Big Money & Boring Superfights: The Good and Not So Good of BJJ in 2025

After a short interruption to our schedule (thanks, jiu-jitsu flu) we are back and we recap the major topics and best performances from the world of jiu-jitsu in 2025.

Topics of discussion include: • Big money cash prizes from CJI and AIGA, but whether it's sustainable or not • ADCC's weird "in-between year" • The proliferation of team jiu-jitsu events (best for entertainment?) • The feeling that superfights just aren't so super any more • How UFC BJJ wasn't the big industry shake-up people we so worried about • Gi participation numbers are up, but nobody seems to care • The growth of jiu-jitsu in emerging countries and regions • The return of ACB, the Russian powerhouse BJJ event series • The competitors and athletes that impressed us most in 2025 • Which trends we're predicting in 2026

Episode 13 of Unknown Pressures is out now on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and everywhere else.

Unknown Pressures is a jiu-jitsu podcast brought to you by two long-time industry insiders: Matt Benyon, the co-founder of Scramble and Polaris, and Hywel Teague, jiu-jitsu / grappling commentator and analyst.

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