Mason Fowler Keeps UFC BJJ Title After Split Draw With Nick Rodriguez

Mason Fowler is still the UFC BJJ light heavyweight champion, but not everyone agrees he should be. Fowler retained his belt via split draw against CJI champion Nick Rodriguez in the co-main event of UFC BJJ 11 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

The champion came out aggressive. Fowler pulled guard in the first round, then exploded from underneath, took Rodriguez's back, and forced the challenger to defend as they rolled across the mat. It was a clear opening frame for the titleholder, per MiddleEasy.

Rodriguez answered in the second round with sustained top control and a late choke attempt that kept Fowler on defense. The momentum continued into the third, where Rodriguez shot in quickly, pushed the pace, and worked into mount position with about a minute left. He attacked a choke, but Fowler survived.

The split draw surprised both fighters. Rodriguez appeared to close the match with the strongest finishing sequence, building clear momentum across rounds two and three. But the judges saw it differently, and the draw meant the belt stayed with Fowler.

The result leaves the division in a strange spot. Rodriguez showed he can compete with Fowler and arguably won the match, but the champion retains without a loss on his record. A rematch seems inevitable.