Two high-profile bouts at the Hype FC tournament in Brazil ended in draws under the event's submission-only format. The first draw occurred between Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera, while the second featured Deiveson Figueiredo and Raul Rosas Jr. In submission-only grappling competitions, no winner is declared unless one competitor successfully submits their opponent, meaning both matches concluded without a finish. The participation of these notable UFC fighters in a grappling-specific event demonstrates the growing crossover appeal between MMA and pure grappling competitions. These exhibition matches allow fighters to compete without the risk of strikes while showcasing their ground skills.
Four of the UFC's most recognizable bantamweights took to the grappling mat in Brazil on April 9 when Hype FC hosted a submission-only tournament that produced draws in both featured matchups. Sean O'Malley and Marlon Vera were unable to finish each other, and the same outcome followed when Deiveson Figueiredo met Raul Rosas Jr., with neither bout producing a submission.
O'Malley, ranked fourth in the UFC bantamweight division, carries a 20-3 record and is perhaps best known as a striker. The 31-year-old American out of MMA Lab lands 6.05 significant strikes per minute at 60 percent accuracy, and his submission attempt rate of just 0.2 per 15 minutes underscores how rarely he ventures into pure grappling territory. At six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, he held a physical edge over his opponent.
Vera, ranked seventh at 135 pounds, brought a 23-12-1 record and considerably more submission experience into the match. The 33-year-old Ecuadorian averages 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes in MMA competition and fights out of a switch stance, though he too was unable to secure a finish.
Figueiredo and Rosas Jr. also went the distance without a tap. The Brazilian veteran, nicknamed Deus da Guerra, is ranked fifth in the division at 38 years old with a 25-6-1 record. He is the more active submission hunter of the known competitors, averaging 1.2 attempts and 1.61 takedowns per 15 minutes in MMA.
Why it matters
- All four fighters compete in the UFC's bantamweight division, making the crossover event a rare chance to see divisional rivals compete outside the Octagon
- Submission-only rules shift the competitive dynamic entirely away from O'Malley's elite striking and toward ground-based finishing skills
- Neither draw alters official UFC rankings, but the matches offer grappling-specific data points on fighters whose MMA games are built primarily around striking
