Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) star Nick Rodriguez has back-to-back matches booked.
The CJI open weight champion was just revealed to have an incredible match up with ADCC open champ Kaynan Duarte on April 18, but apparently “Nicky Rod” will also have another big match before that WNO 27 headliner.
A day after his WNO 27 announcement, it was also revealed on the UFC 312 broadcast that Rodriguez has been booked as the co-headliner for UFC Fight Pass Invitational 10 (UFC FPI 10). On March 6, 2025, Nicky Rod will rematch Victor Hugo, who is the last man who beat him.
Both men joined the inaugural CJI event, as the two favorites on opposite sides of the bracket. Most expected them to meet in the open-weight final, but Hugo was upset by Lucas Kanard in the opening round, and Rodriguez went on to win the tournament. That rematch finally goes down on UFC FPI 10.
Nick Rodriguez is currently on an incredible streak, which includes that dominant CJI performance that won him a million dollars, and a UFC FPI 8 main event win over Michael Pixley. He has just one loss in his last 15 matches, and that lone defeat came against his longterm rival in Victor Hugo.
Hugo, a five time IBJJF world champion across gi and no gi, has three wins over Nicky Rod through the years. The first two were in smaller shows in 2020 and 2021, and most recent one was in WNO 22 in 2024.
All of those losses came via close and competitive referee decisions, with Hugo’s guard causing Rodriguez’s a lot of problems in the past. Will Nicky Rod’s recent improvements be enough to finally get a win, or will UFC FPI 10 show that Hugo really has his number?
It’ll certainly be interesting to see that clash of styles play out again, but Rodriguez will now have not just one but two elite opponents in back to back months.
UFC FPI 10 will be headlined by one of the best matches possible in BJJ today. The current fight card is below.
UFC Fight Pass Invitational 10: Davies vs. Fornarino fight card
Ffion Davies vs. Adele Fornarino
Nick Rodriguez vs. Victor Hugo
Renato Canuto vs. Oliver Taza
Elisabeth Clay vs. Brianna Ste-Marie
Helena Crevar vs. Maggie Grindatti-Lira
Cassia Moura vs. Talita Alencar
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