Two UFC BJJ Titles Up for Grabs as Moura Chases History vs Fornarino

UFC BJJ 12 lands at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas on October 8 with two championships at stake, and the headliner is a genuine chance at history. Cassia Moura, the 20-year-old Brazilian who already holds the bantamweight strap, faces Australia's Adele Fornarino for the inaugural women's flyweight title — a belt she could hold alongside her first.

Moura's path here has been relentless. She took bantamweight gold with a split decision over Fflion Davies at UFC BJJ 6, defended it with a second-round rear-naked choke of Sabrina Gondim at BJJ 8, then armbarred Bre Stikk in the first round of the flyweight grand prix semifinal at BJJ 10 to reach this final.

Fornarino is no soft touch, though. The Australian arrived in 2026 with serious pedigree — double gold at the 2024 ADCC World Championships — and she's backed it up fast, opening with a first-round kneebar on Alexandria Enriquez at BJJ 7 before a first-round straight ankle lock stopped Carol Brunacio in the semis. Two finals appearances, two different leg attacks. That's the puzzle in front of Moura.

The Vacant Lightweight Belt

The co-main hands Renato Canuto his second title shot. "The Hybrid" came up short against Andrew Tackett for the welterweight crown, but rebounded with decision wins over Alan Sanchez and Yonathan Cardenas. Now he drops to 155 to meet Canada's Ethan Crelinsten for the vacant lightweight title. Crelinsten made his statement early, submitting Danilo Moreira by first-round rear-naked choke on his debut at BJJ 8.

Elsewhere on the card, Gilbert Burns continues his pivot to pure grappling. The former UFC welterweight title challenger — 22-10 across his MMA run with nine submission wins — went out on a loss to Mike Malott but has already banked one BJJ victory, beating Horlando Monteiro at BJJ 9 in June. Next up is fellow Brazilian and jiu-jitsu world champ Gabriel Almeida, who last competed at the APEX back in 2024 under the Fight Pass Invitational banner.

Danielle Kelly also returns looking for a second straight win. The New Jersey native and former ONE Championship titleholder beat Ana Lima on her August debut and now faces Thaynara Victoria, a Moura teammate with IBJJF world titles at blue, purple and brown belt plus 2015 Pan Ams gold. Rounding things out, Landon Elmore makes his fourth UFC BJJ appearance against the returning Max Livingston at 155 pounds.

Moura going for a second belt at 20 is the draw, and rightly so. But a card stacked with world champions and leglock specialists means the undercard carries real weight too.