The sixth edition of the Fight Pass Invitational, hosted by the UFC, features prominent figures from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community alongside select UFC fighters. Scheduled to take place on Sunday evening following UFC Vegas 87, the event will come at you live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nev.
Headlining the card is an intriguing match-up between Craig Jones and BJJ icon Rafael Lovato Jr., promising excitement. The co-main event features Nicky Rodriguez against Roberto Jimenez, adding further anticipation to the event.
UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 will stream live on the eponymous UFC Fight Pass beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Jones vs. Lovato
Craig Jones and Rafael Lovato Jr. are two of the most accomplished grapplers in the world, each with their own distinct style of manipulating the joints of their opponent. They are also heavily credentialed in more ways than one. Jones is a former two-time ADCC silver medalist, while Lovato is a former ADCC gold medalist of 13 years ago, in addition to the former Bellator middleweight champion in mixed martial arts.
Jones’ activity, however, may aid him in a matchup of living, breathing grappling legends. The Australian most recently grappled UFC welterweight Phil Rowe at Karate Kombat 44, and won the booking with an outstanding flying triangle finish. He should have a much harder time of submitting a seasoned, tested veteran like Lovato in such fashion, but grappling fans should be in for a main-event matchup well worth their time regardless.
Rest of the Card
In the co-main event, Nicky Rodriguez, a Danaher Death Squad teammate of Jones’ will meet Roberto Jimenez in the Absolute division. “Nicky Rod” has been the name on the tip of everyone’s tongue coming off ADCC’s in 2022, with the only blemish on his record coming at the hands of teammate Gordon Ryan. However, Rodriguez pushed Ryan to his “absolute” limit, with Ryan pulling out a victory by way of total escape time back at the third UFC Fight Pass Invitational. If Rodriguez can beat a tough customer in Jimenez, he will make it four wins in a row after he, himself, beat Jimenez by way of fastest escape time in his first match coming off the Ryan defeat.
A third Absolute division bout will precede the co-main event. Nicholas Meregali, another huge name among the Absolute ranks, will meet fellow Brazilian Matheus Diniz. Also on the card, former Submission Underground king Mason Fowler returns to action at 215 pounds to take on Pedro Marinho. Victor Hugo will also be in action in a fourth Absolute division bout, and UFC women’s flyweight Karol Rosa, months removed from her three-round war with Irene Aldana back in December, returns to competitive action to take on Raquel Canuto at 145 pounds to open the show.
For up-to-the-minute results and updates on UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6, be sure to stay locked in to MMA Sucka!
UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 Results
Craig Jones def. Rafael Lovato via Inside Heel Hook
Nicky Rodriguez def. Roberto Jimenez via Unanimous Decision
Nicholas Meregali def. Matheus Diniz via Rear Naked Choke
Mason Fowler def. Pedro Marinho via Arm Triangle in Overtime
Victor Hugo def. Roosevelt Sousa via Rear Naked Choke
Ronaldo Junior def. Kody Steele via Unanimous Decision
Jay Rodriguez def. Johnatha Alves via Rear Naked Choke in Overtime
Gigi Canuto def. Denise Gomes via Heel Hook
Shane Shapiro def. Ben Eddy via Arm Triangle Choke in Overtime
Raquel Canuto def. Karol Rosa via Rear Naked Choke
