Keith Krikorian joins UFC BJJ's new project

Decorated Armenian jiu-jitsu fighter Keith Krikorian has become part of UFC’s new Brazilian jiu-jitsu project — UFC BJJ: Road to the Title. This is a reality show set to debut during the inaugural UFC BJJ event on June 25, during UFC International Fight Week in Las Vegas. While the finals are scheduled for June 25, the preliminary matches have already taken place.

The format of this new UFC program resembles the legendary show The Ultimate Fighter, featuring two divisions — lightweight (155 lbs) and welterweight (170 lbs). The teams are coached by bantamweight (135 lbs) stars Mikey Musumeci and Rerisson Gabriel. The main event of UFC BJJ's debut tournament will be a title match between the coaches to crown the first-ever UFC BJJ flyweight champion.

Krikorian joined Team Gabriel and was seeded #1 in the lightweight division. In the quarterfinals, he faced the 8th seed — seasoned jiu-jitsu specialist Isaac Doederlein from Team Musumeci. After a close battle, the judges awarded a unanimous decision to Doederlein. Nevertheless, Krikorian — already a standout in various professional leagues — remains a key figure in the future of UFC BJJ.

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The 27-year-old Krikorian is a black belt under Richie “Boogeyman” Martinez of the renowned 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu school. He has achieved major success on the pro scene, including winning the ADCC Trials in 2022, claiming victory at High Rollerz 10K, and excelling at other prestigious events. He also reached the finals of the ADCC North American Trials in 2018 and 2019 while still a colored belt, marking a turning point in his career.

A native of San Diego, California, Krikorian started with boxing in his childhood, then moved on to kickboxing and Muay Thai. In high school, he began training in MMA and wrestling, where he was first introduced to jiu-jitsu. He quickly rose to prominence as one of the most recognizable submission grapplers in the U.S.