The buzz around town is that Rodolfo Vieira has signed a deal with the UFC and will compete in the Octagon in coming weeks.

Vieira semi-retired from grappling following his big ADCC win back in 2015 and switched his focus to MMA. 

Now an undefeated 5-0– including a quick submission win last weekend in Poland– Vieira is poised to make his debut on the biggest MMA promotion in the world. 

As reported first by veteran MMA journalist Josh Gross, Vieira will likely fight in August. 

News here: ADCC and BJJ world champion Rodolfo Vieira signed with UFC, I'm told. The 29-year-old Brazilian is likely to make his Octagon debut against Oskar Piechota in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Aug. 10. Vieira, a powerful grappler, is 5-0 in MMA after a win last weekend in Poland.

— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) June 13, 2019

We reached out to sources close to Vieira who confirmed to us that the Brazilian has signed with the UFC. 

Vieira takes down Felipe Pena at the 2015 ADCC World Championships 

Vieira's move to the UFC will make him the highest profile (and most credentialed) grappling star to enter the Octagon since Roger Gracie fought in 2013. 

-99kg ADCC champion in 2015 and bronze medalist in the absolute division, Vieira defeated Xande Ribeiro and Felipe Pena for gold. He returned to compete in grappling only once since then, a gi tournament in 2018 that saw him beat Kit Dale and Mahamed Aly.

Rodolfo Vieira Back In The Gi, Rolls with Gutemberg Pereira

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Cyborg & Rodolfo Vieira Train Wrestling

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