UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7 is scheduled to take place on May 15th, 2024 and we’ve put together a full preview of every match taking place at the event. The lineup is stacked with 14 elite competitors who will be battling it out in a series of matches, all leading up to the main event of the evening. The main event is the biggest match that the promotion could book, as it features the only two absolute grand prix champions that they have ever crowned. Nicky Rodriguez and Mason Fowler will be facing off with one another to determine who is the ultimate UFC Fight Pass Invitational absolute champion, and the other 7 matches before that will be equally entertaining.
UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7 Full Preview
Nicky Rodriguez vs Mason Fowler
Nicky Rodriguez and Mason Fowler are the only two absolute champions that the promotion has ever crowned and there is quite a lot on the line for both men, as they’ll also be both competing in the under 99kg division at ADCC 2024. Rodriguez will definitely be the favorite because he’s managed to reach a higher level of success in the past, with two ADCC silver medals to his name already. Fowler is no slouch though and he’s beaten some truly elite competitors in the past, so he has the ability to pull out a win regardless.
Kaynan Duarte vs Luke Griffith
Kaynan Duarte is a two-time ADCC world champion and when looking at his extensive career, it’s easy to forget that he’s still just 26 years old. Luke Griffith has been an up-and-coming competitor for a little while now, but he’s actually only 2 years younger than Duarte. With a huge advantage in experience and a higher level of performance in the past, Duarte should be a heavy favorite. There is the small matter of his recent shocking upset loss at Pit Submission Series 4 and although that could be the start of a rough patch for Duarte, he will likely come into this fired up to get back in the win column.
Giancarlo Bodoni vs Gabriel Arges
Giancarlo Bodoni is an elite grappler and as the reigning ADCC world champion at under 88kg, he would be the favorite in pretty much any matchup he’s booked in. This still won’t be an easy match for Bodoni though, as Gabriel Arges is a multiple-time IBJJF world championship winner and he’s beaten some of the best grapplers on the planet over the course of his career. Arges is also an ADCC veteran so Bodoni will probably be using this as preparation defending his title at ADCC 2024, and if he comes in on good form then he should get the win.
Renato Canuto vs Aaron Wilson
Renato Canuto is known for having some of the best flying submissions in the entire sport and he’s caught a number of fantastic grapplers off-guard with them. This gives him a great chance of finishing anyone in the opening seconds of a match and Aaron Wilson will have to be on high-alert right from the start. Wilson is a great grappler though and if he can avoid that threat then the match will probably be pretty close, but Canuto should still be able to win regardless.
Jacob Rodriguez vs Jonnatas Gracie
This is probably going to be the most exciting match in this entire preview of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7, although that is usually the case for any match with Jacob Rodriguez involved. He’s known for his fast-paced and wild style of grappling that produces tons of highlight-reel moments, but that also ends up with him not being a particularly consistent winner at the highest level of the sport. Jonnatas Gracie on the other hand is coming off a silver medal in the second ADCC South American Trials this year and even though Rodriguez will push him to his absolute limit, Gracie is still the favorite to win..
Raquel Canuto vs Aislinn O’Connell
Aislinn O’Connell is a solid competitor and she even won a Medusa Combat Jiu-Jitsu title early in her career, but this is some great matchmaking by the minds behind UFC Fight Pass Invitational. She will have a difficult time beating a veteran black belt like Raquel Canuto, but she definitely has the skills necessary to do so. It’s unlikely that the match ends in submission given that both women are very tough competitors, but O’Connell should be able to find a way to win regardless.
Piter Frank vs Rafael Domingos
Piter Frank has had some huge wins at BJJ Stars events lately and he’s known for putting on a show at the same time, so this match will definitely be worth watching. Just last year he landed a slick flying armbar against Caio Almeida and although Rafael Domingos will be a challenging opponent, he’ll like approach this match with a similar risk-taking attitude. Frank should be considered the favorite in this match although anything can happen with his style and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Domingos pull off the win.
Helena Crevar vs Aurelie Le Vern
Helena Crevar has been one of the top prospects in the sport for quite some time now but she’s breaking through to the top level of the sport, particularly after her huge win at ADCC North American Trials earlier this year. She isn’t alone though, as Aurelie Le Vern actually managed to win the exact same division at the ADCC European Trials this year as well. It’ll be an interesting match and it’ll be a great test for both women, as it gives fans the ability to see how well they might do at ADCC 2024. We’re giving Crevar the slight edge but in reality, it isn’t going to be an easy match at all and Le Vern can come away with the win if she comes out strong.
The full UFC Fight Pass Invitational 7 event is available to watch live on May 15th, 2024, on UFC Fight Pass.
