In the main event of UFC Fight Pass Invitational 5, Nicholas Meregali defeated Felipe Pena by submission to cap a night of action from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV. The ADCC medalist was able to take the back and choke Pena with just a few minutes left in OT, while leading 3 to -7 on the scoreboard. All matches were contested under modified ADCC rules.

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Nicholas scored first with a takedown but Felipe used the ensuing scramble to move to 50/50 where he swept to top position in the no-points period. Eventually things worked back to the feet in the points period where the hand fighting exchanges got more and more physical and intense. Pena eventually racked up several penalties for passivity and a guard pull, and as the fight wore on Meregali was able to impose himself more with passing attempts as regulation ended.

In overtime Meregali was continue moving forward with his hand fighting, looking for high single legs and collar ties. Pena continued to wrack up penalties for passivity before Meregali was able to secure top position and then the back with a body triangle. From there he trapped an arm and sunk the choke for the submission win.

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Yuri Simoes and Nick Rodriguez faced off in the co-main event, a battle of top heavyweights and familiar foes. Nicky Rod was largely dominant in the action of the bout, getting an ankle pick, working from his body lock, mounting multiple times, nearly taking the back, and controlling with an arm triangle attempt. After the match, Rodriguez called out pound for pound #1 Gordon Ryan for a $50k challenge bout.

After initially being scheduled in the main event of the card, Mason Fowler still shined in his late-replacement bout against Haisam Rida. He was able to take down Haisam, pass to side control, and finish with a kimura soon into points.

In a rematch of their ADCC match at the 2022 World Championships, it was Victor Hugo again winning but this time by submission. In a slow-paced match that saw the big men go off the mat a few times, Victor turned it up to another gear late in OT. He wrestled up, mounted, and got the arm lock from there to make Big Dan submit.

Jonnatas Gracie took on Nicky Ryan at 170lbs, where Gracie scored an upset over the young B-Team star. Both men chose to keep things standing and it was Gracie who was able to impose himself in overtime with a takedown. After several negatives for both men, Gracie won by an official score of -1 to -2.

Elisabeth Clay continued her hot streak as she took out IBJJF Crown winner Luiza Monteiro by inside heel hook about halfway through regulation. Clay is currently the #1 female pound for pound grappler in the FloGrappling rankings.

ADCC & IBJJF World No-Gi medalist Vagner Rocha took on Victor Silverio and won on submission after Victor picked up a pair of negatives in overtime before Vagner took the back and locked up the choke across the face.

UFC veteran Hannah Goldy submitted Amanda Mazza from her closed guard with an armbar variation. Goldy worked her legs into a high top lock/dead orchard position that let her manually push an arm into a crippling angle that got the tap. Aaron Wilson defeated Cristian Guzman by armbar.

In the event's opening match, Achilles Rocha defeated Andy Varela by points (0x-1) after Varela was penalized for passivity and Achilles scored in OT. Varela had several attempts at the back, but continued jumping for the hooks and falling off.

Results

• Nicholas Meregali def. Felipe Pena by submission (rear naked choke)
• Nick Rodriguez def. Yuri Simoes by points (3x-2)
• Mason Fowler def. Haisam Rida by kimura
• Victor Hugo def. Daniel Manasoiu by submission (americana)
• Jonnatas Gracie def. Nicky Ryan by points (-2x-1)
• Vagner Rocha def. Victor Silverio by submission (rear naked choke)
• Aaron Wilson def. Cristian Guzman by armbar
• Hannah Goldy def. Amanda Mazza by submission (arm lock)
• Achilles Rocha def. Andy Varela by points (2x-1)

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