Meregali Confirms No MMA Future: Jiu-Jitsu Stays His Focus

Multiple-time world champion Nicholas Meregali has shut down every rumor of an MMA transition with a single, direct answer: “No, not really.” In an August 24, 2026 interview, Meregali confirmed he has zero interest in competing in mixed martial arts, putting to rest persistent speculation that one of grappling’s biggest stars might one day step into a cage. For fans who have followed his career across gi and no-gi competition, Meregali confirms no MMA future: focus remains on jiu-jitsu, and the reasons behind that decision reveal a lot about where professional grappling is headed in 2026. [4]

Key Takeaways

🥋 Meregali stated “No, not really” when asked directly about competing in MMA, calling himself “fine on grappling.” [4]
🏆 He is signed exclusively with UFC BJJ and is chasing titles at both 205 lb and above-205 lb in 2026. [15]

📅 He is booked to face Felipe Pena (“Preguiça”) in a jiu-jitsu match at Spaten Fight Night 3 on August 29, 2026. [5]
🌍 Meregali has no desire to compete at ADCC 2026, citing the Poland venue and focusing instead on UFC BJJ and opening a gym in Austin, Texas.
🎯 His 10-year plan keeps jiu-jitsu front and center before any other ambitions, including a future acting career. [6]

Why Meregali Confirms No MMA Future: Focus Remains on Jiu-Jitsu

When a grappler of Meregali’s caliber speaks, the combat sports world listens. His August 2026 statement was not vague or diplomatic, it was definitive. Asked whether he would ever compete in MMA, he answered plainly and followed up by saying he is “fine on grappling.” [4]

The reasoning goes deeper than personal preference. Meregali drew a clear line between the legacies built in MMA versus those built in jiu-jitsu, stating that MMA champions carry a different kind of legacy. His own legacy, he made clear, belongs entirely to the grappling world. [4]

This is not a new theme for him. In March 2026, he publicly criticized the idea of applying UFC-style MMA grappling rules directly to jiu-jitsu, arguing that jiu-jitsu is “a totally different sport from MMA” with fundamentally different grappling principles. He suggested that UFC BJJ’s ruleset was built to maximize financial appeal rather than to develop technical jiu-jitsu. [8] That critique shows a competitor who thinks deeply about the identity and future of his sport, not someone looking for an exit ramp into a different one.

“Jiu-jitsu is a totally different sport from MMA.”, Nicholas Meregali, March 2026 [8]

The Contractual Commitment That Backs Up the Words

Words are one thing. Contracts are another. Meregali is signed exclusively with UFC BJJ, a professional jiu-jitsu organization, and his public statements about competition plans are entirely within that circuit. [15] His competitive goals for the remainder of 2026 are specific:

Goal	Details
Number of UFC BJJ appearances	4 events targeted
Weight class targets	205 lb (93 kg) AND above-205 lb (93+ kg) titles
Walk-around weight	Approximately 220 lb (100 kg)
Next confirmed match	vs. Felipe Pena, Spaten Fight Night 3, August 29, 2026 [5]

His bout against Felipe Pena, also known as “Preguiça”, at Spaten Fight Night 3 in São Paulo is promoted specifically as a jiu-jitsu match, on a card that also features boxing and judo. [5][9] The event itself underscores how jiu-jitsu is finding its place alongside other combat sports without needing to become MMA.

Meregali’s Jiu-Jitsu Legacy and What Comes Next

Understanding why Meregali confirms no MMA future: focus remains on jiu-jitsu also means understanding what he has already built, and what he still wants to accomplish.

After “winning it all” in the gi, Meregali made a deliberate shift toward no-gi competition, joining John Danaher and Gordon Ryan’s New Wave team in Austin, Texas. That move paid off: he earned a bronze medal at 99 kg and a silver in the absolute division at ADCC 2022, cementing his status as an elite specialist in both formats. [12][13]

Despite that no-gi focus, he has never abandoned his love for the kimono. He has described the gi as his “passion” and no-gi as a “momentary professional choice,” and has spoken about returning to gi competition, including IBJJF events, once fully recovered from shoulder surgery. [1][3] That dual identity makes him one of the most complete grapplers alive, and it is a career arc that simply does not need MMA to validate it.

ADCC 2026 Is Out, Austin Is In

One of the more surprising 2026 developments is Meregali’s stance on ADCC. He has stated he has “no desire” to compete at ADCC 2026, describing the Poland venue as “the end of the world” and calling participation a hassle. Instead, his energy is going toward:

🏋️ Opening his own gym in Austin, Texas
🏅 Fulfilling his UFC BJJ commitments
🎯 Chasing dual UFC BJJ titles

This is not the behavior of an athlete coasting. It is the behavior of someone building a long-term institution in jiu-jitsu rather than chasing a one-time MMA payday.

His scheduled UFC BJJ 7 appearance against Declan Moody was canceled due to injury, but even that announcement was framed entirely within the UFC BJJ jiu-jitsu framework, no mention of MMA, no pivot, no crossover talk. [8]

A 10-Year Plan Rooted in Grappling

In a separate interview, Meregali laid out a 10-year personal plan that keeps jiu-jitsu as the current priority. He wants to stack more accomplishments onto an already remarkable career before eventually pursuing other ambitions, including, notably, a desire to become an actor. [6] That long-view thinking explains a lot. For Meregali, jiu-jitsu is not a stepping stone to MMA. It is the destination.

Key milestones already on his résumé include:

Multiple IBJJF World Championship titles in the gi [10]
ADCC 2022 bronze (99 kg) and silver (absolute) [12][13]
Competitive appearances at Tezos WNO [10]
Exclusive UFC BJJ contract in 2026 [15]

Conclusion

Nicholas Meregali’s August 2026 statement is more than a headline, it is a career philosophy made public. By confirming that Meregali confirms no MMA future: focus remains on jiu-jitsu, he has drawn a clear boundary around his identity as a competitor and signaled that professional jiu-jitsu, on its own terms, is worth dedicating a career to.

Actionable takeaways for fans and followers:

Watch Spaten Fight Night 3 on August 29, 2026, Meregali vs. Felipe Pena promises to be one of the most compelling jiu-jitsu matchups of the year. [5]
Follow UFC BJJ for his upcoming title runs at 205 lb and above-205 lb, both weight classes are in play. [15]

Track his gym opening in Austin, Texas, this could become a major training hub for elite no-gi grapplers.
Revisit his gi competition plans, a healthy Meregali returning to IBJJF events would be a major story in 2026 and beyond. [1][3]

The grappling world does not need Meregali in an MMA cage to appreciate what he is. His legacy is being written on the mat, and by every indication, that is exactly where he wants it.