UFC BJJ 7 is set to deliver an action-packed event featuring three championship contests. Scheduled for Thursday, April 12th, the event will be broadcast on the UFC BJJ YouTube channel, starting at 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT. The headliner sees reigning UFC BJJ Welterweight Champion Andrew Tackett defending his title against the formidable Vagner Rocha. In the co-main event, Lightweight Champion Carlos Henrique will face submission specialist Lucas Valente. Additionally, Women’s Featherweight Champion Aurelie Le Vern puts her newly claimed belt on the line against Brazilian black belt Rebeca Lima.
Welterweight Championship: (C) Andrew Tackett vs Vagner Rocha
Undefeated with a 3-0 record and three submissions, Andrew Tackett (Las Vegas, Nev.) aims to defend his UFC BJJ welterweight title with another spectacular performance. Recognized as one of today’s most electrifying grapplers, Tackett has showcased his dynamic submission prowess in wins against Elijah Dorsey, Renato Canuto, and Andy Varela. He now seeks to solidify his status as the face of UFC BJJ by overcoming Rocha. Making his UFC BJJ debut, UFC veteran Vagner Rocha (Hollywood, Fla.) brings an aggressive style and a reputation for success across major promotions, with notable victories over Victor Silverio and Fellipe Andrew. Rocha, despite his 0-0 record in UFC BJJ, is determined to be the first to defeat Tackett and commence his own championship reign.
Lightweight Championship: (C) Carlos Henrique vs Lucas Valente
Carlos Henrique (Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil), holding a 2-0 record with one submission, returns to the arena hoping to secure another memorable submission. Since earning his black belt in late 2022, Henrique has established himself among the world’s elite grapplers with wins over Matheus Gabriel and Danilo Moreira. He plans to add Valente to his impressive record and extend his reign as the undisputed lightweight champion. Lucas Valente (Houston, Texas) enters his UFC BJJ debut with the goal of capturing the lightweight title. Known as one of the sport’s most entertaining grapplers, Valente notably won consecutive IBJJF World No-Gi Championships in 2023 and 2024. He now aims to upset Henrique and claim UFC BJJ gold.
Women’s Featherweight Championship: (C) Aurelie Le Vern vs Rebeca Lima
Aurelie Le Vern (French Guiana), boasting a 2-0 record with two first-round submissions, returns to the mats to solidify her position as the premier featherweight globally. A consistent top contender, she has submitted all her UFC BJJ adversaries, including Raquel Canuto and Maggie Grindatti. Le Vern intends to defend her title definitively. Rebeca Lima (Midland, Texas), with a 1-0 record and one submission, steps into the title contention as a formidable challenger for UFC BJJ gold. A six-time IBJJF world champion, Lima made an impactful debut with a second-round submission victory over Taylor Hishaw. She now targets Le Vern, aiming to seize the featherweight championship.
Additional Matches on the Card:
- Undefeated sensation Nicholas Meregali (1-0, Porto Alegre, Brazil) meets rising Australian Declan Moody (0-0, Adelaide, Australia) in a significant heavyweight clash.
- Renato Canuto (1-1, Las Vegas, Nev.) returns to face Yonathan Cardenas (0-0, Puerto Varas, Chile) in a fast-paced welterweight encounter.
- Adele Fornarino (0-0, Melbourne, Australia) goes against Alex Enriquez (0-1, Atlanta, Ga.) in a bout between world champion women’s flyweights.
- Raphael Ferreira (0-0, South Jordan, Utah) makes his anticipated UFC BJJ debut against Kenzo Biyong (0-0, The Netherlands) in a featherweight contest.
- Rana Willink (0-1, San Diego, Calif.) makes her comeback against Maria Carolina Joia (0-0, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a women’s featherweight bout.