Leandro Lo (in white) charges Michael Langhi’s guard at the 2013 Worlds. Dan Rod/GRACIEMAG
The 22nd BJJ Worlds begins this Thursday with blue- and white-belts going at it at the Walter Pyramid in California.
On the weekend, it will be time for the black-belts to step on the mats. Big names abound, including world champions like Marcus Buchecha, Bernardo Faria, Leandro Lo, André Galvão and Tarsis Humphreys, and former UFC fighters like Vinny Pezão. Romulo Barral, who retired last year, could not bear to just sit and watch — he’s back competing as a medium heavyweight. Gregor Gracie will be representing the family that started it all.
Find the complete schedule at IBJJF.org, and take a look next at our bets for the black belt divisions. Who do you think will come out ahead?
Men’s black belt
ROOSTER
Alliance |
Bruno Malfacine |
AMBJJ |
Lucas Pinheiro |
Brasa CTA |
Caio Terra |
Qatar BJJ |
Rodnei Barbosa Gabriel Junior |
LIGHT-FEATHER
Alliance |
Isaac Doederlein |
Alliance International |
Carlos Holanda |
Ares BJJ |
Samir Chantre |
Atos Jiu-Jitsu |
Ary Farias |
Brasa CTA |
Gabriel Marangoni |
Brasa CTA |
Michael Musumeci |
Caio Terra Association |
Kim Terra |
Cicero Costha |
João Miyao |
Cicero Costha |
José Tiago |
Cicero Costha |
Hiago George |
FEATHER
Alliance |
Gianni Grippo |
Alliance |
Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles |
Alliance SP |
Fabio Caloi |
Ares BJJ |
Osvaldo “Queixinho” Moizinho |
Brazilian Top Team Int. |
Leonardo “Cascão” Saggioro |
Gracie Barra |
AJ Agazarm |
Gracie Humaita |
Wellington “Megaton” Dias |
Nova União |
Marcio André |
LIGHT
Alliance |
Lucas Lepri |
Alliance |
Michael Langhi |
Alliance USA |
Johnny Tama |
American Top Team |
Kevin Mahecha |
Atos Jiu-Jitsu |
Michael Liera Jr. |
Atos JJ International |
Caio Almeida |
Bull-Terrier Bonsai |
Roberto Satoshi |
CheckMat |
Gabriel Rollo |
CheckMat |
Marcelo “Lapela” Mafra |
Gracie Barra |
Edwin Najmi |
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu |
Yan “Pica-Pau” Lucas |
Ryan Gracie Team |
Celsinho Venicius |
Start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Lucas Valle |
Zenith BJJ |
Renato Canuto |
MEDIUM
Alliance |
Isaque Bahiense Braz |
Alliance International |
Jon Satava |
GF Team |
Vinícius Marinho |
GF Team International |
Jaime Canuto |
GF Team International |
Victor Silvério |
Gracie Barra |
Gabriel Arges |
Gracie Barra |
Otavio Sousa |
Gracie Barra JJ |
Magid Hage |
Zenith BJJ |
Mansher Khera |
BARBOSA JIU-JITSU Felipinho César
MIDDLE-HEAVY
Alliance |
Renato Cardoso |
Alliance |
Tarsis Humphreys |
Atos Jiu-Jitsu |
Andre Galvão |
Atos Jiu-Jitsu |
Lucas “Hulk” Barbosa |
CheckMat |
Thiago Sá |
GF Team |
Patrick Gáudio |
Gracie Barra |
Felipe Preguiça |
Gracie Barra |
Rômulo Barral |
Gracie Barra JJ |
Rodrigo “Pimpolho” Fajardo |
Maromba Academia |
Kit Dale |
Nova União |
Horlando Monteiro |
Renzo Gracie |
Gregor Gracie |
Soul Fighters BJJ |
Diogo “Moreno” Sampaio |
Vitor Shaolin BJJ |
Romulo “Caju” Azevedo |
Zenith BJJ |
Dillon Danis |
ZR Team Association |
Charles Negromonte |
HEAVY
Alliance |
Dimitrius Souza |
Alliance International |
Matheus Diniz |
Alliance International |
Nicholas Meregali |
CheckMat |
Jackson Sousa |
CheckMat |
Lucas Leite |
CheckMat USA |
Adam Wardzinski |
Ns Brotherhood |
Leandro Lo |
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu |
Eduardo Inojosa |
Soul Fighters BJJ |
Tanner Rice |
SUPER-HEAVY
Alliance |
Bernardo Faria |
Alliance |
Fernando Reis |
Atos Jiu-Jitsu |
Erberth Santos |
CheckMat |
Luiz Panza |
Fight Sports |
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu |
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu |
Jared Dopp |
Team Lloyd Irvin |
Mahamed Aly |
ULTRA-HEAVY
Brasa CTA |
Carlos Farias |
CheckMat |
Marcus Buchecha |
GF Team |
Alexander Trans |
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu |
James Richard Puopolo |
Soul Fighters BJJ |
João Gabriel Rocha |
Team Lloyd Irvin |
Otávio “Tatá” Nalati |
Vinny Magalhaes BJJ |
Vinny “Pezão” Magalhães |
Zenith BJJ |
Rodrigo Cavaca |
CheckMat Gabriel Lucas “Fedor”
Women’s black belt
ROOSTER
Attack JJ Team – Belém PA |
Rayanne Amanda Carmo dos Santos |
Brasa CTA |
Outi Järvilehto |
Flow |
Serena Gabrielli |
Paraestra Shinagawa |
Rikako Yuasa |
LIGHT-FEATHER
Alliance |
Talita Alencar |
American Top Team |
Gezary Matuda |
GF Team |
Thamires Aquino |
Brasa CTA |
Kristina Barlaan |
Fight Sports |
Sofia Rosa Amarante |
FEATHER
Atos Jiu-Jitsu |
Bia Basilio |
Gracie Humaita |
Mackenzie Dern |
Gracie Humaita |
Ana Carolina Schmitt |
LIGHT
Brasa CTA |
Tammi Musumeci |
Gracie Humaita |
Bia Mesquita |
Ns Brotherhood |
Luiza Monteiro |
Elite Brazilian |
Jessica Cristina C. A. dos Santos |
GF Team |
Laurah Hallock |
Gracie Barra |
Fabiana Borges |
MEDIUM
Alliance |
Monique Elias |
GF Team |
Ana Carolina Vieira |
Roger Gracie Norway |
Ida “Xuxu” Fløisvik |
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu |
Nivia Moura |
MIDDLE-HEAVY
Alliance |
Andresa Correa |
Cicero Costha Internacional |
Nathiely de Jesus |
Gracie Barra |
Jessica Flowers |
HEAVY
De La Riva JJ |
Claudia Doval |
Ns Brotherhood |
Talita Treta |
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu |
Samela Shohamy |
Striker JJ |
Fernanda Mazzelli |
SUPER-HEAVY
Alliance |
Tayane Porfírio |
Hilti BJJ Jyvaskyla |
Venla Luukkonen |