Former UFC title challenger Claudia Gadelha, who now serves as an executive within the promotion’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu division, recently appeared on the TruePerforma Podcast to discuss what it takes to compete in UFC BJJ and revealed how much some of the organization’s top athletes are earning.
According to Gadelha, the division—still less than two years old—underwent an early learning curve. She explained that her initial approach was simply to recruit the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors from around the world.
As the conversation continued, Gadelha went as far as to say: “We pay the athlete as if they were an actor, a singer, an actress, or an artist, because it’s a spectacle,”. She then disclosed that some athletes in the division are “earning almost R$1 million per match,” a figure that converts to approximately $200,000 USD.
Launched in 2025 as a separate grappling brand under the UFC umbrella, UFC BJJ builds on the UFC Fight Pass Invitational events but has expanded into a full-fledged organization with its own championships, athlete roster, ruleset, and talent development system. The promotion is designed to present no-gi jiu-jitsu in a more spectator-friendly format, emphasizing constant action, takedowns, guard passing, submission attempts, and fewer stalling exchanges. It has also introduced drug testing and exclusive athlete contracts for some competitors as part of its effort to professionalize the sport.
A freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on delivering accurate, engaging, and well-researched reporting. He studied at the University of Birmingham, where he developed a strong foundation in journalism and communications. Martin is a 10th Planet BJJ brown belt and has been training for approximately 10 years and a keen follower of submission grappling.
