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 | |