (basic metabolic rate) and the maintenance threshold that your body requires just to stay at your current weight. Then, you will need to increase it by several hundred calories (depending on your size, age, sex, and goals) and take it from there.

Fueling your training is key, and the calculations are actually very easy to do as there are plenty of BMR calculators online that will do all the math for you.

Resistance Training On The Mats

When you’re looking to build big muscles by mostly grappling, you will need to make sure you’re not slacking on the mats. Every roll is a hard roll, and you will need to make sure you push, pull, and squeeze your training partners repeatedly. Every round is a competition round, which means you’ll need training partners to accommodate your needs.

You will also need to give yourself time to rest. There’s no rolling round after round. In fact, shorter rounds and longer rest periods in combination with the surplus in calories will allow you to see muscle growth from BJJ.

Supplemental Training

If you really want to have bigger muscles that will work in BJJ, you’ll need to build muscles in a balanced way all over your body. Consider powerlifting as it will involve only core lifts, like bench press, squat, and deadlift, rather than bodybuilding splits and modern CrossFit -style types of training.

Supplement your BJJ training with at least two days of lifting per week, to introduce some balance and watch those big muscles pop!

FAQs About Big Muscles in BJJ

Let’s try and clear up some of the most common questions and inquiries people have about big muscles and BJJ, from building them to training with them and looking like a model on the cover of Men’s Health.

Does BJJ Make Your Muscles Bigger?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is going to help you increase the size and strength of all muscle groups when you start training. However, it will keep improving the size and performance of certain muscle groups more than others, and it will only take your muscle growth to a certain point, after which you’ll need supplemental weight training.

Can Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Build Muscle?

Yes, BJJ can build muscle, especially if you are a complete beginner that is not weight training on the side. If you’re already used to weight training, BJJ won’t do you much good in the big muscles building department.

How Much Muscle Is Too Much?

When muscle tissue becomes difficult to keep on, and you feel it impacting your mobility while providing no strength in return, you’re at the threshold of your muscle size for Jiu-Jitsu. If you notice your cardio going notably down, you should also consider giving building muscles a rest.

Also, if you’re bound by weight classes, you’ll only have so limited room for improving your body composition in the direction of building big muscles.

Can You Get In Shape With BJJ?

Yes, BJJ will get you in shape. It will help you lose fat and build some muscle, but remember that it will get you in shape for Jiu-Jitsu and grappling, and not a general shape suited for everything, In other words, you’ll still suck at swimming.

Will BJJ Make You Stronger?

In most cases, yes, Jiu-Jitsu will help you build strength by building muscle and connective tissue over time. There are many types of strength and BJJ will help you increase your relative strength and strength speed.

Does BJJ Build Legs?

Given that most of the exchanges happen on the ground, and there’s no real external resistance against the legs while grappling, BJJ is not going to help you build either big or powerful legs.

Can You Get Abs From BJJ?

You can get abs from every activity you do, including BJJ, under one condition – that oy have a clean and sustainable diet.

Will BJJ Get You Ripped?

It depends on your perception of ripped, but at the end of the day, Jiu-Jitsu will help you improve body composition, but it won’t get you looking like Gordon Ryan or UFC fighters during weigh-ins.

If getting ripped is your goal, BJJ is going to work best as your means of cardio in your quest for a specific physique.

In Conclusion

Do you need big muscles n BJJ? Yes.

How big? It all depends on your game and end goals.

Can BJJ help you build big muscles? To a certain extent, and specific muscles yes. In order to develop all muscles in a balanced way, you’ll need to introduce weight training as well.

Nganou Turned Down The Biggest Contract In History And Left The UFC, Jon Jones Got The Opponent For His Heavyweight Debut

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BJJ World

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February 8 (2nd month) 2020. That date was the last time we saw Jon Jones in the cage, at least for now. One of the greatest fighters in the history of MMA at that time defeated Dominick Reyes by a rather controversial decision and made his 11th overall title defense in the light heavyweight division.

Not long after, Jones abdicated the light heavyweight throne and announced a move to heavyweight. He talked about it back in 2013, but many thought better late than never. It was believed that Jones could take a maximum of a year to put on a few pounds of muscle mass, but we are still waiting for Jones’ heavyweight debut, although it is now 1/15/2023.

There were rumors that Jones would soon return, and there were rumors about matches against Francis Ngannou and Stipe Miocic, but it seems that the whole “soap opera” has come to an end and that Jones will soon make his real debut among the heavyweights. A lot happened last night regarding the unfolding of this story, so let’s start in order.

The people in charge of advertising at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas were all “hot”. In that hall, an advertisement for the UFC 285 event scheduled for March 4 (3rd month) appeared, with Jon Jones and Cyril Gane in the main roles.

For what it’s worth, two different photos of this UFC 285 billboard are circulating.

Jones vs. Gane for the heavyweight championship at UFC 285 would be incredible. pic.twitter.com/3aieyynDdk

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) January 14, 2023

This was already a very good sign that Jones had a match scheduled, and soon Ariel Helwani announced himself as one of the most reliable sources in the world of MMA. Ariel clarified that Jones was supposed to debut on December 10 (the 12th month), but the UFC decided to wait for Ngannou until the third month. Negotiations with Ngannou and his new contract did not go well, and Stipe Miočić jumped out as the next most likely option.

The UFC and Miocic also did not agree on Helwani, and that’s where Cyril Gane came in. Helwani stated in his address that it is not yet a 100% certain information, but right after the UFC Fight Night 217 event ended, we got all the confirmations.

Dream BIG 😤#UFC285 pic.twitter.com/JJE6hy04TU

— Ciryl Gane (@ciryl_gane) January 15, 2023

Dana White confirmed the fight between Cyril Gane and Jon Jones at the UFC 286 event scheduled for March 4. Gane and Jones will fight for the heavyweight championship. Yes, you read that right, it won’t be a match for the interim champion, but for the vacant heavyweight title. So what about Francis Ngannou then? That may be even bigger news than Jones’ debut.

“We will fire Francis Ngannou. We give up our rights to him and he can go wherever he wants,” said Dana White at a press conference.

This is truly incredible news and a huge blow to the UFC. Ever since the beginning of 2022, Francis Ngannou has emphasized that he will not sign a new contract with the UFC, until they allow him a trip to the boxing waters. The UFC was not ready to allow him boxing appearances, and perhaps they did not even agree on financial terms. Thus, the UFC was left without a “royal” heavyweight champion.

It will now be very interesting to see how the UFC recovers from such a blow to its reputation, and it will also be interesting to see where Francis Ngannou ends up. A boxing match against Tyson Fury is a much more realistic option now that Ngannou is not under contract with the UFC, but the “Predator” will certainly sign a contract with one of the big MMA organizations.

A truly incredible night in the UFC, but the conclusion is that Jon Jones is finally returning to the cage and on March 4 (the third month) he will headline the UFC 285 event. Cyril Gane will be his opponent, and the winner will become the new UFC heavyweight champion.

Francis Ngannou is no longer the UFC Heavyweight Champion, nor is he a UFC fighter at all.