2021 IBJJF Pan American Adult Black Belt Competitors

Pans are happening this week and, this means all the major competitors will be flocking to the Bren Centre in Irvine, California to once again take to the major stage.

And with that, it also means the big names will be headed there, and this year we’re looking the young blood dethroning the old kings and we couldn’t be more exciting.

Black Belt Male Competitors

Roosterweight – 57.5 kg (126.5 lbs)

First up we have the lightest of the male competitors, we’re expecting the usual names such as Kristian Woodmansee and Michael Musumeci Jr to go through the division to take medals.

Alliance Hiago Gama Sousa
Ares BJJ Cícero Lívio Ribeiro Saldanha Paiva
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Cleber de Sousa Fernandes
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Kristian R. Woodmansee
Brasa CTA Michael Musumeci Jr.
GF Team Carlos Alberto Oliveira da Silva
Renato Tavares Association Suraj Kumar Budhram
Soul Fighters BJJ David Herrera Junior
Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy Koji Shibamoto
Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy Nobuhiro Sawada
Total: 10

Light-Featherweight

This year’s pans sees both Paulo and João Miyao enter the Light-Featherweight division. After both of their Gold medal performances at the Europeans and London Grand Slam, we’re looking to see these two compete or close out the division. Also, be on the lookout for Hiago Silva who took silver at the Europeans

Atos Jiu-Jitsu Lucas dos Santos Pinheiro
Brasa CTA Rene Eduardo Lopez
Cantagalo Team Pedro Paulo Dias Clementino
Cary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Joseph Woo Sun Lee
Cicero Costha Internacional João R. Bordignon Miyao
Cicero Costha Internacional Paulo H. Bordignon Miyao
DeLariva Japan Shimon Kagiyama
GF Team Fernando de Jesus Soares
GF Team Matheus Viana Magalhães
Nova União Alexssandro Pinto Sodré
PSLPB Cicero Costha Hiago George Santos Silva
Renzo Gracie Mexico Alexis Alduncin Barragan
Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy Hideyuki Yamada
Total: 13

Featherweight

Our first stacked division of the competition sees Cobrina Black Belts Isaac Doederlein & Kennedy Maciel drop down a weight division for the chance at gold. The division also sees Samir Chantre and Atos black belt João Mendes enter the frame, both who have been incredibly successful over the years.

A2 Jiu-Jitsu Raphael da Costa Cadena
Alliance Isaac Doederlein
Alliance Kennedy Leonardo Maciel
Alliance Bernardo Faria Matheus Evangelista Gonzaga
Alliance International Frederico Augusto Alves Silva
Ares BJJ Samir José Chantre Dahás
Atos Jiu-Jitsu João Pedro Bueno Mendes
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Rafael Machado Mansur
Atos JJ International Spencer Royce Nogawa
Brazilian Top Team Leonardo Fernandes Saggioro
CheckMat Matheus Gabriel Pinheiro Barros
Clark Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy Brandon Woodly Walensky
Fight Sports Orlando Fernando Castillo Andaviza
Physical Space Jiu-Jitsu Academy Hiroaki Otsuka
Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ Thiago A. A. Macedo
Team Lloyd Irvin Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor
Tinguinha BJJ academy Cole Thomas Franson
Total: 17

Lightweight

This year’s lightweight division sees a lack of big names such as Gianni Grippo and Lucas Lepri, meaning it’s time for the young ones to take the stage. We’re expecting the break out black belt Levi Jones-Leary to top the podium after his incredible black belt debut at this year’s Europeans. However, don’t sleep on Renato Canuto, he’s been a podium placer for numerous years and the one responsible for breaking Romulo Barral’s ankle at 2017 worlds.

A-Force Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Kevin Javier Mahecha
Alliance Johnny Joachin Tama Apolinario
Alliance Piter Frank Almeida Silva
Alliance International Athos Ribeiro de Miranda
Alliance International Felipe Linhares Arruda
Alliance JJ Edward Hohl
Ares BJJ Breno Henrique Abreu Bittencourt
Ares BJJ Osvaldo Augusto Honorio Moizinho
Brasa CTA Jeremy S. Jackson
Carlson Gracie Team Alexandre Faria Molinaro
Carlson Gracie Team Kauan Argimon Barboza
CheckMat Gabriel Rollo da Silva Pontes
CheckMat Renato Forasieppi Alves Canuto
CheckMat International Endres Barbosa da Silva Mendes
CheckMat International Gilson Nunes De Oliveira Neto
Clark Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy Francisco Antonio Iturralde Lara
CT MR Ygor dos Santos Rodrigues
Easton BJJ John Taylor Combs
GF Team Gialysson Adão Silva Freitas
GF Team Vitor Henrique Silva Oliveira
Gracie Barra Lucas Sette C. Valente Tobias
KJ Competition Team Inseong Jang
Rodrigo Freitas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Rodrigo Lamounier de Freitas
Soul Fighters BJJ Felipe H. Desouza-Simplicio
Unity Jiu-jitsu Levi Jones-Leary
Total: 25

Middleweight

It’s another stacked middleweight division at this year’s Pans, which features new and established black belts compete for the top divisions. Favourites such as Isaque Bahinese, Claudio Calasan, Leonardo Lara, Michael Liera Jr, Darragh O’Connaill, Dante Leon and many others will all be competing in this division. This is definitely one to watch.

Alliance Isaque Bahiense Braz
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Claudio Calasans Camargo Júnior
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Leonardo Teixeira Lara
Atos JJ International Andris Auseklis Brunovskis
Atos JJ International Michael Remigio Liera Jr.
Atos JJ Rio Claro Brian J. Beaury II
Atos JJ USA Alexandre Joaquim de Jesus
Atos JJ USA Thomas John Keenan
Caveirinha Jiu-Jitsu Family Cesar Casamajó Cardoso
CheckMat Ygor Machado Dantas
Cicero Costha Internacional Fabricio José Barbarotti
Cobra Kai Jiu Jitsu Damien Aaron Nitkin
ECJJA Darragh O’Conaill
GF Team Dante Leon
GF Team Jaime Soares Canuto
GF Team International Edmund Yongwoo Kim
GF Team International Kenji Benjamin Sette
Gracie Barra Otavio Ferreira de Sousa
Gracie Barra Victor Silverio Santos
Nashville MMA Chad M. G. Hardy
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Vinicius Carvalho Garcia
Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ Manuel Ribamar V. de Oliveira Filho
SitYodTong LA Daniel Augustus Sirica Speirn
Soul Fighters BJJ Hugo Doerzapff Marques
Soul Fighters BJJ Igor Matosinho de Paiva
Start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Lucas Benévolo Valle
Unity Jiu-jitsu Felipe Cesar Silva
ZR Team Association Lucas Rocha de Freitas
Total: 28

Medium-Heavyweight

Will we see another repeat of the Europeans closeout between Gustavo Batista and Lucas Barbosa? Or will we see names such as Murilo Santana, or Devhonte Johnson spoil the party?

Alliance Matheus Oliveira Diniz
Alliance Matheus Spirandeli Souza
Alliance International Matheus Godoy Romero
Alliance International Tarsis Carvalho Humphreys
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Gustavo Espindola Batista
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Lucas Daniel Silva Barbosa
Atos JJ International Dominique L. Bell
Atos JJ International Nisar Amin Loynab
Brasa CTA Rudson Mateus Sarmento Teles
Brazilian Top Team Gilvan Gomes da Costa
CheckMat Esdras Barbosa da Silva Mendes
Soul Fighters BJJ Ruan Marques de Oliveira
TAC Team BJJ Ashur Sami Darmo
TAC Team BJJ Matthew W Leighton
Unity Jiu-jitsu Devhonte M. Johnson
Unity Jiu-jitsu Murilo Silva Ferreira de Santana
Total: 16

Heavyweight

The heavyweight division sees the return of Leandro Lo at his first IBJJF since last year’s Worlds when he got injured. This time he will have to get past 1st Pans black belt Kaynan Duarte, who took gold at this year’s Europeans. Other big names include Adam Wardzinski, Patrick Gaudio and Tim Spriggs, who are all game for a place on this year’s podium.

Alliance Vinicius Ferreira Gazola
American Top Team Fort Lauderdale Charles Kilyan Mcguire
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Kaynan Casemiro Duarte
CheckMat Adam Wardzinski
CheckMat Arnaldo Maidana de Oliveira
CheckMat International Melor Sturua
GF Team Patrick Pontes Moura Santos Gaudio
Gracie Barra Fellipe Ubaiz Trovo
Kronos BJJ Vinicius Gimenes da Silva Ferreira
Ns Brotherhood Leandro Lo Pereira do Nascimento
Team Lloyd Irvin Timothy-Michael Spriggs
Unity Jiu-jitsu Aaron Michael Johnson
Total: 12

Super-Heavyweight

This year’s super-heavyweight division sees returning European Champion Fellipe Silva go up against big names such as Tanner Rice, James Puopolo and the newly crowned black belt Mahamed Aly.

Alliance Fernando Andrade dos Reis
Alliance Leonardo Pires Nogueira
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Helton Jose Mendes da Silva Junior
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Rafael Vasconcelos de Lima
GF Team Gutemberg de Jesus Santos Pereira
GF Team Uros Domanovic
One Jiu-Jitsu USA Wellington Modena Peroto
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu James Richard Puopolo
Soul Fighters BJJ Tanner Wade Rice
Team Lloyd Irvin Mahamed Aly Santos da Silva
Team Lloyd Irvin Roberto Torralbas
Zenith BJJ Fellipe Andrew Leandro Silva
Zenith BJJ Lukasz Gustaw Michalec
ZR Team Association Hugo Leonardo B. Ferreira da Silva
Total: 14

Ultra-Heavyweight

Our biggest adult black belt division sees Ricardo Evangelista as favourite for this year’s Pan American Championship title.

Alliance Guilherme Augusto Soares Santos
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Dany Guy Steve Gerard
GF Team Max dos Santos Gimenis
GF Team Ricardo Ferreira Evangelista
Gordo Jiu-Jitsu USA Antonio Braga Texeira Neto
Ribeiro Jiu-Jitsu Gustavo Dias Elias
Soul Fighters BJJ Pedro Paulo Campi Agrizzi
Total: 7

Black Belt Female Competitors

Roosterweight

Our two person Roosterweight division sees Serena Gabrielli go up against Mayssa Bastos. At this year’s European Championships it was Mayssa Bastos who took the top step, but can the Italian step up and claim the crown?

Flow Serena Gabrielli
GF Team Mayssa Caldas Pereira Bastos
Total: 2

Light-Featherweight

This year’s Light-Featherweight division sees European Silver Medalist Larissa Campos Carvalho looking for a Pans podium. Last years podium winners don’t feature in this year’s division, so it’s open season.

Alliance Ana Talita de Oliveira Alencar
Brasa CTA Kristina Sofia Puruganan Barlaan
Brazilian Top Team Patrícia Magalhães Machado
CheckMat Gabriela Meireles Fechter
CheckMat Patrícia Maria N. Fontes dos Santos
GF Team Amanda Monteiro Nogueira
Gracie Humaita Larissa Campos Carvalho
Total: 7

Featherweight

This year the female featherweight division has been dominated by the newly crowned Polaris 55kg champion Ffion Davies. This year she will be looking for her first Black Belt Pans Podium, if she manages that, she will be onto her first black belt triple crown.

CheckMat Karen Deisy Antunes Girotto Borges
CheckMat Nathalie Wan Soares Veras Ribeiro
ECJJA Ffion Eira Davies
Gracie Humaita Talia Marie Vaughan
Team Lloyd Irvin Aarae Alexander
Total: 5

Lightweight

At lightweight, we’ve seen Bianca Basilio take the 2nd place spot at this year’s Europeans. Can she do one better at Pans?

Alliance Jena Rae Bishop
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Bianca Barbosa Basilio
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Nicole C. Sullivan
Gracie Humaita Gabrielle McComb Lima
Marcio Cruz Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Amanda Elouise Alequin
Total: 5

Middleweight

The female middleweight division sees no previous winners of last year’s division, so it’s open season for these 5 competitors.

Alliance Renata Marinho Moreira
CheckMat Raquel Dayne Kaleialoha Canuto
GF Team Ana Carolina Vieira Srour
GF Team Laurah Elizabeth Hallock
Soul Fighters BJJ Jessica Constance Swanson
Total: 5

Medium-Heavyweight

Medium Heavyweight is all about Luiza Monteiro, keep an eye out for her as she will be looking for the top spot at this year’s Pans.

Alliance Monique Medeiros Elias
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Luiza Monteiro Moura da Costa
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Nivia de Souza Moura
Gracie Barra Andressa Mezari Cintra
Zenith BJJ Maria Malyjasiak
Total: 5

Heavyweight

With no previous medalists entered into the female Heavyweight division, we’ll be keep an eye on this one for some stars of the future.

Carlson Gracie Team Alejandra Gonzalez
Mako Team Paris Claire-France Thevenon
Ns Brotherhood Talita Andrea Nogueira
Rodrigo Pinheiro BJJ Nathiely Karoline Melo de Jesus
Total: 4

Super-Heavyweight

The final division we’re coving is the Female Super-Heavyweight division, which sees the return of Gabi Garcia. Jessica Flowers has been on an absolute tear up over the last year at black belt and we’re super psyched to see these two compete in the finals, if they both get there.

Alliance Gabrielle Lemos Garcia
Brazilian Top Team Alison Victoria Tremblay
G13 BJJ Carina Curvelo Santi
Gracie Barra Jessica D Flowers
Impact Jiu Jitsu Hillary VanOrnum
Total: 5