William Tackett needed only 86 seconds to turn his second UFC BJJ title opportunity into a championship and a family first.
Tackett submitted Jay Rodriguez with a rear-naked choke in the opening round of the UFC BJJ 13 main event on October 29 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The win made him the promotion's middleweight champion and placed him alongside his brother, welterweight champion Andrew Tackett, as the first siblings to hold UFC BJJ titles at the same time.
The main event supplied the sharpest moment of the night, but it was one part of a nine-match card that produced two new champions, six submissions and several immediate title implications.
Tackett Closes the Main Event in 86 Seconds
Rodriguez opened aggressively, driving through a takedown attempt and forcing Tackett toward the edge of the Bowl. Tackett recovered his base, worked behind Rodriguez and secured the back before locking the rear-naked choke at 1:26 of Round 1.
The result gave Tackett a third victory over Rodriguez. Their first two meetings came at ADCC Trials in 2023 and 2024, but UFC BJJ 13 carried a different prize. Tackett had lost his first UFC BJJ title opportunity to Ronaldo Junior by decision at UFC BJJ 4. This time he removed the judges and the doubt from the equation.
Andrew Tackett already holds the welterweight championship. William's victory gives UFC BJJ champion brothers in adjacent divisions and creates a natural storyline around how long the family can hold both belts.
Watch William Tackett's official UFC BJJ 13 post-match interview.
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Fonacier Claims the Bantamweight Championship
Jalen Fonacier won the second vacant title on the card, defeating Kleber Barboza by unanimous decision after three rounds of persistent submission hunting.
Fonacier attacked the legs, took the back and repeatedly forced Barboza into defensive decisions. Barboza escaped the most dangerous positions and answered with attacks of his own, but Fonacier created the clearer finishing threats over the full 15 minutes. The victory made Fonacier the new bantamweight champion after Mikey Musumeci vacated the belt.
The two title matches followed opposite paths. Tackett needed one clean sequence. Fonacier had to keep building pressure through every round. Both divisions left Las Vegas with a clear champion again.
Nick Rodriguez Returns to the Win Column
Nick Rodriguez controlled Natã Tenca from the top before securing an arm-triangle choke at 3:07 of Round 3. Rodriguez drove the match to the mat, advanced through dominant positions and kept Tenca carrying his pressure. A stalling penalty against Tenca in the final round preceded the finishing sequence.
The submission put Rodriguez back in the win column after his light heavyweight title loss to Mason Fowler. Rodriguez used his post-match interview to signal that he wants another chance at Fowler, giving UFC BJJ an obvious championship direction when the titleholder is ready to return.
Davies and Rocha Deliver Fast Finishes
Ffion Davies needed just 2:07 to submit Jaine Fragoso with an arm-triangle choke. Davies moved quickly from control to the finish, adding another decisive performance to a résumé already filled with major titles across elite jiu-jitsu.
Jasmine Rocha produced the fastest finish of the card. She caught Karen Antunes with an armbar only 38 seconds into the opening round, ending the women's flyweight matchup before Antunes could establish a sustained exchange.
The two performances gave the women's divisions a pair of strong reference points. Davies reinforced her position among the sport's most accomplished competitors, while Rocha used one explosive sequence to make a case for a larger opportunity.
Crelinsten and Sainz Add Two More Submissions
Liam Crelinsten submitted Seilkhan Bolatbek with a heel hook at 1:26 of Round 2. Bolatbek survived the opening round, but Crelinsten found the leg entanglement he needed in the second and finished the welterweight contest.
Tristan Sainz opened the event with a successful UFC BJJ debut. The 19-year-old lightweight submitted David Weintraub by rear-naked choke at 4:53 of Round 1, setting the finish-heavy tone before the championship matches arrived.
Downey and Nicolite Win on the Scorecards
Pat Downey defeated Ian Daube by unanimous decision in the heavyweight matchup. Downey's wrestling base shaped the positions and kept him in control through the match, even without a submission.
João Nicolite also earned a unanimous decision, defeating Martin Gonzalez at middleweight. Nicolite and Downey accounted for two of the card's three decision victories, with Fonacier's championship win completing the group.
Full UFC BJJ 13 Results
- William Tackett defeated Jay Rodriguez by rear-naked choke, Round 1, 1:26, to win the vacant middleweight title.
- Jalen Fonacier defeated Kleber Barboza by unanimous decision to win the vacant bantamweight title.
- Nick Rodriguez defeated Natã Tenca by arm-triangle choke, Round 3, 3:07.
- Ffion Davies defeated Jaine Fragoso by arm-triangle choke, Round 1, 2:07.
- Jasmine Rocha defeated Karen Antunes by armbar, Round 1, 0:38.
- Pat Downey defeated Ian Daube by unanimous decision.
- Liam Crelinsten defeated Seilkhan Bolatbek by heel hook, Round 2, 1:26.
- João Nicolite defeated Martin Gonzalez by unanimous decision.
- Tristan Sainz defeated David Weintraub by rear-naked choke, Round 1, 4:53.
UFC BJJ 13 resolved two vacancies and gave the promotion several clear next steps. William Tackett has a first title defense to prepare for. Fonacier now carries a bantamweight division moving beyond its first champion. Nick Rodriguez has asked to re-enter the light heavyweight title picture, while Rocha and Sainz gave the matchmakers new finishing performances to build around.
Most importantly, the complete card supported the promise of the headline. Six of nine matches ended by submission, with rear-naked chokes, arm-triangles, an armbar and a heel hook all represented. Tackett supplied the family history, but the rest of the evening made UFC BJJ 13 more than a one-finish show.