COMBAT SPORTS
_{ADCC West Coast Trials 2024 Preview
IBJJF, ADCC, CJI and WNO have all officially been outdone in matchmaking by none other than the UFC. On Thursday March 6, 2025, some of the best matches in the grappling world will be made—or in case of the main and co-main events, re-made—official.}

Who’s Fighting on UFC Fight Pass Invitational 10

On the UFC FPI 10 Main Card

• Nick Rodrguez vs Victor Huge (Absolute)

• Maggie Grindatti-Lira vs Helena Crevar (145 lbs)

• Elisabeth Clay vs Brianna Ste-Marie (145 lbs)

• Cassia Moura vs Sarah Galvao (125 lbs)

• Renato Canuto vs Oliver Taza (170 lbs)

• Felipe Costa vs Ronaldo Junior (185 lbs)

• Andy Murasaki vs Daniel Sathler (170 lbs)

The Least You Should Know About UFC FPI 10

/

Nick Rodriguez vs Victor Hugo

This is the match I think everyone expected would be the finals of last year’s CJI–until Hugo got subbed by Lucas Kanard with the inside heel hook that shocked the world.

Nicky Rod is 0-3 against Hugo in superfight contexts, but after winning a million bucks last year at CJI, maybe he’ll be feeling like a million bucks against Mr. “Big Man Flow.”

Hugo has been lying low since his loss at CJI last year. Fans should be eager to see him back in action. As for Rodriguez, he was last seen on UFC Fight Pass 8, in which he subbed Pedigo’s golden boy, Michael Pixley.

All previous matches between these two have ended in referee decisions. Cross your fingers that this match ends with something a little more substantial. 

Maggie Grindatti-Lira vs Helena Crevar 

Points to Grindatti-Lira for self-awareness re: “someone needing to put the teenagers in place,” according to the Instagram post announcing the matchup. 

Crevar has fought on the FPI twice, beating Emily Fernandez by submission in 2023 and Aurelie Le Vern by decision in 2024. Grindatti-Lira debuted on Fight Pass less than three months ago with a submission win against Giovanna Carneiro. 

This is a big weight cut for Maggie, and Helena is both young and practically made of gum. If Crevar could hold out against the stocky and strong Le Vern at FPI (and then submit her in the opening round of ADCC months later), I’m inclined to believe the teenage hotshot can handle Grindatti-Lira with flair.  

Man Alive’s Winning Pick: Helena Crevar

Elisabeth Clay vs Brianna Ste-Marie

The two athletes are 1-1. Clay beat BSM at WNO in 2023, and BSM subbed Clay in the open class quarters at No Gi Worlds in 2024. 

Both grapplers like their guard game. Clay’s good on the legs. Ste-Marie is good on the guillotine and headlock-related chokes. This is a pretty evenly-matched bout, and the real question is who can force the other to play her game. 

The last time Clay was on Fight Pass Invitational was in December 2023, when she was barely one month pregnant at the time, and she went on to sub Luiza Monteiro in that performance. Clay’s postpartum return has already been strong: she won No Gi Pans and No Gi worlds within five months of giving birth. The more “back to normal” she gets, the more dangerous she’ll continue to be. 

So long as Clay, in trying to finish a leglock, doesn’t expose her back to BSM, my money’s on Clay. 

Man Alive’s Winning Pick: Elisabeth Clay

Cassia Moura vs Sarah Galvão

If I can’t have Crevar vs Galvão, I’ll take this in the meantime. 

Moura is the blue-to-black-in-a-year hotshot under Bruno Bastos. Galvão is literally born to greatness, but is proving that she’s a legend in her own right: at eighteen years old and with an inevitable black belt promotion in the wings for sometime in 2025, she’s a case in point of Atos Headquarters’ continued technical excellence. 

Moura has had more direct experience at Black Belt in her rookie year at that rank. Moura did well in IBJJF’s The Crown last year, until she got stopped by Janaina Lebre.

Galvão has a size advantage on Moura and despite not being a Black Belt yet, has had exposure to competition at the Black Belt level. Galvão has won the Brown/Black division more than once in AJP rule sets, most recently at the Abu Dhabi World Pro back in November. The only athlete who has really given her trouble is Julia Alves. 

Galvão is a good sub in with Talita Alencar’s withdrawal. Both young athletes have something to prove here. This should be a scrap. 

Man Alive’s Winning Pick: Sarah Galvão

Renato Canuto vs Oliver Taza

Not much to say here except that things should be entertaining on one side of the ring: Canuto loves to jump around–sometimes with a purpose, sometimes because he can. Taza isn’t the most interesting fighter, but he is certainly more…let’s say methodical.

Taza rides this to a decision unless Renato hits a flying sub. 

Man Alive’s Winning Pick: Oliver Taza

Felipe Costa vs Ronaldo Junior

Costa is underrated. He’s a training partner of Victor Hugo whose bronze-medal performance at -88kg at ADCC 2024 deserves way more praise. 

In my opinion, “The Human Highlight Reel” isn’t able to highlight reel anyone who’s actually good. My hottest take is that Ronaldo Junior is more cardio than substance: see his most recent matchup against Jay Rod at WNO.

Costa will have to play this carefully from a gas tank perspective if he wants to win. Much as I’m a fan of “Laranjinha”, I’m skeptical of the bigger boys indexing on their cardio ahead of a superfight. 

Man Alive’s Winning Pick: Ronaldo Junior

Andy Murasaki vs Daniel Sathler

This is a great matchup. Murasaki and Sathler used to be training partners at Atos until Sathler switched over to Alliance in 2024. Murasaki has looked great in the gi and hasn’t been as active in No Gi since winning his division at IBJJF No Gi Worlds in 2022. 

Sathler is an entertaining fighter with some dangerous flying triangles and a deadly ankle lock, the former of which he demonstrated in his WNO debut in 2024. 

I think Andy’s got more technique and nicious pressure in his arsenal–see how much he’s improved, matchup over matchup, against Tainan Dalpra, down to their latest match in the 2025 Euros finals. So long as he’s brushed off the no gi “ring rust” ahead of time, Murasaki should stick it to Sathler.  

Man Alive’s Winning Pick: Andy Murasaki

When and Where to Watch UFC FPI 10

UFC FPI 10 goes down on Thursday March 6, 2025 with a UFC Fight Pass subscription.