Guardian Co-Founder Ben Kovacs Named FloGrappling General Manager To Lead Business
AUSTIN, TX – (April 15, 2025) – FloSports today announces an exclusive multi-year rights extension with BJJ Stars, one of Brazil’s premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) organizations, that will give FloGrappling exclusive access to its premiere events through 2027. The agreement also marks a major milestone for FloSports, providing it rights to stream BJJ Stars events in Brazil for the first time.
This deal strengthens FloSports’ commitment to the global growth of BJJ and solidifies its position as the home for world-class grappling content. It also positions FloGrappling as an essential destination in Brazil, the birthplace of Jiu-Jitsu and one of the sport’s most passionate markets.
“This partnership with BJJ Stars is a pivotal moment for FloSports and the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” said Riccardo Ammendolia, Sr. Manager Global Rights Acquisition for FloSports. “It expands our footprint into Brazil, which is one of, if not the, most important market for the sport. BJJ Stars has consistently delivered top-tier events, and we’re honored to be able to continue to showcase that excellence on FloGrappling.”
Founded in São Paulo, BJJ Stars has established itself as a marquee promotion featuring some of the biggest names in jiu-jitsu. The first BJJ Stars event under the new partnership, BJJ Stars #15, will stream live on FloGrappling on Saturday April 26th, kicking off a new era for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fans around the world.
Fernando Lopes, Executive Partner for BJJ Stars added, “The new contract with FloGrappling was very important for the growth of the BJJ Stars brand. Partnering with the largest streaming platform in the world in our segment shows that we are on the right track! As I always say, if you want to be a lion, walk with the lions.”
As part of today’s announcement, FloSports has named Guardian Co-Founder, Ben Kovacs, to the newly created position of FloGrappling General Manager to steer the strategic direction, programming, and go-to-market strategy for the FloGrappling brand.
Over the past decade, Ben has held senior roles at X (formerly Twitter) and launched one of the largest global jiu-jitsu non-profits, Guardian. Under his leadership, Guardian has provided scholarships and training to underserved youth across nearly two dozen projects worldwide. Ben has been practicing jiu-jitsu for 19 years and has built strong connections within the jiu-jitsu community.
“For over a decade, FloGrappling has been the single largest investor in the growth of jiu-jitsu—elevating athletes, delivering compelling content, building world-class events, and pushing the sport forward,” Kovacs commented. “The foundation is in place and I’m looking to build on it by bringing my passion and network within the BJJ community to take it to the next level. The goal is simple: make FloGrappling the undisputed destination for grappling worldwide.”
About FloSports
Founded in 2006, FloSports is a global sports media company delivering live and on-demand event coverage, award winning original content, always-on social experiences, and comprehensive sports data solutions to passionate and under-serviced sports fans. Its portfolio covers more than 25 different sports categories and includes the top destinations for avid fans seeking unmatched coverage for the sports they love: motorsports (FloRacing), hockey (FloHockey), wrestling (FloWrestling), Jiu-Jitsu (FloGrappling), Track & Field (FloTrack and MileSplit), cheer (FloCheer and Varsity), a variety of NCAA sports (FloCollege), and more. Strategic partnerships with NASCAR, USA Wrestling, High Limit Racing, Varsity Spirit, the American Hockey League (AHL), Wanda Diamond League, Tour de France, 14 NCAA Conferences, and others, fuel more than 40,000 live events streamed annually across the globe and accessed via monthly or annual subscriptions. For more information, please visit: flosports.tv.