Andy Varela is a grappler and a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who holds the rank of black belt in jiu-jitsu under Casey Halstead of the 10th Planet team. Varela first made waves in the sport of grappling while competing in the Submission Underground (SUG) event, a promotion led by former UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen. Varela would later cement his claim as one of the top 170 lbs (77 kg) competitors in the sport after a superb performance at the 2022 ADCC West Coast Trials.